THE
QUEENS HALL STUDIO PROJECT
A community building, run by the community, for the community.
The people who use it, of all ages, will have regular opportunity to
have their say in how it is run and what is needed and what is provided.
The building will be open to community use, and for people to put on
their own events.
A music venue can be used for many other activities, but it is not satisfactory
to use a general purpose building for live music performance and activities
and Halton needs a dedicated live music venue.
We aim to make this an excellent live music venue, for local musicians
including U18s and for touring bands.
There will be lots of different kinds of music
and live performance events, where people can dance and jump around
or sit comfortably at tables with a drink.
Plans include:
repairing the building... roofs, walls, ceilings, floors, rewiring...
refurbishing the toilets...
building a good new wheelchair accessible toilet in the Mens wc
with its own door to the Performance Hall
making a bookable raised area in the Performance Hall for wheelchair
users and their friends its no fun going to see a band
and not getting to see the band,
turning an obsolete shower room into a rehearsal room, and removing
a wall to turn 2 store-rooms into a good big rehearsal room (and live
room when recording),
extending the bar so people can get served more easily, as well as serving
tea/coffee/juice/snacks into the Meeting Room and we would love a local
group to get involved to run a Healthy Eating cafe there.
Importantly, the project will provide:
A base for Feedback magazine, LOOSE (music), Split Ends Theatre Company
and other local groups.
This will enable organisations to develop and grow, to collaborate,
and to provide events and activities of a higher standard and that more
people can participate in and benefit from.
There is great value in people getting creatively involved in things
that interest them...
Our own building: there are grants available to run free and subsidised
events to enable equal access for all but there has been nowhere
to run them, and now there will be.
Rehearsal, recording and film-making and editing facilities...
Regular and one-off workshops, training and learning opportunities,
access to tuition and equipment.
Somewhere for local people to meet up and get together, maybe start
keep fit dance classes, or a Scrabble club, or a Circus Skills group...
whatever they choose to do...
Events and creative activities for young people where they have a say
in the running and organisation, a place where they are welcome and
where they feel they belong.
A brilliant live music venue giving the artists and the audience
what they need: a safe friendly atmosphere, appropriate comfortable
facilities, great sound. We aim to build a good local and national reputation
and for the venue to be part of the UK touring circuit right
here in Widnes.
Work experience and a wide range of volunteer opportunities... this
can help with getting a job, getting onto a college course, or just
getting out of the house and making new friends and doing something
that matters.
Gradually, there will be a variety of paid employment proper
full-time and part-time jobs as well as casual paid work.
PARTICIPATION AND MANAGEMENT:
The building, the project, will be run by the LOOSE Trustees
Greg Oldfield, Jaki Florek, Stuart Joynson. More may be added later.
There will also be a Committee local residents, anyone of any
age who uses the facilities or is based in the building, or is interested
in any aspect of the project all are welcome to be part of this Committee.
Please contact us now or any time in the future if you are interested.
There will be regular publicised open meetings where anyone can have
their say, put forward ideas, ask questions, identify problems, help
find solutions.
Maybe other facilities will be needed in the future there is
the flexibility and opportunity for people to shape what goes on and
what is provided.
There will also be a suggestion box in the building, maybe a suggestion
board so people can add to it and comment on suggestions.
So long as it is safe and legal, it will be a place where the people
who use it make the decisions.
There will be a massive up-grading of the website to give out information
and to allow people to contribute online.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:
Spread The Word by telling anyone and everyone about the project!
Register your interest and supply a contact phone/email/postal address:
by
emailing jaki.florek@virgin.net
or
writing to LOOSE, P.O. Box 67, Runcorn WA7 4NL
or
phoning 01928 566261 1pm 7pm
This needs to be done so we can have an organised and updated data base,
to include people who may not have been included so far, and to ensure
you know about meetings.
Even if you think weve got a contact for you please still
register cos it will make it easier to organise one proper data base.
Email is best, but no worries if you dont have email.
We need your help in setting up the data base, and also please
send in your ideas, observations and comments to be discussed when we
have a general meeting.
Also needed: Suggestions comments and ideas on
WHAT
WILL THE PLACE BE CALLED?
Do we go for something fresh, new ??
Do we keep some sort of historical reference?
A few possibilities which have been put forward include:
THE LACEY cos it is on Lacey Street.
QUEENS in memory of The Queens Hall,
also
it might keep trouble makers out cos it doesnt sound very butch...
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL cos that is what the building
was originally, also see above!
THE
STUDIO cos that is what it has been called since 1990
Also
needed: Suggestions, comments and ideas on...
WHAT SHOULD THE PLACE LOOK LIKE INSIDE?
Heres a few thoughts:
No plastic tat... solid wood, stainless steel, stylish posh vandal proof
toilets,
Robust flooring so people can roller blade or skate board, or paint
and make stuff, or just dance their socks off...
As well as tables & chairs in the Meeting Room and in the Performance
Hall... comfy sofas...
Rich deep sumptuous colours like black and red and blue in the Performance
Hall + toilets.... but maybe light and airy white and natural in the
Meeting Room...
If youve seen a place that you think looks great tell us
about it!
If you see something that you think is a good idea tell us about
it!
One thing we dont want is for it to look ... bland and anonymous
and fake...
THE QUEENS HALL STUDIO, Lacey Steet, Widnes WA8 7RF
So, here it is! It isnt a posh architects drawing yet but
it gives a basic idea of the inside of the building:
Left Wing: L1, L2, L3 dressing rooms when needed. L2 with wc, wash basins
+ shower, L3 will be a rehearsal room, L1 a general purpose room. Mens
+ Ladies toilets are in the Left Wing to be totally refurbished, a new
wheelchair accessible wc to be built in Mens toilet area with
a separate door from the Performance hall.
(L2 remove big old boiler, L3 remove old showers + make door
to Hall).
Right Wing: R1 recording control/mix room with viewing panel to big
live room/rehearsal room R2 (at present 2 derelict store-rooms.) New
bar + new serving hatches to Performance Hall. Existing hatch serves
from kitchen/bar to Meeting Room/cafe. Refurb. bar/kitchen.
We are looking at: Reduction of sound leakage, additional storage room,
a way of sometimes closing off half of the hall for smaller cosier events
(retaining access to bars + wcs), making a wheelchair viewing area in
the performance hall against the wall of the Ladies wc.
Roof and brickwork repairs, improved front entrance, rewiring whole
building, making good all floors + plaster.
Blimey, itll be as good as new... but with a history! And, importantly,
a future.