Town Hall News
GRASSINGTON DEVONSHIRE INSTITUTE
NEWS UPDATE – WINTER 2020
Town Hall activity
Having re-opened, on 22nd October, after seven months of closure, it was really disappointing to have to close again on 5th November. Whilst we re-opened, yet again, on 2nd December, only one GDI-organised event was possible although the screening of ‘The Nutcracker’ was well attended. Sadly, our final event of the year, a Christmas Concert by the City of Bradford Brass Band, was cancelled due to the band’s inability to rehearse and play together during these strange times. We hope they will be back to entertain us in 2021.
Contact has been made with a number of local groups over the past few weeks to establish how and when they may return to some degree of normality. It is clear, and understandable, that some have indicated they will not return until well into the new year, but others were and are ready to return as soon as we are allowed to open again. We thank our friends, supporters and regular users for their patience and understanding and of course their financial support in these changing times
Main Hall
We have now completed our Main Hall upgrade. The stage is finished, the re-painting done and the new curtains are hanging proudly at the windows and doors. We have taken the opportunity to re-hang the black acoustic curtain on the back wall and this already looks much better. Elsewhere in the building, the eagle-eyed among you may have spotted a bit of work going on in the space formerly used by the Dales Playschool? With the support of Grassington Parish Council, we would like to develop this space into a new Caretaker’s flat, which will allow the whole of the ground floor of the front of the building to be re-developed for a new ‘partner’. We have already had some discussion about this, but no formal decisions or commitments have been made. More on this in due course.
We must mention the ‘curtain appeal’. Perhaps not the sexiest of appeals (?!) but we have been amazed by the response of private individuals who have now contributed over £3,000 to our goal of £6,600. We must also reference the fantastic contributions made towards the Hall upgrade (including curtain appeal) from Linton Parish Council, Grassington Players the Upper Wharfedale Field Society and North Yorkshire Councillor Gillian Quinn. Thank you to each and every one of you. Your support is much appreciated.
Other developments
The new Caretaker’s flat is the first of four projects we would like to undertake to improve facilities for local people and visitors alike. In addition to the ground floor development, we would like to improve the bar and foyer area and, potentially, add more lettable space in the courtyard behind the existing Caretaker’s flat. Only the Caretaker’s flat development can be funded from the GDI’s reserves at this stage so we will need to commence a search for potential funding sources in due course. We think we have a good story to tell about how the further developments will enhance the building for the enjoyment and use of local people so we are optimistic that we can secure funds to move forward.
Future Events
We are delighted to bring you advance information regarding our plans for an events programme at the Town Hall between now and Spring 2021.
Tickets for all of the events are already on sale at the Hub and via Ticketsource (see our website, www.grassingtondevonshireinstitute.org for details).
Following discussion with our supplier, More2Screen, we are planning to re-schedule our two, postponed operas as follows:-
Manon Lescaut - Wednesday 6th January (evening)
Macbeth - Friday 29th January (evening)
In addition, we have three new, 'live recorded' events to offer as follows:-
Swan Lake (Matthew Bourne) - Sunday 17th January (afternoon)
Red Shoes - Thursday 18th February (evening)
Riverdance (25th Anniversary) - Wednesday 17th March (evening)
Please be aware in the event that any or all of these screenings are cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, a full refund will be provided either via Ticketsource (in the case of online purchases) or Grassington Hub/Grassington Devonshire Institute.
Social distancing measures will continue to operate for the foreseeable future, so if you do wish to sit together, please purchase your tickets together.
Membership
We are pleased to have signed up over 130 local people to become members of GDI and new applications keep on coming. This has been a brilliant community response to showing interest and practical involvement in maintaining and developing our beloved Town Hall and we hope we can persuade many more friends and supporters to sign up in the coming weeks. Whilst our brochure ‘mailshot’ has been completed, details of the Membership Scheme are now posted on our website ( www.grassingtondevonshireinstitute.org ). If you have neighbours and friends who haven’t yet joined us, please encourage them to do so. Their support will be most welcome.
Lucky Dip
Our recent £50 ‘Lucky Dip’ draw winners have been:-
September 2020 – Tina Tierney
October 2020 – Nic Fielden
November 2020 – Rob Charlton
December 2020 – Denise Alderson
KEEP WELL, FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT’S GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK TO GRASSINGTON TOWN HALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
NEWS UPDATE – WINTER 2020
Town Hall activity
Having re-opened, on 22nd October, after seven months of closure, it was really disappointing to have to close again on 5th November. Whilst we re-opened, yet again, on 2nd December, only one GDI-organised event was possible although the screening of ‘The Nutcracker’ was well attended. Sadly, our final event of the year, a Christmas Concert by the City of Bradford Brass Band, was cancelled due to the band’s inability to rehearse and play together during these strange times. We hope they will be back to entertain us in 2021.
Contact has been made with a number of local groups over the past few weeks to establish how and when they may return to some degree of normality. It is clear, and understandable, that some have indicated they will not return until well into the new year, but others were and are ready to return as soon as we are allowed to open again. We thank our friends, supporters and regular users for their patience and understanding and of course their financial support in these changing times
Main Hall
We have now completed our Main Hall upgrade. The stage is finished, the re-painting done and the new curtains are hanging proudly at the windows and doors. We have taken the opportunity to re-hang the black acoustic curtain on the back wall and this already looks much better. Elsewhere in the building, the eagle-eyed among you may have spotted a bit of work going on in the space formerly used by the Dales Playschool? With the support of Grassington Parish Council, we would like to develop this space into a new Caretaker’s flat, which will allow the whole of the ground floor of the front of the building to be re-developed for a new ‘partner’. We have already had some discussion about this, but no formal decisions or commitments have been made. More on this in due course.
We must mention the ‘curtain appeal’. Perhaps not the sexiest of appeals (?!) but we have been amazed by the response of private individuals who have now contributed over £3,000 to our goal of £6,600. We must also reference the fantastic contributions made towards the Hall upgrade (including curtain appeal) from Linton Parish Council, Grassington Players the Upper Wharfedale Field Society and North Yorkshire Councillor Gillian Quinn. Thank you to each and every one of you. Your support is much appreciated.
Other developments
The new Caretaker’s flat is the first of four projects we would like to undertake to improve facilities for local people and visitors alike. In addition to the ground floor development, we would like to improve the bar and foyer area and, potentially, add more lettable space in the courtyard behind the existing Caretaker’s flat. Only the Caretaker’s flat development can be funded from the GDI’s reserves at this stage so we will need to commence a search for potential funding sources in due course. We think we have a good story to tell about how the further developments will enhance the building for the enjoyment and use of local people so we are optimistic that we can secure funds to move forward.
Future Events
We are delighted to bring you advance information regarding our plans for an events programme at the Town Hall between now and Spring 2021.
Tickets for all of the events are already on sale at the Hub and via Ticketsource (see our website, www.grassingtondevonshireinstitute.org for details).
Following discussion with our supplier, More2Screen, we are planning to re-schedule our two, postponed operas as follows:-
Manon Lescaut - Wednesday 6th January (evening)
Macbeth - Friday 29th January (evening)
In addition, we have three new, 'live recorded' events to offer as follows:-
Swan Lake (Matthew Bourne) - Sunday 17th January (afternoon)
Red Shoes - Thursday 18th February (evening)
Riverdance (25th Anniversary) - Wednesday 17th March (evening)
Please be aware in the event that any or all of these screenings are cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, a full refund will be provided either via Ticketsource (in the case of online purchases) or Grassington Hub/Grassington Devonshire Institute.
Social distancing measures will continue to operate for the foreseeable future, so if you do wish to sit together, please purchase your tickets together.
Membership
We are pleased to have signed up over 130 local people to become members of GDI and new applications keep on coming. This has been a brilliant community response to showing interest and practical involvement in maintaining and developing our beloved Town Hall and we hope we can persuade many more friends and supporters to sign up in the coming weeks. Whilst our brochure ‘mailshot’ has been completed, details of the Membership Scheme are now posted on our website ( www.grassingtondevonshireinstitute.org ). If you have neighbours and friends who haven’t yet joined us, please encourage them to do so. Their support will be most welcome.
Lucky Dip
Our recent £50 ‘Lucky Dip’ draw winners have been:-
September 2020 – Tina Tierney
October 2020 – Nic Fielden
November 2020 – Rob Charlton
December 2020 – Denise Alderson
KEEP WELL, FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT’S GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK TO GRASSINGTON TOWN HALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.