Whanganui Musicians Club able to plan for the future after grant successes

New in-house musical instruments will be available for people of all ages to use. Photo / Supplied

Whanganui Musicians Club has received funding to the tune of $1910, with the money going into new musical equipment for the community to use.

The grant was part of the latest round of funding from the Mazda Foundation, with a total $80,000 being distributed nationwide.

Club administrator Annie Keating said she hoped the new equipment would encourage older musicians, or former musicians, to get involved in the organisation.

Holding jam sessions and mentoring workshops were two of her immediate plans.

"There wouldn't be an audience as such, it would just give people the confidence to upskill and maybe come back into it if they haven't done it for a while," Keating said.

"A lot of people play music in their 20s and 30s and then give up.

"It's a prime opportunity for those older people who can't lug equipment around any more. If you have the ability and want to start jamming, here's the place to do it."

The club had received another important funding boost recently, committee member Murray Lazelle said.

A building conservation report, costing more than $30,000, was taken care of by the Heritage and Environment arm of New Zealand Lotteries.

"The report is designed to focus on the historical aspects that need to be protected," Lazelle said.

"Overlaid with that are some other requirements, very old toilets that need to be upgraded, for instance.

"We have a kitchen that makes the halls functional for other purposes as well. That could do with a little bit of a makeover.

"There are some aspects we'll need to think about, probably in conjunction with [Whanganui District] Council, in terms of making these two halls useful for the community for the next 50 or 80 years."

In terms of the council's involvement, Lazelle said the club's submission to its long-term plan (LTP) had been referred to the property and community services committee.

"The club was really just asking to be considered [in the LTP], not for support of the musicians or the musical initiatives, but to support the heritage building itself.

"We said that we really needed to find out what the needs of this building are, and to then see how we can help with that, and what is going to be asked of council.

"To some extent, we won't know that until we've gone through this conservation report phase."

While he wasn't going to push the council on progress, Lazelle said he would have "the tea and scones ready" when the property and community services committee got in touch.

"At some point I'll write to them and say we're ready and waiting."

Keating said playing music was "good for the heart and soul", and the club gave the community something they couldn't get anywhere else.

"You wouldn't have something like this in a big city, you only get it in a place like Whanganui.

"We really want to encourage people of all ages to come and play. Hopefully, this new equipment can help with that."