Sage Gateshead

Charity Details

Full Name: North Music Trust
Field: Arts, Culture and Heritage
Founded: 2000
Headquarters: Gateshead, NE8 2JR
Charity No: 1087445

History and Activities

The Sage Gateshead on the south bank of the Tyne is an iconic venue, recognized internationally for its distinctive, sinuous building designed by Sir Norman Foster. Part of the Gateshead Quays re-development, which includes the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the Millennium bridge, it cost £70 million to construct with capital funding from charitable trust and foundations and the National Lottery.

In 2016/17, 264,026 people attended 451 performances featuring all types and styles of music. However, the Sage is perhaps best known for hosting of classical music events. It is home to the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the UK’s only full-time chamber orchestra and the outstanding professional orchestra based in North East England. In 2018, the Northern Sinfonia has been celebrating its 60th anniversary by performing a series of specially commissioned works. The orchestra performed on 102 occasions in 2016/17, of which 53 performance were located at the Sage. In addition to attending concerts, 186,000 people took part in a course, class or workshop, demonstrating the importance of The Sage as a community hub.

When the operating charity, the North Music Trust (NMT), commissioned a ten year in 2014, it was found that the Sage had generated £283 million in economic value for the region from 6 million visitors. The former Vice Chair of NMT, Margret Fay, has commented that while the Sage is commonly perceived as a classical venue for older people, the most successful concerts in terms of revenue generation had been more popular concerts featuring artists like LeAnn Rimes. The Sage’s Learning and Participation Programme, which engages children from 13 local authority areas in making music, has also been a big success.

NMT has enjoyed considerable success in recent years in growing its revenues from concerts and learning and participation, rising from about £2 million in 2012 to £6.5 million in 2016. Arts Council England funding, as with all similar venues, remains critical to financial viability, amounting to £3,512,122 in 2016/17. Philanthropic income of £1,093,146 from donations and legacies and the endowed fund managed by the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland was another key element in the funding mix. This element will likely grow considerably in the future.

Vital Statistics (year to 31/03/2017)

Website
http://www.sagegateshead.com/

References