Mareel
Encyclopedia
Mareel is a music venue
, cinema
and educational facility currently under construction on Lerwick
's waterfront in Shetland adjacent to Shetland Museum
.
and the building is due to be completed in 2011. Shetland Arts
are the lead agency behind the project, Gareth Hoskins are the architects and D.I.T.T. are the building contractors. The name means "phosphorescence on the ocean".
Mareel was designed as a multi use venue and hub for the creative industries.
The main performance auditorium will have a standing capacity of about 700 and a seated capacity of around 250, with a balcony seating a further 85 people. There will be 2 screening areas. The main cinema will have a seated capacity of around 160 with a smaller second cinema seating around 40.
The recording studio
will have a control room and live area. The split level cafe bar will incorporate an additional performance area. The rehearsal area(s) will have sprung floors making them suitable for music and dance use. The multi media production suite will have facilities for film, TV, music, graphics and website production.
Shetland College
UHI are to begin delivering music courses in Mareel in the 2011/12 academic year.
Motivations for building Mareel include the development of the music, film and creative industries
, tourism, educational opportunities, job creation and the provision of leisure and education facilities for the community, particularly young people.
Some local businesses, particularly Lerwick pub and night club owners via the Shetland Licensed Trade Association, claimed that Mareel would negatively affect their profits and an anonymous State Aid complaint was submitted to the European Commission
on 17 July 2008. Shetland Arts countered these claims by providing evidence that Mareel would "generate activity and vitality into the night-time economy of Lerwick, to the benefit of all including the local hoteliers, publicans and restaurants". The State Aid complaint was not upheld.
Another source of concern is Mareel's business plan which detractors claim is unrealistic, particularly in terms of revenue raised from sales at the cafe bar. However, the business plan has been reviewed and approved by funders. Highlands and Islands Enterprise
commissioned an Economic Impact Study which highlighted outcomes including the creation of 52 jobs and a positive impact on population retention of young people - an HIE Youth Migration Study identified the "creative industries as one of the most important sectors in encouraging young people to stay in or return to Shetland."
Some detractors have claimed that the capital funds allocated to Mareel would have better been spent on other projects, such as to avert the closure of rural schools, apparently under the misapprehension that the funders' capital could have been diverted to bail out the Shetland Islands Council Education revenue budget which had been overspent for many years.
The Shetland Islands Council
's finance officials reported the business plan to be "robust" and "well researched", but that costings estimates were “light” and audience and income targets “challenging”.
The result of the subsequent vote on Wednesday 25 June was in favour of continuing support for Mareel. Due to a 9:9 split convener Sandy Cluness used his casting vote and is reported to have said "As far as I am concerned you can go ahead and build Mareel" as he delivered his decision, to "cheers of delight and lengthy applause from the 40 or so supporters" who were present in the council chambers.
Despite the vote "a few councillors (were) apparently unable to accept the democratic decision." West Mainland councillor Gary Robinson called into question the convener’s handling of the vote stating “I think Sandy (the convenor) has won a battle, but the war isn’t over yet” and that he and other opponents (including Alison Duncan who had 6 weeks previously expressed his desire to "place a bomb"" under Mareel and Jonathan Wills, a one time supporter of Mareel) would be considering their options in the coming weeks. This group continue to voice their opposition
Councillor Alan Wishart, who had voted against Mareel, reflected the majority view that the vote had been handled "properly and fairly" stating it had been "pretty intense, but a reasoned debate and I’m content with that... It was very reasonable on both sides and democracy had its say."
Mareel's recording facilities are also considered to be an important development for the local industry, for both commercial and educational uses.
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
, cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
and educational facility currently under construction on Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
's waterfront in Shetland adjacent to Shetland Museum
Shetland Museum
The New Shetland Museum and Archives at Hay's Dock, Lerwick, was officially opened on 31 May 2007 by HM Queen Sonja of Norway and the Duke & Duchess of Rothesay .-New building:...
.
Facilities
Mareel will feature music facilities including a performance auditorium, a recording studio and rehearsal facilities. The proposed site is near the new Museum and Archives in LerwickLerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
and the building is due to be completed in 2011. Shetland Arts
Shetland Arts
Shetland Arts Development Agency or Shetland Arts for short, is a charitable organisation formed in 2006 with a remit to "encourage and assist in promoting and advancing the creation, practice and presentation and study of all forms of art - visual, performing and creative."The organisation, based...
are the lead agency behind the project, Gareth Hoskins are the architects and D.I.T.T. are the building contractors. The name means "phosphorescence on the ocean".
Mareel was designed as a multi use venue and hub for the creative industries.
The main performance auditorium will have a standing capacity of about 700 and a seated capacity of around 250, with a balcony seating a further 85 people. There will be 2 screening areas. The main cinema will have a seated capacity of around 160 with a smaller second cinema seating around 40.
The recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
will have a control room and live area. The split level cafe bar will incorporate an additional performance area. The rehearsal area(s) will have sprung floors making them suitable for music and dance use. The multi media production suite will have facilities for film, TV, music, graphics and website production.
Shetland College
Shetland College
Shetland College is a further and higher education college in Lerwick, Shetland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.The main campus is located at Gremista, on the outskirts of Lerwick. There are also dedicated premises in Lerwick for teaching Hospitality, at Anderson High...
UHI are to begin delivering music courses in Mareel in the 2011/12 academic year.
History
Timeline of key dates in the project's history| 1989 |
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| 1996 |
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| 1997 |
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| 1998 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2000 |
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| 2003 |
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| 2006 |
Weisdale Mill Weisdale Mill is a watermill in the village of Weisdale, Shetland. It is located near the head of Weisdale Voe on the west of the island, a twenty-minute drive from the main town of Lerwick.-History:... and Garrison Theatre Garrison Theatre The Garrison Theatre is a 280 capacity venue in Lerwick, Shetland with a sprung proscenium stage with fixed raked seating. It has 19 rows, named A to S which either has 8, 12, 13, 15 or 16 seats in each row.... |
| 2007 |
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| 2008 |
Highlands and Islands Enterprise Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland and is home to around 450,000 people.... award £965,000 |
| 2009 |
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| 2010 |
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| 2011 |
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Finance
Mareel has attracted finance from sources including- £5,190,000 - Shetland Islands CouncilShetland Islands CouncilThe Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for Shetland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council...
- £2,800,000 - European Regional Development FundEuropean Regional Development FundThe European Regional Development Fund is a fund allocated by the European Union.-History:During the 1960s, the European Commission occasionally tried to establish a regional fund. Only Italy ever supported this, however, and nothing came of it. Britain made it an issue for their accession in...
- £2,120,000 - Scottish Arts CouncilScottish Arts CouncilThe Scottish Arts Council is a Scottish public body that distributes funding from the Scottish Government, and is the leading national organisation for the funding, development and promotion of the arts in Scotland...
lottery fund - £965,000 - Highlands and Islands EnterpriseHighlands and Islands EnterpriseHighlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland and is home to around 450,000 people....
- £965,000 - Shetland Development Trust
- £50,000 - Gannochy Trust
Controversy
Opinions on Mareel are split amongst many in ShetlandMotivations for building Mareel include the development of the music, film and creative industries
Creative industries
The creative industries refers to a range of economic activities which are concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information...
, tourism, educational opportunities, job creation and the provision of leisure and education facilities for the community, particularly young people.
Some local businesses, particularly Lerwick pub and night club owners via the Shetland Licensed Trade Association, claimed that Mareel would negatively affect their profits and an anonymous State Aid complaint was submitted to the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
on 17 July 2008. Shetland Arts countered these claims by providing evidence that Mareel would "generate activity and vitality into the night-time economy of Lerwick, to the benefit of all including the local hoteliers, publicans and restaurants". The State Aid complaint was not upheld.
Another source of concern is Mareel's business plan which detractors claim is unrealistic, particularly in terms of revenue raised from sales at the cafe bar. However, the business plan has been reviewed and approved by funders. Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland and is home to around 450,000 people....
commissioned an Economic Impact Study which highlighted outcomes including the creation of 52 jobs and a positive impact on population retention of young people - an HIE Youth Migration Study identified the "creative industries as one of the most important sectors in encouraging young people to stay in or return to Shetland."
Some detractors have claimed that the capital funds allocated to Mareel would have better been spent on other projects, such as to avert the closure of rural schools, apparently under the misapprehension that the funders' capital could have been diverted to bail out the Shetland Islands Council Education revenue budget which had been overspent for many years.
Shetland Islands Council support
In 2008 the Shetland Islands Council voted to review their support for Mareel even though they had agreed their support on number of previous occasions and had "already spent around £750,000 on Mareel and previously committed itself to spending a further £4.5m from its capital programme.". The council voted 15:7 to commission a business plan review and re-vote six weeks later.The Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Islands Council
The Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for Shetland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council...
's finance officials reported the business plan to be "robust" and "well researched", but that costings estimates were “light” and audience and income targets “challenging”.
The result of the subsequent vote on Wednesday 25 June was in favour of continuing support for Mareel. Due to a 9:9 split convener Sandy Cluness used his casting vote and is reported to have said "As far as I am concerned you can go ahead and build Mareel" as he delivered his decision, to "cheers of delight and lengthy applause from the 40 or so supporters" who were present in the council chambers.
Despite the vote "a few councillors (were) apparently unable to accept the democratic decision." West Mainland councillor Gary Robinson called into question the convener’s handling of the vote stating “I think Sandy (the convenor) has won a battle, but the war isn’t over yet” and that he and other opponents (including Alison Duncan who had 6 weeks previously expressed his desire to "place a bomb"" under Mareel and Jonathan Wills, a one time supporter of Mareel) would be considering their options in the coming weeks. This group continue to voice their opposition
Councillor Alan Wishart, who had voted against Mareel, reflected the majority view that the vote had been handled "properly and fairly" stating it had been "pretty intense, but a reasoned debate and I’m content with that... It was very reasonable on both sides and democracy had its say."
Music Industry
Most of Lerwick's music venues and clubs closed during the 1990s and 2000s including the North Star, LK Sound Factory (Jubilee), Somewhaur Else, Ferry Inn (converted to Beltrami's but no longer featuring live music), Mooney's Wake and Baroc, and Mareel is seen by many as a positive development for the local live music scene.Mareel's recording facilities are also considered to be an important development for the local industry, for both commercial and educational uses.