Sheffield’s Harmony Works has received £300,000 from the JG Graves Charitable Trust, moving plans to transform Canada House into a youth music hub closer to completion.
Canada House, formerly known as Panache House, was acquired by the Harmony Works Trust in May 2024. The organisation plans to covert the building into a new music hub for young people across South Yorkshire.
The latest pledge from the JG Graces Charitable Trust – an organisation that supports projects enriching local communities – brings Harmony Works one step closer to its £14m fundraising target. However, a remaining funding gap of just over £1m still needs to be addressed.
‘We are delighted and deeply grateful to the JG Graves Charitable Trust for their generous support,’ Emily Pieters, project director at Harmony Works, said. ‘This local backing makes a huge different and sends a powerful message that Sheffield believes in this project.
‘Thanks to this pledge, we’re closer than ever to creating a permanent home for inspirational music making in the heart of Sheffield. But we’re not quite there yet – we still need to raise just over £1m to complete the transformation of Canada House. If you believe in music, heritage and young people, now’s the time to get involved.’
The new funding forms part of a broader collaboration effort that includes The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation, Sheffield City Council, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Levelling Up Fund.
Dona Womack, chair of JG Graves Charitable Trust, added: ‘We are delighted to support Harmony Work with this important project to establish a new city centre home for music education in Sheffield.
‘This exciting initiative revitalises one of Sheffield’s great historic buildings and will create a warm, welcoming base for music education that provides inspiring opportunities for young people to find their talent and enrich their lives through music.
‘Trustees were especially impressed by the potential of Harmony Works to connect young people from across the region, fuelling their growth and development for generations for come.’
Images: Harmony Works
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