LOCAL PEOPLE SET TO BENEFIT FROM FREE RECORDING SESSIONS FOR A LIMITED PERIOD IN DONCASTER

Published 14 March 2022 at 2:00pm

A world class recording and rehearsal studio in Doncaster is making its services free of charge to local artists, schools and community members for a limited period, thanks to funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Supanova Studios, based in Armthorpe, Doncaster, has been awarded £35,000 under the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which in total provided £1m funding for arts & culture organisations and freelancers across South Yorkshire.

The studio, run by Creative Director Jason Burns, is now able to offer free access to a wide range of its services including audio recording, band rehearsal rooms, as well as support with production techniques. It also includes access to talented music teachers available in its Drum & Guitar school and singing tuition and taster sessions.

Supanova Studios boasts the largest live recording room in South Yorkshire, three fully equipped rehearsal studios and a world class vocal booth, plus a fully mirrored dance studio.

“We applied for the arts & culture funding as we have seen how badly hit local musicians and artists have been in this area by the pandemic,” explains Jason Burns, Creative Director at Supanova Studios. “We also had to close our doors for several months due to lockdown restrictions and it was an extremely difficult time. Local artists, musicians and dancers are working hard to build their businesses back and we wanted to be able to support them and the community through our studio.”

He adds: ”Anyone interested should visit our website and book online or call us now!”

Supanova Studios has been used by big names in the music industry such as YungBlud and Bang Bang Romeo, as well as in recordings for TV shows including Digging for Britain and Walking Victorian Britain.

Supanova Studios offers world class recording, mixing, editing and mastering services, as well as Popstar parties for children, hen parties and any other groups.

Kate Brindley, Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, said: “It is fantastic to see South Yorkshire’s Arts & Culture fund supporting so many organisations that help talented local people and community groups to get back on track following the pandemic.

“With our arts and culture sector being so badly affected, this funding is just what South Yorkshire needs to make a difference to people and our communities where it matters most.”

Doncaster received £450k from South Yorkshire MCA’s ARG fund, for which local organisations and freelancers applied to Doncaster Council. The funding has been allocated to a wide range of activities providing experiences for young people whose health and wellbeing has been affected by the pandemic; a celebration of Doncaster’s history in glassmaking; plus programmes to engage people in creative industry experiences to enhance social behaviours and raise career aspirations.

For more details visit www.supanovastudios.com or call 01302 836686. Alternatively, email info@supanovastudios.com

Visit our dedicated page for more details about the arts, culture and heritage in South Yorkshire.

As well as for Supanova Studios, funding from the £1m Arts & Culture ARG fund has been allocated to the following organisations:

Doncaster

• CAST - Fresh Voices – New Works Season: A season of new work in Doncaster by Doncaster residents, creating skills opportunities and career pathways. The project will breathe opportunities and creativity into Doncaster and through this work we will inspire future generations to engage and benefit from the arts. Our focus will be on creating cultural communities who have access to work inspired by relevant issues, such as Climate change and recent events like the Doncaster 2019 Floods.
• DARTS - Breathe & Connect: Strengthening the skills of Doncaster’s freelance artists and young people by improving the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults who have been severely impacted by Covid. Breathe & Connect will support early years and those with Long Covid, and will develop our connections, knowledge and workforce in order to safeguard the future of the arts industry.
• Higher Rhythm– Sound Careers & Stage Invasion: two key programmes which minimise impacts from the change in social behaviour resulting from Covid-19.

1. ‘Sound Careers’ will provide young people from Doncaster, with authentic creative industry experiences, nurturing increased access to these industries, and promoting them as a ‘career-for-all’.
2. ‘Stage Invasion’, a programme that introduces young people to the live music industry alongside Doncaster Music Education Hub.

• Mandy Keating – Breaking Glass: a project to educate people about the glassmaking heritage in Doncaster and some of the processes, whilst celebrating people who worked for or had a connection with Pilkington Brothers Ltd in Doncaster. It will involve creating new portraits and some projections of images that participants create through the project workshops. Linked in with Heritage Doncaster, the community of Kirk Sandall and town centre organisations (ArtBomb).
• Sheepish Productions - The Last Motel: a darkly comedic thriller play and an exploration of what individuals consider their purpose in life to be.

About SYMCA Arts, Culture & Heritage

South Yorkshire offers a fantastic quality of life with a thriving arts, culture and heritage sector. The region is the UK’s leading destination for people seeking town and city culture, music, art and historic stately homes.

We’re home to the biggest theatre complex outside of London, we have a wealth of historic stately homes and museums within South Yorkshire, including Wentworth Woodhouse, Brodsworth Hall and Cannon Hall, plus museums at Experience Barnsley, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Kelham Island, Magna Science Adventure Centre and the Millennium Galleries.

We are a region that is proud to play a role on the global stage. We host numerous local, national and international events every year, contributing hugely to our residents’ well-being and to the vibrancy of the region’s towns and city centre.

Culture is a priority for our region as we continue to build on the potential of our outstanding natural, heritage, cultural and artistic assets and people both in urban and rural areas.

The Culture, Arts and Heritage (CAH) sector in South Yorkshire; makes a substantial contribution to the local economy, generating £200m GVA and employing 6,400 people. It has significant wider economic and social benefits including supporting tourism, creative industries, health, education, community and individual wellbeing. These contribute at least a further £170m to the local economy and £1.2bn in individual wellbeing.

However South Yorkshire’s arts, culture and heritage sector receives much less public funding from both central and local government than comparable city regions. The sector has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic but is well placed to play an important role in the economic recovery plan and deliver those significant economic and social benefits. To support the sector, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in 2021 made £1m funding available for the arts, culture and heritage sector, which is being distributed by South Yorkshire’s local authorities. The funding will help generate more cultural events, activities or projects, with some businesses potentially eligible for micro grants.