Long time lurker, occasional poster and daily cyclist here… and partner of Jennifer.
Jennifer is a musician, a fiddle player (a very good one). Many of you will perhaps never have heard of her (although I believe she has previously met one forum regular with Orkney connections and a passion for woodpiles and fine art), but if you’ve been to Orkney at all in the last 16 years you may well have sat and had a coffee or a beer or a panini or something at ‘The Reel’ in Kirkwall.
‘The Reel’, created in 2004 by Jennifer with her sister Hazel when they stopped full time touring, is a privately owned music school for all ages homed in a large, prominent, characterful Georgian style former townhouse right next door to Kirkwall’s historic St Magnus Cathedral, where it neatly combines fully equipped teaching rooms, a licensed café bar with pavement seating area, performance and rehearsal spaces and Orkney’s only music shop.
It is unfortunately now facing permanent closure due to financial problems in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and Jennifer is asking for public support in petitioning Orkney Islands Council to adopt ‘The Reel’ into its ‘Arts, Museums and Heritage Service’ in order to secure it’s future as part of Orkney’s traditional music heritage.
If you would like to add your support, a public statement released today, along with the link to the online petition, can be found on The Reel’s facebook page
Thanks in advance.
forum regular with Orkney connections and a passion for woodpiles and fine art
😀
Well that narrows it down, how does that regular feel about Record No5 vices?
My very good friend played in Seelyhoo with the girls.. lovely players.
forum regular with Orkney connections and a passion for woodpiles and fine art
😀
Well that narrows it down, how does that regular feel about Record No5 vices?
Ha Ha - I'd say you're on the right track... especially if it is a landrover track?
Done!
Done!
awesome, thanks 😎
Many thanks to those who have signed, shared and donated...over 1000 signatures in just a few days is amazing!
If you would like to add your support, here is the link to the petition...
https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-reel-orkney.html
Also done. Seen the Wrigley sisters several times over the years. Top musicians.
I was up in Orkney when I heard the news. We have a house next door to The Reel. It is the a cultural and social hub in Kirkwall and indeed for the whole of Orkney.
My mother has attended classes and has even made a cameo appearance (far from a microphone) in a recording at The Reel. It’s always the highlight of our visits.
Music is a thriving cultural activity in Orkney as equally valid as its Archaeology.
In a time where the arts are universally under the kosh, preserving the The Reel’s potential is essential.
Goes off to sign the petition
mcmoonter
Member
I was up in Orkney when I heard the news. We have a house next door to The Reel. It is the a cultural and social hub in Kirkwall and indeed for the whole of Orkney.My mother has attended classes and has even made a cameo appearance (far from a microphone) in a recording at The Reel. It’s always the highlight of our visits.
Music is a thriving cultural activity in Orkney as equally valid as its Archaeology.
In a time where the arts are universally under the kosh, preserving the The Reel’s potential is essential.
yes, but how do you feel about Record No.5 vices? 😉
Goes off to sign the petition
thank you 😎
About to sign petition - my folks used to visit Orkney for many years - we've only been the once so far. Also sent some cash your way in mean time.
kcal
Member
About to sign petition – my folks used to visit Orkney for many years – we’ve only been the once so far. Also sent some cash your way in mean time.
Thank you @kcal , really generous of you and much appreciated. And thanks again to everyone else who has signed the petition and/or donated to the crowdfunder.
There's an article about this is the Press & Journal today - https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/2439616/campaign-launched-to-save-threatened-orkney-music-venue/
And if anyone else would like to their support, the petition is here -
https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-reel-orkney.html
And the crowdfunder, here - https://gf.me/u/yp7kqy
Thanks again.
Just wanted to give an update -
Unfortunately the campaign to try and save The Reel from permanent closure due to Covid has been unsuccessful... latest press release -
* * * PRESS RELEASE * * *
06th November 2020
The Reel, Kirkwall, OrkneyFor many years The Reel, established by international folk duo The Wrigley Sisters, has been a major cultural centre in their home town of Kirkwall. It has been a teaching and performance venue for Orkney traditional music, enjoyed by thousands of Orkney folk and visitors alike. It has a worldwide reputation for excellence.
When The Reel was forced to close in mid-March, due to coronavirus, all income streams stopped. Very quickly, debt began to mount, and redundancies unfortunately became unavoidable. The building is leased from Orkney Island Council (OIC) at a high commercial rent and that did not stop, meaning the rent arrears grew considerably every month.
As it became clear that there was going to be no early end to the pandemic and with live
performances set to be off-limits for the foreseeable future, negotiations begun with OIC regarding the money owed to them for back rent.We requested a rent holiday back-dated to last March. That was rejected.
We requested a freeze on the rent from the current date. That was rejected.
We launched a public campaign to ask for support in petitioning OIC to adopt The Reel into its Arts Portfolio. That was rejected.
OIC officials recommended that we apply for a lease termination, with a possibility of a back-dated termination. That was rejected.
We requested a lease termination but asked to stay in the building on a rolling one-month lease with a peppercorn rent, until we could find another building and/or restructure the business. That too has now been rejected.
So, with huge regret and sorrow, we have to announce the permanent closure of The Reel at Broad Street from mid-November, as we just cannot continue to accrue high rent arrears with no income. It is our sincere hope that a new Reel may emerge sometime, but unfortunately it will certainly not be in the very near future.
We are hugely grateful to all those who have written letters of support and lobbied their councillors and who have signed our ‘Save The Reel’ petition and made donations to our appeal. Thank you to all of you.
The Wrigley Sisters have now incurred a significant amount of debt after years of running a wonderful, successful and hugely popular venue. Could you possible help them with that? We would be so grateful for any donations, small or (preferably) large!
If you could help, please use the following ‘gofundme’ link: https://gf.me/u/y7qp7m