The Blind Institute on Mappin Street is going to be knocked down and have a new building put up.

I heard from a friend that some of the people who organise events there (punk gigs, I think) are worried that they're going to lose it as a venue.

I had a brief chat with a guy there this morning and he reckoned all the existing users will be able to go on using the new building.

I'm going to talk to the manager tomorrow, but just wondered if anyone else knows people/organisations that use it - and what they've heard?

Originally posted by dougald
The Blind Institute on Mappin Street is going to be knocked down and have a new building put up.


Another interesting building bites the dust.

http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/lin246im.html

Hi,

I used to work for SRSB and yes the building is going to get knocked down. SRSB will still be providing their services but in a different location until a new building is being built.:)

Yeah, I guess my question is whether the new building will be available for gigs, meetings, ceilidhs, etc. the same way the current one is?

It's the one largeish venue available relatively cheap in the city centre. (I mean, bigger than an upstairs room at a pub...)

Sorry I can't help you on that one!

I wrote to the manager to ask him. You could too - the more concern he hears expressed the better I guess.

Him:

Steve Mather
Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind
5 Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 4DT

Me:

tom [at] idiolect [ork] dot [uk]

Get in touch if you'd like to organise doing something about ensuring there are facilities like the Blind Institute in the future

Yeah, I guess my question is whether the new building will be available for gigs, meetings, ceilidhs, etc. the same way the current one is?

AFAIK, the plan is to build a new building with SRSB on the ground floor and several floors (6?) of student flats above. I don't think there's going to be a single large hall like the current one, but rather a number of smaller rooms, as this better suits the way SRSB use the building. I vaguely remember something about a room like one of those hotel function rooms with a divider down the middle. Open the divider and you'd just about be able to fit a badminton court in the space.

I'm sure they'll continue to hire out the rooms in the new building, but it won't be the hall we know and love.

Either way there's going to be a gap of a year or so between the old building being closed and the replacement opening.

If you all give me a day or 2, I can get you any info you need, Im in close neck with the people at SRSB and 90% of my family are registered blind..

We did some charity pantomimes a couple of years ago in the place

AS far as im aware there will still be a hall, but exactly what it can be used for is to be decided.. Ill find out for deffinate for you all and post here asap..

Are they going to keep the entrance sculptures?
Granma.

Originally posted by Granma
Are they going to keep the entrance sculptures?
Granma.

I read they plan to.