How Government cash lifeline will help Doncaster music and radio project

Higher Rhythm, based on Nether Hall Road, has been given £51,784 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, one of two Doncaster organisations to have been given the assistance.

The organisation is a not-for-profit music and media organisation based in Doncaster, providing music and media industry focussed activities across the region, including two pro recording studios, a licensed radio station, Sine FM, a record label, digital distribution, events promotion, courses including national and higher national diplomas, artist development programmes and volunteering opportunities.

They hope to use some the grant to develop online programmes.

Chief executive, Steve Mundin, said: “Like countless other organisations in a huge range of sectors, Higher Rhythm has experienced our day-to-day activities turned upside down over the past six months, and given that we usually work with hundreds of young people, particularly in the spring and summer months, the number of young people we could work with in that same period this year was drastically lower.

“The support through the culture recovery fund, will allow Higher Rhythm to restructure and rebuild specific activities including developing our online programmes, so that people can continue to access the creative services that Higher Rhythm offer”.

Higher Rhythm was launched in 2001 as a recording studio but now offers additional support including music releases, managed digital distribution, radio broadcasting opportunities, live events, workshops and educational opportunities.

Cast, Doncaster’s main theatre at Waterdale, will receive £249,670 it was also confirmed when the Government announced the grants on Monday.

Sarah Maxfield, Area Director North, Arts Council England said: “The pandemic has had a massive impact on the whole range of organisations working in the north’s cultural sector - theatres, music venues, festivals, museums and the companies who support them with technical sound, light and staging services. The cultural sector makes a huge contribution to the north’s economy, quality of life and communities.

“We are announcing much needed investment and support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to a group of organisations across the north - with more announcements in the coming weeks - providing an essential lifeline so the cultural sector can survive and come back strongly in the future.”