Mapping a future for Berwick’s music scene

Berwick’s passion for music, and the town’s support for the sector and the many people that work within it, was on full display earlier this week at our special music community drop-in session at Repas7 By Night.

More than 45 musicians, promoters and music supporters joined us and our colleagues Index Music to share their thoughts on how, working together, we can strengthen Berwick’s music ecosystem.

We had some fantastic feedback on the night, which will help shape our research paper mapping the future of Berwick’s music scene.

Darren Holleywell, Create Berwick Project Officer, said: “The buzz and enthusiasm in the room really showed how much people in Berwick care about the music community in the town.

“There were some great discussions happening around how we can support musicians, venues, and create opportunities for people to be part of Berwick’s music ecosystem. All the feedback we received on the night will help shape Create Berwick’s approach to seeking out future funding, resources and training that can strengthen the town’s music sector.

“On behalf of Create Berwick and Index Music, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Leo Roberts for hosting us at Repas7 By Night. Leo is a great example of someone championing the sector for the benefit of everyone in Berwick and beyond.”

For anyone that was unable to join us on the night, we’ll be hosting more in-person events soon, so please follow us on social media to find out more. You can also have your say on the future of Berwick’s music scene by completing this short survey. Whether you work in a venue, play in a band, or just enjoy watching live music, your feedback is essential in shaping future support for the sector.

We want to know:

• What are our strengths and weaknesses – what do we do well, and what could we do better if we had the resources and funding?
• How can we support people to have fulfilling careers in music?
• What’s missing from Berwick’s music scene and what would improve it?

You can access the survey here. All feedback will be treated confidentially and in accordance with GDPR rules.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to the lovely team at Index Music on hello@indexmusic.co.uk.

Create Berwick and the Music Community Research project are funded by the North East Combined Authority and Northumberland County Council.