Surrey County Council to work with Guildford-based music organisations on new music hub following Arts Council grant

A new music hub that will work with Guildford education facilities and live venues such as University of Surrey, the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) and G Live could soon be built after Surrey County Council was granted £2.9 million grant by the Arts Council England.

The money will be received over a three-year period and will bring together the council's Surrey Arts service, schools and other organisations to offer musical opportunities to young people throughout the county, including the Guildford borough.

It has also been revealed that the proposed hub will also work with other Surrey arts venues such as the Farnham Maltings.

"This is marvellous news," said Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games Helyn Clack.

"It gives us a fantastic opportunity to offer every child and young person the chance to learn a musical instrument."

Guildford has seen its music scene grow and grow over the last few years with the Boileroom in Stoke Fields becoming a firm fixture on the town's nightlife scene whilst the ACM is one of the country's leading music colleges.