The Glasshouse

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music – currently celebrating its 20th birthday – has today announced the appointment of Andy Haldane CBE as its new Chair of the Board.

Haldane steps into the role as the music centre looks ahead to its third decade and most ambitious chapter yet. Located on the banks of the River Tyne in a landmark building designed by Foster + Partners, The Glasshouse is a national and international home for music – rooted in the North East, with impact that reaches far beyond it. With this appointment, the organisation strengthens its leadership as it enters a new chapter of creative, educational, and civic impact.

Haldane brings a wealth of experience from a career spanning public service, policy, and economic development. He served as Chief Economist at the Bank of England, Permanent Secretary for Levelling Up, and most recently, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts – a global organisation that creates platforms, opportunities, and networks to build world-changing actions. Among other roles, he is Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, President and Founder of the charity Pro Bono Economics, Chair of the National Numeracy Leadership Council, Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), a contributing editor at the Financial Times, Chief Economic Advisor at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and a member of the advisory board of the Bradford Literature Festival and the South Yorkshire Mayor’s Economic Advisory Council.

Born in the North East and a lifelong supporter of Sunderland AFC, Haldane also has a strong personal connection to music – he’s a passionate music lover whose father was a professional musician.

Speaking about his appointment, Andy Haldane CBE said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be taking up the position of Chair at The Glasshouse later this year. The Glasshouse is beacon of creativity and opportunity, not just for the North East but nationally and globally. As someone born in the North East and whose father was a musician, I know the pivotal role music and culture plays in lifting everyone’s lives. I look forward to working with the exceptional team at The Glasshouse and my fellow Board members in unleashing even more of that creativity and opportunity for people in the North East and beyond”

The announcement follows the release of The Glasshouse’s 20-year impact report. Since opening in 2004, the charity has contributed £681.2million to the UK economy, welcomed over 8 million people to live performances, and supported 1.8 million young people through high-quality music education.

As Chair, Haldane will support and champion the charity’s bold vision for the future. This includes The Glasshouse Academy – a major new initiative for young people and professional musicians; delivering a significant eight-figure capital investment in its building to keep music facilities world-class and future proof the music centre; entering its most creatively ambitious era yet; and becoming the most financially accessible music centre in Europe. These four goals – setting the direction for The Glasshouse’s third decade – reflect the charity’s commitment to creativity, inclusion and regional pride.

This appointment also follows a series of landmark announcements. These include the launch of its 2025/26 classical season, the kick-off of its music Academy to support emerging talent, a region-wide partnership with BBC Introducing to support new and independent artists in the region, and the return of the BBC Proms to the North East in a major regional festival. Together, these signal an enormously ambitious new era for the organisation.

With Haldane’s leadership and commitment to the role of music in society – as the wellspring of joy, wellbeing, education, innovation, and regional growth – The Glasshouse is set to deepen its impact locally, nationally, and internationally in its third decade.

Andy Haldane will take up the role of Chair this autumn supporting The Glasshouse as it enters this ambitious new chapter. The appointment follows an extensive search process led by global executive search and assessment firm Saxton Bampfylde.

-ENDS-

Susie Gray, Premier, susie.gray@premiercomms.com  | 07834 073795
Jackie Thompson, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Jackie.thompson@theglasshouseicm.org | 0191 443 4602

Notes to Editors:

The Glasshouse’s 20-Year Impact Report can be downloaded here https://theglasshouseicm.org/about-us/twenty-years-of-music-one-big-future/

You can read the full press release about the report here https://theglasshouseicm.org/press/

About The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers.

It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practise in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Because as an international centre for music they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.

Which is why every year more than 2 million people are able to join for top-notch gigs, concerts, and classes – in their venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North East, and through livestreamed performances and digital lessons.

Whether you’re making it up or taking it in, you’ll find music lives and grows there.

More about The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

Since opening in 2004, The Glasshouse has hosted over 10,000 performances, welcoming nearly 5 million audience members and a total of 8 million visitors through its doors. It would take more than 27 years to see every show if you attended one every day.

Over two decades, the charity has delivered around 233,000 music lessons, reaching young people and adults 2.8 million times across its education programmes (1.8 million of which were young people).

As its resident orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia has toured globally, performing across four continents and livestreaming to audiences across five. Royal Northern Sinfonia also continues to bring world-class music to communities across the country, with 58% of performances in “levelling up for culture” areas.

The Glasshouse has supported the careers of thousands of artists like Ward Thomas who have worked their way from free stages to headline shows in its main hall, achieving national and global recognition.

A recent report quantified its annual social value through education, inclusion and community programmes at £14.1 million.

Since 2004, The Glasshouse has welcomed over 400,000 delegates for conferences and events, hosting organisations such as Greggs, NHS, and British Engines. Through conferences and events it has generated £10.6 million, helping to fund the venue and support live music and education programmes.

Over the past two decades, The Glasshouse has generated £681.2million to the UK economy with £38.6m each year in ongoing impact. It supports 700 jobs directly and indirectly.

The iconic building, designed by Foster + Partners, has 630 panes of glass and stands 40 metres tall. In its opening year, it was exhibited at the Venice Biennale and won the RIBA Inclusive Design Award in 2005.

Celebrating 20 years – In December 2024, The Glasshouse marked its 20th birthday. Over the next year, the charity will reflect on two decades of achievements and look ahead to its third decade, with major initiatives like the Music Academy and Music Pass for newborns, making music accessible to all.