Back to index of Nerve 8 - Spring 2006

Climb to the top of an old, half-abandoned office building in Victoria Street and you will find an independent arts company, who are trying to create a sustainable social business and help young people enter the creative arts.

Culture in the Attic: Rooftop Studios

By Kenn Taylor

Colin Mansfield and Ron Clary had worked together on and off for a decade on various youth and arts projects in Liverpool. They met again in 2001 while working on a successful music project in Great Homer Street in Everton. Colin tells me, "We worked with people with disabilities, refugees, people who hadn't left their bedrooms for ten years just coming out and engaging a little bit. There were good results and we got some great music recorded." But it was not to last, as Ron explains: "Then they told us the building was going to be converted into flats, so the project was untenable."

It was then that Ron, Colin and a group of ten others got together to create their own business.

In July 2004 they took on the top floor of the Jerome buildings and began the slow process of turning it into a habitable space that was suitable for creating music. As Colin tells me, "When we got here it was just a big empty shell full of pigeon shit; we had to carry every item up three flights of stairs. We have had a great commitment off people though, especially from a gang of artists and musicians."

From the beginning they wanted the project to be independent and self-financing, to prevent what happened in Everton from occurring again. The only funding they have received is a start up grant from Creative Bias, who also provided them with a few bits of equipment and some support from The Scarman Trust's Can Do Service. Colin says: "We wanted to set up on our own first to show commitment and that we were not another group just after money."

Now considerably cosier than when they found it, the space at Rooftop is equipped with a rehearsal space, recording studio and multi-media production facilities with all the necessary instruments and equipment. But Colin feels the strength of the organisation lies beyond its facilities: "We have a collection of musicians with years of experience that all the equipment in the world could not replace."

"We want to do workshops that are a stepping stone for kids: the first kind of focal point for anyone interested in music, drama, the creative arts in general - including media, film and stuff." Ron adds, "Here we have recording facilities and rehearsal space for people to lay music down...share ideas. And we are going to use this as a base from which to go out into youth clubs, do workshops etc."

Despite its benevolent intentions, the scheme is firmly rooted in the practical reality of running such a facility successfully. As Colin explains: "There are two sides to the business: we want to work in the community but we want to create a sustainable business too...create jobs, not just be project based."

He continues: "We did some workshops the other day for which we only charged a fiver ...basically to pay the travel expenses of the tutors. But we were aware that this was still out-pricing some kids. We don't want to get into a situation where we can't survive, so we're trying to get sponsorship and make the business side work, so we can provide the community side for free."

Once the business is in a secure position they plan to expand further. One day they hope to have a purpose-built performing arts space in the heart of the city. Colin says: "We want to build something from the community and then build on it; backing kids right through rather than just throwing them out into shark-infested waters." He continues: "The way we hope it will work is that we have a situation where a young person can come in and access the creative industries in a more relaxed environment - that is not so much output-driven - just engage with them, get them interested.

"You need people that kids can relate to, as much as possible from the local community....there are fully funded arts projects that are going into the community, and because they're not from round there the kids are turning their nose up at them and going 'divvies', and turning off. We know that's not right but that is the way it is."

Ron explains the need for giving opportunities to young people from the local community if the increasing violence and culture of negativity in the city is to be changed: "If you look at what's going on outside the window, there are office buildings, private apartments going up. All we are going to be left to do is brush the fucking stairwell, mate. The kids are aware of that, people think they're not but they know that they're being lined up to be factory fodder or whatever you want to call it. If you can see the big, wide world out there but you can't have any part of it what are you going to say? That's fine guv'nor, I'll just work on a roof in the rain for shit pay. We're not saying that we're gonna come along and change everything, we just want to offer a little bit of opportunity, especially rewarding the good kids."

He sums up the ethos behind Rooftop: "Things are flourishing again in the city and we want to make sure the indigenous people get a little piece of it."

For more information on the facilities and services of Rooftop Studios ring: 0151 236 5585 or email rooftopcp@hotmail.com