£4.6 million investment for Chetham’s School of Music

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is pleased to announce an investment of £4.6 million in the world-famous Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, which will enable it to develop as a world-class visitor attraction.

The investment will help Chetham’s to extend its expertise and broaden its reach through a new multi-purpose school and a state-of-the-art performance venue. It will also enable the School to open up its outstanding 15th Century Library and other medieval buildings to the public for the first time in centuries as a new visitor attraction linked to the Cathedral, creating a new Medieval Quarter for the city.

This initial investment by the NWDA towards phase I of the project will enable the School to purchase the land required to take this ambitious vision forward.

Already the UK’s largest Music School with over 290 young musicians, 90% of whom are funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Chetham’s is seeking to extend its reach and resources so the new facilities will benefit not just the students of the future and the UK music scene but also the local community and visitors to the city.

James Berresford, Director of Tourism at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:

“Through this investment the NWDA is recognising the huge potential that Chetham’s has to enhance the visitor experience of Manchester city centre. As well as providing a state-of-the-art teaching facility for the musicians of the future, this exciting development will open up some fantastic historic buildings to the public, including the oldest library in the English-speaking world, and provide the city with another world-class performance space. We hope this project will be the catalyst in generating further interest in Manchester’s important cultural tourism offer.”

Claire Hickman, Head of Chetham’s School of Music, said:

“Here at Chets we are all thrilled that the NWDA has chosen to support us in such a crucial way. This land purchase is the first step in our exciting journey, not only to realise our dreams as a Music School, but also to capitalise properly on our unique heritage in medieval Manchester for the benefit of all.”

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For further information please contact Helen Batte, Tourism Press Officer on 01925 400235 or 07764 239856 or Helen.Batte@nwda.co.uk

For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925 400259.

For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

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