ICONIC Frome venue the Cheese and Grain is set to build a brand new, state-of- the-art recording studio in its old tower in an ambitious half million pound project.
The team running the venue took big steps towards their dream recently after Frome Town Council agreed to give £130,000 towards the project, locking in a further £300,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
The Cheese and Grain will also set up a crowdfunding scheme to try and raise a further £70,000 for high quality equipment.
Venue director Steve MacArthur said, “This will be a real boost for the local economy: it will be a professional standard recording studio, but accessible to community groups and amateur musicians as well as music professionals.
“I was very pleased to get the funding from the town council and, importantly, this project won’t cost the taxpayer a thing because the solar panels on the roof of the Cheese and Grain will pay off the loan. The council’s scheme is ingenious, innovative and an intervention that will create a significant asset for the people of Frome.”
Solar panels installed on the roof of the Cheese and Grain are expected to have paid for themselves by March next year, and their income over the next 20 years will be used to pay off the £130,000 loan the town council will take out for the project.
The £430,000 total will pay for building work to be done on the derelict ‘tower’ section of the building into a studio, reception, meeting rooms, toilets, and a lift and staircase.
The centre, to be named the ‘Bert Jansch Media Training Centre’ after the late musician, will focus on skills and training. The Cheese and Grain will be doubling the number of apprenticeships it offers and creating new work experience and internship opportunities once the studio opens.
At the town council meeting last month, Steve MacArthur said the design plans would be consulted on again, and that he hoped work could begin on the project in 2017.
