Today we are very excited to announce that our friends Dr. Martens have made a very generous match-fund offer on our original SOS: Save Our Studio appeal.
Our original target was to raise £2,000 which would be enough to keep the studio open and running for 6 months. Along with Dr Martens £2,000 match-funding this means that the studio, in Freetown, Sierra Leone can stay open for a whole year!
Hazel, Michael and all at WAYout are delighted with the news that Dr Martens will match the £2000 raised by Strummerville to support the studio in Freetwon, Sierra Leone. Since the studio opened, it has recorded over 250 musicians from the street or slum areas and inspired many others but it couldn’t run without engineers- John and Gibo and producer -Thomas who have volunteered full time for 17 months and, despite their own desperate need for money, so believed in WAYout goals and the Strummerville studio that they remained committed and loyal. Thanks to Strummerville and Dr Martens that loyalty is now rewarded. – Hazel Chandler – Charity Founder, WAYOut West
We would like to thank the team at Dr. Martens and to everyone who donated to the SOS: Saver Our Studio appeal for your ongoing support for our work which is to give opportunities to aspiring musicians and support to projects that create social mobility through music.
And we wish Hazel, the WAYOut West studio engineers John, Gibo & producer Thomas and to all the fantastic Freetown musicians the very best for 2014. Keep the music alive!
About Dr. Martens
Dr. Martens is a British footwear brand & without music Dr. Martens would have remained a work wear boot and shoe. The music of the tribes who wore and continue to wear Dr. Martens is inseparable from the brand itself. Music is the lifeblood of the brand and Dr. Martens want to celebrate the self expression of musicians who stand for something by promoting new talent.
http://www.drmartens.com/
About WayOut Arts
WAYout changes the lives of street, vulnerable and conflict affected young people through music and media. We offer training and shelter, make films that can effect change and record music that enables excluded people to re-engage . WAYout promotes artistic freedom, education and empowerment.
More info & Press Contact:
http://www.wayoutarts.org/
Strummerville – The Joe Strummer New Music Foundation
Strummerville is a registered charity that was set up by the friends and family of Joe Strummer in the year after his death. Strummerville gives opportunities to aspiring musicians and support to projects that create social mobility through music.
http://www.strummerville.com/about/
