By Tony Collins
Top musician Hozier got a sneak preview of Symphony Hall’s £13.2 million transformation ahead of a sold-out show at the top venue which kicked off his UK tour.
The Irish musician, whose single Take Me To Church went triple platinum, was invited to have a close-up look at the Making an Entrance project which aims to redevelop Symphony Hall’s public foyer areas.
In addition to a new foyer performance space for free and low-cost activities, there will be dedicated spaces to host learning and participation projects.
This is aimed to offer a richer and more welcoming experience including enhanced food and beverage offer, refurbished toilets, additional disabled toilets and changing facilities.
Hozier was joined on his 15 September visit by local musician, James Attwood, who has been involved in the young people’s music programme at Town Hall Symphony Hall since 2017.
Plans for the revamp of the 3,000 capacity Symphony Hall, which officially opened in 1991, have been formally submitted to Birmingham City Council by Performances Birmingham Ltd, which runs the concert venue.
The scheme, devised by Page\Park Architects, would see the current wall facing Centenary Square demolished to make way for a new glass facade with a dedicated entrance to Symphony Hall as opposed to the one inside the International Convention Centre.
Nick Reed, Chief Executive for Town Hall Symphony Hall said: “We currently reach over 18,000 people with our learning and community programmes and we hope to reach thousands more in the transformed spaces this project will create.
“As significant cuts are made to music tuition in our region’s schools, this transformation will support local talent by providing an enhanced space for people to be musically creative.”
It is hoped that the project can be completed in time to host the Conservative Party Conference in 2020.
