Take Your Seat - Nelson School of Music launches seat fundraiser

Fancy ‘owning’ a small piece of city real estate, with a great view of some classy concerts? The Nelson School of Music has 300 seats up for sponsorship in a campaign that will be officially launched at this Saturday’s Nelson Opera in the Park.

The seats are on sale at $750 and will raise over half of the $400,000 still to be found for the $6.2million redevelopment of the 115-year-old building.

“With the support we’ve had so far from the community we’re expecting the seat campaign to go very well,” said campaign manager Bob Bickerton. “There’s a strong appeal in having your name on a brass plaque in a world-class auditorium like the Nelson School of Music, and the amount we are seeking makes this a generous but ‘do-able’ donation for individuals and families who want to show their support in a tangible way that is acknowledged publically.”

Bickerton said there may also be groups who would like to come together to sponsor a seat, such as service clubs, city streets, or community groups.

“We’re hoping to have a bit of fun with this at Opera in the Park, where people will be able to text in their pledges,” he said. “With a magnificent musical environment like that and perhaps a glass or two of wine we think people will be texting from all over
Trafalgar Park!”

School of Music volunteers will be handing out information on the seat campaign at the opera and selling programmes for a gold coin donation that goes to the rebuild fundraising.

Construction on the Nelson School of Music refurbishment, rebuild and earthquake strengthening is expected to start in March.

NSOM Trust chair Roger Taylor said the redevelopment design provided an ‘exciting and intelligent balance’ between the heritage aspects of the old auditorium and functionality of a modern performance venue and music school. The redevelopment includes enhancing and strengthening the 1901 auditorium up to modern building code, removal of the current foyer, Balling Theatre and Rainey House and replacement with a new foyer area that showcases the old auditorium, reconfiguration of the Beatrice Kidson block and construction of a new wing to house a performance/rehearsal area, studios, classroom and a library.

Pledges can be made by texting the word ‘seat’, followed by the number of seats being sponsored, to 875 or by visitingwww.takeyourseat.nz

Ends

© Scoop Media