(See progress pics & plans at the bottom of this page!)

During Covid, we were able to borrow money for the first time, as there was a flush of easy access bounce back loans and people prepared to lend us money, which was new for us. We decided that we would borrow some of this money and take a risk in order to get our backyard moving towards the development that we have long been dreaming of.

With our loan we managed to buy 10 cheap semi-converted 40-feet containers and get them here. We undertook structural ground works and drain- age, got architect drawings, planning permission and licensing all signed off… and then we ran out of money.

They have sat for four years, being used for storage and the occasional pop-up event.

During this time, there have barely been any suitable grants to apply for at the level of funding needed to complete them, and neither have we had the time to really tackle how to move it to the next stage. It has been too consuming just keeping the programme going and opening co-working with a tiny team. – we believe that this project is perfect for funding, it would help our sustainability significantly and would really expand & safeguard what we can offer our visitors and the arts community.

A BACKYARD MUSIC HUB

• A youth-facing, open access electronic music studio with decks and music library.
• 12 affordable, soundproofed music studios.
• A community radio station to interview musicians & DJs as a way of inspiring and empowering others.
• A flexible space for community engagement, rehearsals, education, workshops and room 2 events.
• A free, inclusive community sound garden and outdoor space for local people.
• Additional toilets and a new fully accessible route into the main building.
• Outdoor hospitality & performance kit for summer pop ups.
• Solar panels, rainwater collection and biomass boiler.

SO MANY REASONS…

• Firstly, so that Cobalt can become a full grass- roots music ecosystem, offering opportunities at all levels, from learning to creation to performance.
• Because it will build on our mixed-use business model and increase economic sustainability in order to support grassroots music over the long term.
• It will give us space to expand our engagement and educational offer into a clean space with- out a bar.
• To create new jobs and help safeguard creativity for early career musicians.
• To see a reduction in emissions and long-term environmental sustainability.
• To be able to offer increased daytime and sober usage to a far wider community.
• To reach a wider audience: through public- facing design and accessible programming and because the location is so much more approachable than the front of Cobalt.
• Because we have been looking at a building site for far too many years, and this is a project with full planning permission, full costings and full licences all ready to go – it just needs the funding.

Min £120k/year income increase covering program deficit & enabling new job roles to replace voluntary positions 
Creation of a mixed sustainable model; earned income + public funding + partnership
> 10 tonnes of CO₂ saved annually; through solar & biomass investment
A significantly increased & wider audience reach; through public-facing design & accessible programming.