I’m happy to report that my first year as Chairman of the Board can only be described as one of continual progress. From the very first The Sage Gateshead won a reputation for its warm welcome as well as its pioneering programmes, and that ‘openness’ has been invaluable in helping me to gain a growing understanding of the solid foundations which have been laid in the five years since the building opened; and of the ambitions and plans we will now work on together in taking the company into an even brighter future. We already provide outstanding opportunities for people of all ages and interests to access an international programme covering just about every type of music in our acoustically excellent halls. Just as important is the fact that we enable participation in music classes, sessions, workshops and groups, throughout the day and in the evening, in our dedicated Music Education Centre - as well as in other spaces throughout the building and, importantly, in local communities and, increasingly, nationally. It’s important to acknowledge, however, that our Learning and Participation successes haven’t always been as visible to the outside world as our high profile international Performance Programme; so it’s particularly satisfying to see that particular area of activity effecting ever more profound change in the aspirations and attitudes of our communities, young and old.
“FROM THE VERY FIRST THE SAGE GATESHEAD WON A REPUTATION FOR ITS WARM WELCOME AS WELL AS ITS PIONEERING PROGRAMMES”
Recognition of our progress in the media is always welcome, and one particular step change came in the form of an acknowledgement in The Times, in October 2008: “The Sage Gateshead has quickly become one of the world's most admired centres for music."; bear in mind that only two years earlier, in September 2006, the same paper had reported, “The Sage Gateshead has quickly become the most exciting music venue in Britain.” That leap,
from national to international recognition of our work, shows that The Sage Gateshead is not only acknowledged as a valuable resource in itself, but has developed a profile as a pioneering national and international project with the ability to bring about social, creative and economic opportunities for its communities and its region; an achievement in which I’ve been particularly proud to play a small a part. While it’s true to say the stormy economic climate offers real challenges, it also presents opportunities for those of us who are prepared to be bold and distinctive: in the five years since we opened the doors our customers have learnt to trust and value The Sage Gateshead brand. A constant dialogue with the community we serve has given us the opportunity to be distinctive, and to be guided by the values of that community while remaining flexible and responsive to its needs. The scale and scope of the work, and the integrity of the whole artistic programme, whether it be Performance or Learning and Participation, sits firmly on a solid understanding of the depth and strength of our connection with those around us; typified by a commitment to building partnerships based on a generous and inclusive approach. I’d like to place on record my thanks to Anthony Sargent and all his remarkable colleagues for their astonishing aspiration and commitment; as well as acknowledging the enormous debt of gratitude we owe to John Squires, our Vice Chairman, who does all the really heavy lifting, whilst all that’s asked of me is to build on the remarkably solid foundations laid down by my predecessor Tony Pender. Looking ahead, it promises to be another five exciting years as we work forwards from our 5th Birthday in December 2009 – a landmark for all of us to celebrate in an ever more iconic building.
"In less than four years The Sage Gateshead has become one of the world's most admired centres for music." The Times, October 2008
In just five years The Sage Gateshead has not only won numerous awards, but has earned a place in the hearts of artists, participants and audiences alike.
“(Hall One) is phenomenal and incredible both inside and out… The venue's acoustics are wonderful.” Yuri Temirkanov, Music Director, St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
“Great Hall! Great acoustics! It is a privilege. Many, many thanks,” José Carreras
“To me The Sage Gateshead means a whole lot of fun. It's a fresh and vibrant place where I can explore music like never before. I performed with my school in Hall One which was incredible!” Katie, Schools Programme participant
“I love the building, the ambience, the friendliness of the staff and audiences, and mostly the quality of the performances I have seen.” Christine Swales, customer “My fave venue in the world,” Richard Hawley “I watched The Sage Gateshead literally rise from the foundations… it was so exciting to see such a beautiful building come to fruition, and one that would put Gateshead on the map.” Jacqueline Cassidy, Gateshead resident “(Hall One is)…a beautiful room, and the best sounding hall we’ve ever played in.” Guy Garvey (Elbow)
“Sure is nice to play a place that sounds fantastic I’m gonna tell my friends about this place!” Emmylou Harris “(Hall One) It's a lovely room!” Ray Davies (The Kinks) “The acoustics are f**king frightening.” Nick Cave “I have been transported by the acoustics, engaged by the breadth of programming, and delighted by the opportunities for participation. Congratulations to The Sage Gateshead for bringing a breath of fresh air to the region.” Fiona MacLeod, customer
In its first five years The Sage Gateshead has provided more than 200,000 music making sessions and 2,000 performances, welcomed over 100,000 conference delegates at more than 500 conferences and helped make a memorable day for more than 100 happy couples who have said ‘I do’ at this iconic venue.
Arts Council England • Classic FM • Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland • Department for Children Schools and Families • Equal Arts • Gateshead College • Gateshead Council • Joan and Margaret Halbert • Lawnmowers Theatre Company • NewcastleGateshead Initiative • North of England Refugee Service • Northern Rock Foundation • One North East • Paul Hamlyn Foundation • Sage UK • Serious • The Barbour Trust • The Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust • The David Goldman Programme • The Garfield Weston Foundation • The Go-Ahead Group plc • The Sage Group plc • The Shears Foundation • University of Sunderland • Youth Music
1989 Willan Trust • 20,000 Voices • A Bit Crack • Arup • Barclays • Base @ Barnardo’s • Benfield Charitable Trust • BBC • Bensham Community Festival • Brewin Dolphin Investment Management • Bridge + Tunnel Voices • Broom Cottages PRU • Capital Shopping Centres • Channel 4 • Chester-le-Street District Council • Cité de la Musique • Community Campus • Creative and Cultural Skills • Culture10 • Customs House • Dance City • Darlington Borough Council • Darlington Civic Theatre and Arts Centre • Darlington Youth Service • Denton Young Peoples Project • Derwentside Detached Youth Project • Dickinson Dees LLP • Digby Trout • District of Easington Arts Development Team • Durham City Council • Durham University • Easington District Council • Eldon Square • English Folk Dance and Song Society • Esmée Fairbairn Foundation • European Concert Hall Organisation • Eversheds LLP • Explain • Federal Express Europe Inc. • Fenwick Ltd • Funk Network • Fuseboxdesign • Galafield Youth Centre • Gateshead Crossroads Caring for Young Carers • GEM Arts • Generator • Grainger plc • Greggs plc • Hall and Partners • Haswell and District Mencap Centre • Horden Youth and Community Centre • ITVTyne Tees • Jazz Northeast • Jazz Services • Jazzaction • Jazzwise • John Lewis Newcastle • Jumpin’ Hot • Kalapremi • Kellett Fund • King’s Place • KPMG • Laing O’Rourke Ltd • Living North • Lloyds TSG Corporate Markets • Lumley Community Centre • Lyndhurst Community Centre • Made in Poland • MetroCentre • More Music in Morecambe • Moving On Homeless Charity • Muckle LLP • Music Beyond Mainstream • National Youth Orchestra • Newcastle and Gateshead Arts Studio • Newcastle Building Society • Newcastle City Council • Newcastle Council Arts Development Team • Newcastle Gateshead Cultural Venues • Newcastle United Foundation • Nexus • Nigel Wright Recruitment • NoFi • Northern Arts Board • Northern Rock • Northern Sinfonia Trust • Northumbria University • Northumbrian Water • Open University in the North • Opera North • Pakistan Cultural Society (PCS) • Parkhouse Project • Phoenix Detached Project • Positive Futures • Potts Printing and Packaging • Raby Street Play and Youth Centre • Radcliffe Trust • Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council • Redcar and Cleveland Extended Schools • Roland Cookson Fund • Royal Bank of Scotland • Roycroft Clinic • Sacriston and District Detached Project • Schmazz • Seaham Maritime Music Festival Association • Sheriff Leas Office • Side Cinema • Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd • Sing Up! • Sintons LLP • Sir James Knott Trust • SJM • St Bernadette’s RC Primary School • Steps Detached Project • Stockton Borough Council Arts Development • Sunderland City Council • Sure Starts • Teesside University • Tenon • The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust • The Avenues Detached Project • The Baring Foundation • The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust • The David Boardman Trust • The Foyle Foundation • The John Ellerman Foundation • The MonumentTrust • The Prince’s Trust • The PRS Foundation • The Rayne Foundation • The Vardy Foundation • The Voice Project • Tolent Construction Ltd • Tow Law Community Centre • UBS • Universities for the North East • University of Newcastle upon Tyne • Vamos! • Volvo North • Wood Holmes Group • World of Brass • YMCA
Building on the strong foundations of our first five whirlwind years, the outlines of the next five are already becoming clear. Moving on from the international reputation and acclaim The Sage Gateshead has already won, the next five years will see: • our programming and artistic relationships becoming ever more exciting and winning more national and international admiration • a richer network of learning relationships and opportunities • more lustrous major conferences captured for NewcastleGateshead • and – always at our heart – The Sage Gateshead becoming every day a more essential, cherished home to the local and regional community we exist to serve. Anthony Sargent, General Director, The Sage Gateshead
Thanks to everyone who has played a part in our first five years, including:
Leo Finn, former Chair, Northern Rock Foundation
Alderman George Gill CBE, former Leader, Gateshead Council Alistair Anderson, first Artistic Director Folkworks
Lucy Bird, Director of Marketing and Development, The Sage Gateshead
Andrew Dixon, former CEO Northern Arts
Lyn Shears and Trevor Shears OBE
Andrew Scott, former Director Learning and Participation, The Sage Gateshead
Margaret Fay CBE, Chair, One North East
Anthony Sargent, General Director, The Sage Gateshead
Music Spark Show participants, Professional Learning Programme
Audience at SummerTyne festival
Paul Stobart, Managing Director, UK and Ireland, The Sage Group plc
Bob Essert, Sound Space, formerly of Arup Acoustics
Paul Walker, Group Chief Executive, The Sage Group plc
CoMusica participants, Youth and Community Programme
Peter Hewitt, former CEO Northern Arts
Cllr Mick Henry CBE, Leader Gateshead Council
Peter Stark OBE, former CEO Northern Arts
Cynthia Goldman
Raj Patel, Arup Acoustics
Dame Liz Forgan, Arts Council England Chair
Robert Dufton, Director, Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Dame Margaret Barbour DBE DL, Chairman of Trustees, The Barbour Trust
Roger Kelly, CEO Gateshead Council
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, Chairman, The Sage Gateshead
Mark Robinson, CEO Arts Council England, North East
Ros Rigby OBE, Performance Programme Director, The Sage Gateshead Dr Tom Shakespeare, current Chair Arts Council England North East Fiddles on Fire participants, Adult Programme
Simon Clugston, Performance Programme Director, The Sage Gateshead
Fiona Ellis, former Director, Northern Rock Foundation
Sir Christopher Frayling, former Chair Arts Council England
Foster + Partners project team: Spencer de Gray CBE, Lord Foster of Thames Bank and Jason Flanagan
Sir Gerry Robinson, former Chair Arts Council England Sir Leslie Elton, former CEO, Gateshead Council
George Loggie, former Chair Northern Arts Board Hugh Welch, Chair, Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
Stephen Little, Director Building Services and ICT, The Sage Gateshead The Sage Gateshead’s Customer Services Team
Margaret, Joan and Enid Halbert Thomas Zehetmair, Music Director, Northern Sinfonia Inspiration Choir participants, Business Development Programme John Squires OBE DL, former Chairman, Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and Vice Chairman, The Sage Gateshead John Summers, former CEO Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of The Sage Gateshead
Tony Pender CBE, first Chairman of North Music Trust The Sage Gateshead Young Musicians, Youth and Community Programme
Katherine Zeserson, Director of Learning and Participation, The Sage Gateshead
Photography credits: Mark Savage, Dan Brady, Alex Telfer, Allan Glenwright, Simon Burgon, Steve Mayes, North News & Pictures
Kathryn Tickell QM, Artistic Director, Folkworks
Designed & illustrated by solutiongroup.co.uk
Chairman: Lord Puttnam of Queensgate The Sage Gateshead St Mary’s Square Gateshead Quays Gateshead NE8 2JR www.thesagegateshead.org 0191 443 4666
Founding Patrons: The Sage Group plc The Barbour Trust Northern Rock Foundation The Garfield Weston Foundation Joan and Margaret Halbert
North Music Trust is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, number 4044936 and as a charity, number 1087445.