‘Invaluable’ music service saved by not-for-profit community organisation

A Lincolnshire music information service on the brink of closure has been saved by soundLINCS, a not-for-profit community music organisation.

MUSIC:LINK – which provided members in the East Midlands with a monthly diary of events, a membership directory and an ‘anti-clash’ diary to prevents similar events being programmed at the same time – looked set to close after failing to find new committee members earlier this year.

Instead, charity soundLINCS has agreed to bring the music service under the oversight of its board. MUSIC:LINK is to retain its name and continue functioning with the original volunteers and committee members, though the service and accompanying bursary scheme will be managed as a soundLINCS project.

soundLINCS CEO, Nikki-Kate Heyes MBE, explained the decision: “It is the dedication, passion and the hard work of the committee that has made MUSIC:LINK a unique and invaluable part of the music scene within Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. When we heard that MUSIC:LINK was facing the threat of closure, we knew that we couldn’t let that happen.

“As an organisation and as a musician myself, we have been engaged and benefitting from MUSIC:LINK for as long as I can remember. There is a brilliant opportunity here to continue and build upon a resource used by hundreds of people every week.” 

Keith Jobling, Chairman of MUSIC:LINK, added: “Since 1986 the annual directory, monthly diaries and now the website have been a fantastic resource for people in Lincolnshire and the East Midlands to take part in a variety of classical and non-classical events as both audience members and participants – and we hope to see it continue for many more years now under soundLINCS’ management.”

Individuals and organisations can currently apply for membership for 2017.