Colston Hall

Colston Hall is run by Bristol Music Trust, an independent organisation created to develop the Hall's artistic programme and promote music and music making in Bristol.

Launched in May 2011 the Bristol Music Trust is an exciting independent venture with two distinct aims.

The first is to manage the operations of Colston Hall; developing a diverse musical programme, leading a major capital refurbishment programme and securing its commercial success. The Hall presents a wonderful opportunity to build a diverse Music and Arts Centre for the region.

The second aim is to drive forward music across Bristol; working in partnership with city wide organisations; leading on musical education, commissioning new works, supporting local musicians, and promoting music across all communities to build on the vibrant talent already in the city. We want the Bristol music scene to stand out with its own unique culture and internationally renowned reputation.

Our strategic vision for the next three years is to ensure that:

• Colston Hall becomes a strong, confident, creative, and artistically vibrant musical brand, with a reputation for creative excellence and diversity;
• Bristol Music Trust develops its own brand as a leader, supporter, and innovator in the musical life of Bristol and the South-West;
• The Trust is financially secure and commercially astute, maximising funds available for our artistic and educational objectives, and building an independent, responsive, fit for purpose business infrastructure;
• Plans for the building redevelopment are finalised, with an inspiring and pragmatic vision for the Colston Hall of the future, and a bold fundraising campaign launched;
• The Trust continues to support young people’s music making, takes a leadership role in all aspects of music education in the City, and with a successful Music Education Hub bid, brings our creative vision to the delivery of this service.
• We continue to build creative partnerships with local, national and international artists and organisations, to inspire and energise our music and educational programmes.
• We continue to develop our organisational culture to be creative, flexible, collaborative and professional; and to motivate our people to improve performance with appropriate HR policies and procedures, training and development, and managerial support.
• The Colston Hall building becomes a welcoming, lively music-hub for the city. We will pull together all foyer and concert outreach activity under the banner of Colston Plus.

If you have any questions about the development of the BMT please email bristolmusictrust [at] colstonhall [dot] org

For more information, please visit www.bristolmusictrust.org.uk

Bristol Music Trust : Board of Trustees

Bristol's Music Trust is run by a board of Trustees who represnt a wide cross-section of local, regional and national people with a background in business, music, law, finance and education.

The appointed members are:

Henry Kenyon (Chair) - former partner for 20 years of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Vice Chair and Treasurer of CLICSargent Cancer Care for Children. Led the successful transformation of Speedwell Technology College to Bristol Brunel Academy.

Michele Balfe - specialist employment, equality and discrimination solicitor with Beachcroft.

Marti Burgess - Solicitor at Metcalfes, Board member of African & Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, and director of an events and marketing consultancy.

Simon Chapman - Recently retired as the senior audit partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers in the West and Wales having spent over 30 years with the firm. Member of the General and Sailing Committees of Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club.

Paul Fordham - General manager, Punch Records (Birmingham urban music development agency). Ran own promotions business for many years in Bristol and worked in Colston Hall developing the world music programme.

Marie McCluskey - Director, Swindon Dance. National role in developing youth dance, and awarded MBE for services to dance.

Sir Brian McMaster - Joined EMI Records as a member of their International Classical Division. In 1973 he went to English National Opera as Controller of Opera Planning and three years later joined Welsh National Opera as Managing Director, where he remained until 1991. During the period 1984 to 1989 he was also Artistic Director of Vancouver Opera. Brian was Director of the Edinburgh International Festival from 1991 to 2006.

Andrew Nisbet - Founder and Chairman of Nisbets plc, the UK's largest supplier of catering equipment, based in Bristol. He is just completing his duty as High Sheriff of Bristol for 2012/13.

Poppy Stephenson - CEO, Bristol Festival Community Group and organiser of BrisFest, involving over 300 volunteers, for three years.

James Wetz - Visiting Fellow at Bristol University Graduate School of Education, Fellow of the Centre for Social Policy at the Warren House Group at Dartington, a Fellow of the RSA, a lay member of Council at Bristol University and trustee of the ‘Bristol Ensemble’ He also sings with the Phoenix Choir in Bristol.

In addition, Cllr. Simon Cook, Assistant Mayor with responsibility for Culture, Sport and Capital Projects, will represent BCC on the Board.

For more information please email bristolmusictrust [at] colstonhall [dot] org or call 0117 922 3686.

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