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Grassroots music venue saved thanks to £75k boost

The Forum Three members of Blues Band DNA. Dave Penman is in the centre playing guitar he is wearing a cap and grey jumper and looking down. To his right is a band member in front of a microphone singing and to the right is a drummer. The Forum
Dave Penman (centre) of Blues Band DNA said the venue had given the band the opportunity to play live

A small grassroots venue has been saved after raising £75,000 in community shares.

The Forum has been a cultural hub at the heart of Darlington for 20 years.

It was awarded £400,000 in Arts Council funding in May, but to unlock that funding, the team needed to raise £50,000 - a target it has smashed.

Chief executive Allison Mckay said she was delighted with the fundraising success, but feared for the future of other small venues and the "survival of the grassroots music industry".

Exterior of The Forum with a colourful bird mural across it
The Forum in Darlington has been at the heart of the town for 20 years

In 2011, the venue faced almost certain closure, but a campaign to save it saw it relaunched as a social enterprise headed by Ms Mckay.

She said she had been "hopeful but not confident" of raising the money and it was a "very scary thing to embark on".

"We always knew we had strong community support, it's heartwarming that people have taken their hard-earned money and put it in to something like this," she said.

"But it's no good us saying we are okay, looking across the country we actually rely on the whole network - the whole industry.

"We need lots of grassroot music venues and new music to be out there to survive."

Four men from the band DNA are standing smiling at the camera - there is a Christmas tree and blackboard in the background.
Blues Band DNA said the atmosphere at The Forum was "incredible"

Ms Mckay said the shares money would be used to make The Forum a "first-class venue" for customers and the gig performers.

"It's about creating that experience in a small town in a small venue," she added.

Dave Penman of Darlington Blues Band DNA, is a shareholder.

He said: "Without the Forum we wouldn't be here, it's because of the rehearsal rooms the recording facilities and the ability to play live.

"The atmosphere is incredible, mainly because it such a beautiful room, great staging and professional sound people."

Paul Williams, frontman of Ska band The Skapones, said small venues were "vital" for the survival of the industry.

"Touring the UK we've seen how many venues we've played have gone.

"Darlington has so much local talent and without places like this, there's no outlet for music - it's priceless."

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