Wimblecomm’s July blog, written by Kirsty Warwick – Wimbledon Community Association Trustee
I love this time of year (heatwave aside!). Maybe it’s the buzz of Wimbledon tennis, but the lighter evenings and al fresco drinking and dining seem to raise the spirits, as well as all the outdoor concerts and festivals. In just the last week alone, I’ve had the chance to enjoy three outdoor events as well as the tennis and art, and I really appreciate the energy and buzz – as well as the talent – that brings.
London really is one of the greatest cities in the world, and home to world-leading theatres, galleries, music venues, fashion studios and film sets. Together, our creative industries generate £64 billion for London’s economy every year and support one in five jobs across the capital.
But its value goes way beyond economics. Just when certain groups or individuals seek to divide us, culture has a unique ability to bring communities together.
Use it or lose it!
We mustn’t become complacent. Our ‘culture capital’ in this country is being stretched to its limits. Pressure on schools and other education establishments means our young people have limited access to creative learning, experiencing or enjoying culture. And this increases even more for lower socio-economic groups who can’t afford the cost of a music lesson, an instrument, or a ticket to a play or concert. Future talent is in jeopardy.
Whilst large-scale concert halls, arenas and stadiums are seeing record numbers of events and attendance, that’s not always translated to smaller venues that have tighter margins or operate at a loss. Larger venues now pay a levy to support others at grassroots level, but it’s not nearly enough. Many grassroots venues and pubs are being forced to close – at the rate of one every 10 days; meaning a loss not just for those who attend, or provide space to nurture talent, but having a wider impact on our high streets and in our communities. The work of organisations like the Music Venue Trust to protect venues has never been more valued.
As I have talked about previously, I love singing in a choir, but my love of music goes further than performing. Nurturing my kids’ own music passions and performances, supporting friends playing in bands, and by attending music, art and theatre events when I can. In Merton, we are fortunate to have some great talent and opportunities through the many choirs, bands and theatre groups to participate in music and drama, and our continued support through watching and listening is essential to their survival.
Many of our Wimblecomm members are pubs, churches, schools and community halls, or theatre groups that host regular small-scale concerts and events – and they need our support. It’s not just bigger events like the Wimbledon Music Festival or those held in Morden Hall Park, but smaller one-off concerts and plays in pubs, halls and churches, as well as other outdoor spaces, that we should be actively seeking out.
A recent Time Out article listed the top 30 music venues in London such as the gorgeous Union Chapel and the Roundhouse, but it’s important that we celebrate the venues closer to home. Locally, spaces such as St John’s Edgehill, The Old Frizzle, Bliss cafe/South Park Gardens, Forty coffee, The Alex, The Cavern and The Shed @SW19 regularly host music (and comedy) nights, and Merton Abbey Mills has a programme of live music this summer – plus there are musical performances at Lantern Arts Centre. In neighbouring boroughs, there’s the Sound Lounge, Cryer Arts, Half Moon Putney, and Putney Arts Theatre. Perhaps we should each be creating a bucket list of venues and spaces to visit, to bring more music and entertainment joy into our lives, whilst ensuring Merton and neighbouring spaces continue to thrive.
Check out the Wimblecomm website for the latest Groups to join, and a monthly summary of What’s On:
Community Groups – Wimbledon Community Association
Events 24 – Wimbledon Community Association
And if you have a music group or event to promote, please get in touch with us at general@wimbledoncommunity.org and we’ll take you through the steps to upload the details directly onto the website (it’s FREE!).