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BOSS OF GATESHEAD'S WORLD-RENOWNED GLASSHOUSE MUSIC CENTRE DELIVERS POWERFUL REPORT AT CONFERENCE IN LEEDS THIS WEDNESDAY 00:01, 21 May 2025 In music to North East ears, the chief

executive of The Glasshouse in Gateshead is today sharing a report on its success which reveals it has added a whopping £681m to the economy. Abigail Pogson is announcing the findings of the

new report at a conference in Leeds which details the impact The Glasshouse International Centre for Music has had since it opened in Gateshead 20 years ago. Sharing the good news - and

ongoing success story - in the wake of its milestone birthday, she said it remains "restless with ambition". The report into the impact of the world-renowned music centre was

officially launched by her at UKREiiF, the UK’s leading real estate and infrastructure investment forum, in Leeds this May 21; helping to showcase how culture and creativity can drive

regeneration, skills and local pride. “This report is a window on just how extraordinary our musical community is,” said Abigail. As well as a total £681.2m it has generated for the UK

economy since its opening in 2004, The Glasshouse's ongoing impact continues to deliver £36m each year, said the report. Over its two decades, the venue has welcomed more than eight

million visitors to ticketed events - enough to fill St James’ Park more than 150 times - and has seen 2.8 million interactions with its Make Music activities; many of them involving young

people. Annual social value, through education, inclusion and community programmes, is assessed at £14.1m while £10.6m is generated through conferences and events which help to fund that

live music work and the venue itself. More big numbers in the 20-year impact report - which was developed with leading planning and economics consultancy Lichfields - include 10,000

performances and 4.9 million attendances, ranging from global icons to local stars; 233,000 music sessions for all ages across the region and almost 700 jobs being supported directly and

indirectly. Article continues below Following its struggles, as everywhere, during the challenges of the pandemic, The Glasshouse has regularly made the news of late for all the right

reasons. Hot on the heels of launching new partnerships with leading local artists, it announced plans with local agency Generator to establish a Newcastle-Gateshead 'music city'.

Then came news of partnerships with BBC Introducing and other regional music leaders and, as most recently reported, it unveiled plans for a major new music academy to support the next

generation of artists. The glittering dome on the banks of the Tyne is said to have become a driving force for cultural and economic growth in the region, inspiring millions of people

through live music, education and community work. Talking about its "extraordinary musical community", Abigail added: “Together, we’ve just entered our third decade and like many

20-year-olds we’re restless with ambition.” And, as it embraces its third decade, The Glasshouse has set big goals for the future. One of them involves its new music academy while it also

aims to become the most affordable music centre in Europe. Other plans are to enter what it calls its 'most creatively ambitious chapter yet' and also to invest in its iconic

riverside building for future generations. The goals will build upon its record of 'using music to improve lives, grow confidence and strengthen communities', regardless of

background, income or experience. To this end, more than half of all tickets sold last year were priced under £30 and 93% of them were under £50. It also has £10 tickets available for

under-30s; hosts pay-what-you-decide gigs and offers thousands of £5 tickets through accessibility schemes. Abigail says: “We know music is not a luxury. “It’s a route to joy, confidence,

connection and growth - not just for individuals but for whole communities.” Among the music users is parent Matti Imarhiagbe whose children have benefited from scholarships and who said:

“Some things are really inaccessible and unaffordable but here there is something for everyone.” Article continues below And local folk artist Frankie Archer said: “So many inspirational

experiences here have helped make me the artist I am today, from learning and having fun in the Folkworks classes as a kid to developing as an independent musician in Summer Studios, to now

being an artist-in-residence.” North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has described The Glasshouse as not just a world-class venue but also "an economic powerhouse that supports local jobs and

shows the transformative power of culture". She adds: "Its work to support diverse artists and make music accessible to all is central to my vision of a thriving region where

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