Property purchased for new Sheffield music centre

Sheffield’s Harmony Works Trust has bought a Grade II-listed building in Sheffield city centre. The £1.6m purchase of the 35,000 square foot Canada House property marks a major milestone in the Trust’s plans to foster music education and transformation in the heart of the city.

The project will see the £14m restoration of Canada House to transform the building into a new, central music education hub for young musicians from across the region. Reachable by public transport from all parts of South Yorkshire, the revitalised building will offer space for teaching, practising, rehearsing and performing as well as a café and ‘chill-out spaces’.

Announcing the proposed renovation, Harmony Works Trust said: ‘Canada House is the perfect home for music education – it will be a place where all kinds of music can thrive… We will make the most of the building’s space, retaining its unique heritage features, whilst making sure that it is accessible and welcoming to all, using the variety of spaces to adapt to fit different music-making such as recording facilities, performance, and practice spaces, which will support all types of musical development to meet the needs of our diverse and talented young musicians. 

Established by Sheffield Music Hub, Sheffield Music Academy, Brass Bands England, and Music in the Round, the project is backed by multiple funding initiatives, including Government Levelling Up Funds secured by Sheffield City Council, major public funders, the Sheffield Culture Collective, and local universities.

Emily Pieters, Harmony Works’ project director, added: ‘While we’re one step nearer to achieving our long-term goals of creating a more accessible and inclusive musical pathway for the young people and their communities across the Sheffield region, our work here is just beginning. With significant support from the public sector secured, we now need the help of our private sector to get this project over the finish line.’

Harmony Works Trust is now applying for additional funding support from Arts Council England and trusts and foundations for its next phase of the project.