The Glasshouse

 Today, this home for live music lovers announces plans for its third decade: 

• A new Music Academy for young people, artistic projects for its next era, and a goal to become the most affordable music centre in Europe. 
• A £20m fundraising campaign – launching publicly in 2025 – that will support these ambitions alongside a contribution to the over £30m needed to secure the iconic building’s fabric and facilities. 

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As The Glasshouse celebrates its milestone 20th year, it takes yet another stride forward to transform people and places through music. 

In 2004, one of the world’s most celebrated music venues opened its doors in the North East of England. Designed by Foster + Partners, it was powered by a coalition who believed this part of the country should have access to the highest quality facilities and opportunities in music.  

20 years later, The Glasshouse has become synonymous with unforgettable live music, artist development, and life-enhancing community work. Over 14 million minutes of live performances have taken place across its three world-class spaces for music. 2.7 million music classes have brought people together, from toddlers to retirees. Thousands of artists have been supported, including those who’ve gone on to perform on global stages. It’s the home of Royal Northern Sinfonia, which has toured the region and the world, representing the North East on an international stage. 

While celebrating its achievements, The Glasshouse is now looking ahead to its third decade.  

A new Music Academy is at the heart of The Glasshouse’s upcoming plans, opening the doors to a life full of music right from the start. The Music Academy will encompass all music education and artist development activities at The Glasshouse, from classes with newborns and families to programmes that help artists forge careers in music. This academy will reach more young people and artists in more parts of the North, building on the 50,000 the music charity already works with each year. The idea of a Music Academy has been made possible thanks to a £2m donation from The Foyle Foundation. 

The Glasshouse’s next creative era is signalled by a recent announcement that three Artistic Partners will work with The Glasshouse and Royal Northern Sinfonia for a three-year period to curate and create new music for people across the North East and beyond. The Unthanks, Corinne Bailey Rae and Maria Włoszczowska have begun their partnerships with The Glasshouse that will support their creative ambitions, aiding them with curation, making new work, and collaborating with musicians who work at and visit the venue.  They join Dinis Sousa, Royal Northern Sinfonia’s principal conductor, as artistic leaders for the organisation.  

The Glasshouse’s goal to become the most affordable music centre in Europe started with the Music Pass, giving free access to newborns and their families for 10 years. Next, the charity will double the educational bursaries it’s able to offer young people. The Glasshouse was the first organisation to poverty-proof its venue and already gives away thousands of free or heavily discounted tickets each year. To support access for people who face financial challenges, the charity relies on donations, trading activity, and people who are able to buy tickets for live events.  

Its 20th anniversary celebrations will launch on Sunday 24 November, with a performance of Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. Over 300 non-professional musicians and singers will perform side by side with Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus, alongside a crop of world-class soloists in one of the region’s largest and most inspirational musical gatherings. This landmark performance highlights the spirit of community, inclusivity, and artistic quality at the heart of The Glasshouse’s 20-year journey.  

To help celebrate its birthday, the organisation will be sharing moments from the last 20 years and plans for its next decade under the theme of ‘Under one iconic roof’. It will also announce two other headline birthday projects to sit alongside A Child of Our Time. 

To sustain all this, The Glasshouse is building momentum towards a £20m public fundraising campaign that will launch in 2025. This fundraising drive will support its ambitions and contribute to the over £30m needed to secure the iconic building’s fabric and facilities for the next 20 years. 

Abigail Pogson, Managing Director said: 

‘20 years ago, The Glasshouse opened its doors to the region and to the world. Its purpose was to be a home for artistic achievement, education, and community access – under one roof and in communities. To this day it’s an inspiring and hopeful vision for what a music venue can be that’s recognised across the globe.  In our third decade, we’re set to renew this founding purpose with the ambition and determination it – and the communities around it – deserve.’ 

/ENDS  

Media contact: Susie Gray, Susie.gray@premiercomms.com 07834 073795  

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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   

• From global stars to artists starting out, The Glasshouse has hosted 10,022 performances, totalling 4.7m tickets. To have seen every performance would have meant seeing one show every day for 27 years.   
• It’s hosted over 220,000 music lessons for North East folk. The region’s young people have learnt to play, sing or produce with us, on over 1.7m occasions.   
• Royal Northern Sinfonia perform at The Glasshouse, tour the region, and have played to international audiences on four continents, with livestreams reaching people across five.   
• Like stepping stones, artists like Ward Thomas have worked their way from their free stages to selling out its big hall and getting global recognition.   
• The Glasshouse regularly opens its doors to a wide range of conferences and events. Since 2004, they’ve welcome over 400,000 delegates from the likes of Greggs, NHS and British Engines, and many, many more.   
• The charity is one of Gateshead’s biggest employers, and so far it’s generated £500m of economic value to the region.   
• The charity has been the proud guardians of The Glasshouse for almost 20 years, safeguarding it when live music was put on hold during the pandemic.   
• The centre, standing 40 m tall, has 630 panes of glass on its exterior.