Singer asks council to retain teenage music venue
SuppliedA teenage musician has begged a council to ensure a music venue continues to educate local children, after it announced the site will be handed over to a private operator.
Songwriter Noah said he was "incredibly concerned" by Redcar and Cleveland Council's plans to secure a new operator for Tuned In!, which is undergoing a £2m redesign.
The 17-year-old said he understood the council's need to raise funds by holding events at the Redcar venue, but this needed to be balanced against "supporting youth" in the community.
The council said it envisioned the revamped Tuned In! as a "place where young people can thrive and express themselves".
When Noah was 13 he was too anxious to go to school and was home-schooled, and it was during this period that he began attending Tuned In!, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
"Through Tuned In!, I met my producer and vocal coach.
"I've now become an actual artist, with nearly two million views on TikTok, more than 11,000 streams on Spotify, and have played gigs across the Teesside area," he said.
"Without Tuned In!, I never would have found the courage to pursue music."
GoogleTuned In!, which opened in 2011, cost £5m to construct and was paid for by the European Regional Development Fund scheme to provide arts and media facilities for 13- to 19-year-olds in the area.
But it has been under-utilised and has been partially used as office accommodation, as well as being used as a Covid-19 testing centre and a hub for runners.
Noah said Tuned In! had not been properly open for two years and a weekly music group which used the site now had to attend a smaller venue in Skelton, making it less accessible for many people.
A £2m investment from the government's Levelling Up fund has paid for a redesign of a studio theatre, a new box office, a bar and café, and a new creative spaces at the venue.
A council spokeswoman said the redevelopment was expected to be completed soon and the authority was looking for an operator to run the site.
"While that process is ongoing, we have been clear that Tuned In! will continue to be an inclusive creative space, with a focus on arts activity and a performing arts element as part of the overall offer," she said.
"The council continues to invest in youth provision across the borough, including dedicated youth centres, community engagement and recent capital improvements."