Liverpool orchestra partners with Cumbrian port town

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) will partner with a town in Cumbria as part of an Arts Council England programme to ‘level up’ cultural investment in the North of England.

A three-year project between Barrow-in-Furness and RLPO, an ACE National Portfolio Organisation, will launch in January, offering a series of concerts, community events and educational activities to the local community.

Situated nearly 100 miles north of Liverpool, Barrow-in-Furness has previously been identified by ACE as a 'Levelling up for Culture Place', where it intends to increase engagement and investment.

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• Few of ACE's priority places are among the lowest funded
• High priority areas yet to receive levelling up funding

Speaking about the collaboration between Barrow and RLPO, Jen Cleary, Director North, ACE, said the organisation's 10-year Let’s Create strategy aims to provide everyone with “access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences wherever they live”.

The alliance will see RLPO work with Cumbria Music Education Hub to offer visits and performances to every primary school in Barrow. It will also include creative residencies with secondary schools to support young people as music creators and performers, as well as general music education in the area.

In addition, Cumbria Music Education Hub and RLPO will aim to “embed a singing culture in all primary schools” and boost group singing for children and young people across the town.

Throughout the spring and summer, a series of pop-up chamber music concerts, dementia-friendly performances, and music-making events for under-5s are planned.

Michael Eakin, Chief Executive, RLPO, said the orchestra was “delighted” to participate in the programme and would work with “many fantastic creative organisations” in Barrow to create opportunities for local people to enjoy music.

The inaugural event will see a performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 5 by RLPO led by Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan at Barrow’s Forum Theatre.

Hindoyan said that through the orchestra’s existing outreach programmes, “we have seen first-hand how music can transform lives”.

“Our passion for music is at the heart of every one of our concerts, and we can’t wait to share this with everyone in Barrow,” he added.

Regeneration

Once a centre for shipbuilding, the last surface ships built at Barrow were launched in the early 2000s, though the yard continues to build submarines. In recent years, the town has been undergoing significant regeneration.

Barrow was one of 101 towns selected to submit a proposal for up to £25m of funding from the government's £3.6bn Towns Fund in 2020, securing the maximum possible grant. In 2021, it was awarded almost £16m from the first round of the government's Levelling Up Fund.

Local councillor Virginia Taylor said: "Centuries of fascinating history throughout the Barrow Locality have built up a rich and unique cultural heritage, not least the industrial story still developing today, which has been and remains a foundation and inspiration for so much creativity.

"It will be wonderful to see this partnership enhance what is already happening and provide more chances for local people to enjoy high-quality cultural experiences in their communities."