A new patron has been revealed for a popular West Cumbria arts venue.
Former Workington MP Sue Hayman, now Baroness Hayman of Ullock, has become patron of the Ennerdale Promotions CIC (community interest company) live music programme.
Baroness Hayman is a keen chorister who has performed in local choirs and the Parliamentary Choir, of which she was chairman.
She served as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and is currently Labour spokesman for Defra and Levelling Up in the House of Lords. She and her husband Ross regularly walk the fells, love the Ennerdale Valley and are long time supporters of the performing arts in West Cumbria
Over recent years Upstairs at The Gather has seen performances by outstanding artists and plans are now in the pipeline to engage more community organisations, especially schools. All income from the programme is dedicated to support and sustain The Gather as a key community hub.
Baroness Hayman said: “The Gather is a wonderful venue and the beating heart of Ennerdale and the local community. Music and the arts should be a shared experience for all and I want to support the team in developing opportunities for more people of all ages to get involved and enjoy everything the arts and The Gather have to offer.
Co-founder of Ennerdale Promotions, Emma Shepherd, added: “We are so delighted to have Sue as our patron, she has been such a supporter of the arts and the welfare of local communities, it’s a great match of common interests. We have been staging live music since March 2020 and it’s increasingly serving a national and international audience; we have people watching our live stream from all across the world.
“We hope that our team, now with Sue’s support will see our reputation at The Gather grow still further and attract more top performers under our banner ‘Great Artists, Small Venue’. We know that like us Sue has the success of communities like ours at the heart of all she does.”
