Celebrating Two Decades of The Glasshouse
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is planning its most ambitious decade yet
Sage Gateshead, as it was formerly known, opened as a world-class venue for music and culture on the banks of the Tyne, and despite a recent name change it remains just that, having welcomed more than eight million visitors and supported around 230,000 music sessions over its 20-year history. A seriously impressive £681 million has been contributed to the UK economy since it opened. Known for its iconic ‘slug’ or ‘armadillo’-like shape, designed by renowned architects Foster + Partners, and as a centre of music, its involvement in vital community work, education and artistic development should be equally celebrated.
‘We have a really strong role here in developing artists of the future, from babies and toddlers learning music right through to artists stepping foot on a stage for the first time,’ says creative director Wendy Smith. ‘While we’ve been doing all of that and welcoming international artists into our building every day, we’ve also remained really rooted in our local community.’
From pop stars to opera icons and new musicians to platinum-selling performers, and of course The Glasshouse’s own acclaimed orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia, you can experience it all and more at The Glasshouse. As an international centre for music, it never misses a beat., and as a charity it focuses on making music available to anyone. Reflecting on its performances, education, artist development and music programmes, there’s certainly plenty to celebrate.
‘We’ve achieved a huge amount artistically in terms of what’s been on our stages and connecting audiences because we have something for everybody here,’ Wendy explains. ‘We’ve had 2.8 million interactions through our Make Music programme and also in our adult programme with people coming every week, and sometimes for years (sometimes right from the very beginning) to engage in music they want to make here with us. We’ve also put the North East on the map. The region is a serious music destination and we’re continuing to shout loud from here and empower musicians in the North of England. We’re a music destination, not just locally and nationally, but internationally too.’
But The Glasshouse’s vital work within communities continues outside its shell. ’It’s not just about progressing young people into the music industry or onto stages as artists, it’s also about the identity of a place and people and health, wellbeing and life chances,’ explains Wendy. ‘In the West End of Newcastle, for example, we have an In Harmony programme where children have an orchestral instrument that’s theirs and they play music every day, just like they were in any music school in the country. We’re a very, very connected community through people who come here and those we work with in communities. For example, Royal Northern Sinfonia tour across the North East, but they also work with children and young people. We’re very engaged in supporting communities across the North East in making music in the way they want to make it.
‘Last year we had a mass participation concert – Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. I actually sang in it myself. There were 300-plus musicians on that stage with Royal Northern Sinfonia so it was very much about sharing the stage, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience – really valuable to all of those who took part and those who came to watch.’
The Glasshouse plays a key role in helping the local music industry to grow and teamed up with music development agency Generator to launch Newcastle Gateshead Music City, now with goals of creating 2,000 to 4,000 music-related jobs and contributing an additional £750 million to the local economy. ‘We are an amazing destination for national and international artists as well as audiences,’ says Wendy. Most recently, The Glasshouse hosted the BBC Proms (the world’s biggest classical music festival) for the fourth time, including a sold-out performance from South Shields-born Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall with Royal Northern Sinfonia – a huge first in the partnership. ‘Jade and Sam Fender both won a BRIT award earlier in the year,’ says Wendy. ‘It’s amazing to have Jade here, and amazing for her too, because she used to come here as a child and now she’s an amazing star performing here.
‘We have the ability to create partnerships that can create really outstanding, extraordinary events that audiences enjoy. It’s important we make that affordable and accessible for everybody. We are a resource for the North East, and we are also building on supporting young people in their music education but also supporting artists’ development. We can build on what we’ve got, and what we’ve achieved in the last 20 years, for a really ambitious third decade.’
The Glasshouse’s artistic partnerships allow artists to shape new ideas for music and connection. ‘The Unthanks, Corinne Bailey Rae, Maria Włoszczowska (the leader of Royal Northern Sinfonia) and John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London, are each bringing their own creative vision for the next era,’ says Wendy. ‘The Unthanks have developed a series in Sage Two where they’re not just performing but also deciding what will go on that stage. Corinne Bailey Rae is going to be working in a school in Gateshead in improvised music and dance this September. Maria has also curated concerts in Sage Two. These artists are inputting into our programmes and the artistic life of artists here and our audiences too.’
Now The Glasshouse is launching a major new music academy, The Glasshouse Academy, to support the next generation of musicians growing up in the North East. ‘We’re aiming to be the most affordable music centre in Europe and expanding access and reducing the barriers to music for everybody, whether that’s making music, coming to see music or being an artist who wants to develop their music,’ explains Wendy. ‘We’re entering our most creatively ambitious era yet, working with world-class artists, promoters and creators and also investing in our building to make sure we secure its future as a home for music, creativity and community. We want to make sure that this next decade is even more impactful than the last two.’
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Miss Rory: Live, Laugh, LIVE!
19TH SEPTEMBER
Drag icon and ‘the North East’s Queen of Comedy’ is bringing her brand new show to Sage One.
The Friday Night Club with The Unthanks
26TH SEPTEMBER
This new quarterly series brings together unexpected lineups, from local legends to the best touring artists, thanks to The Unthanks.
Lulu: If Only You Knew
9TH OCTOBER
Grammy-nominated singer Lulu will put on an intimate evening of songs and stories in Sage One.
Wet Wet Wet
12TH OCTOBER
Wet Wet Wet’s UK tour continues with this special performance in Sage One, with special guest Heather Small.
