Harmony Works Trust Secures £8.2m in funding for new hub for Music Education!

We are delighted to announce that the Harmony Works Trust has secured an incredible £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Development Fund. This funding will help transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield City Centre into a dynamic new hub for music education.

This significant investment builds on the recent award of £4.7 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, announced earlier this week, and adds to the growing support for the project. Other contributions include funding from The Architectural Heritage Fund, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, and a number of local trusts and foundations.

Canada House, originally built as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company in 1875, played a crucial role in the technological revolution that swept across the UK. It was a time when gas was becoming increasingly widespread for heating and lighting homes. Later, in the 1980s, the building gained local fame as TurnUps nightclub, a vibrant gathering spot for young music enthusiasts. It’s inspiring to imagine that in just three years, this iconic space will once again resonate with the sound of music—this time created by young people from Sheffield and beyond.

Once fully restored, Canada House will become home to a range of fantastic organisations, including Sheffield Music Hub, Sheffield Music Academy, Brass Bands England, Music in the Round, The Choir with No Name, Orchestras for All, and Concerteenies. The hub will also collaborate with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, and other partners to deliver life-changing musical experiences for young people of Sheffield and beyond!

Find out more about the Harmony Works Project here