Ahead of their 2026 summer series, The Piece Hall’s executives discuss building their education Academy and wider music industry partnerships
The leadership team behind The Piece Hall have spoken about their mission to create “hope and opportunity” with the venue’s education initiative.
Launched in 2024, the Piece Hall Academy provides free programmes covering music, production and live events training connected to the Halifax venue, which has a partnership with Live Nation through promoters Cuffe & Taylor.
The Piece Hall re-opened in 2017 as a culture, heritage and live entertainment destination following a major transformation of the site, which includes the open-air courtyard for concerts.
Nominated in the Venue Of The Year category at this month’s Music Week Awards, it has recently staged shows by Deftones, James, Khruangbin, Nile Rodgers & Chic, The Libertines and Elles Bailey.
“We wanted to bring hope and opportunity into The Piece Hall, so I asked Live Nation to help me create an academy,” said Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE, CEO and trustee of The Piece Hall Trust.
Industry executive and musician Aaron Casserly Stewart came on board as The Piece Hall’s programme and events director. As well as performing as a member of Grammy-winning ensemble Sounds Of Blackness, he is the business manager for Erik “Blu2th” Griggs, a producer at Dr Dre’s Aftermath label.
“Live Nation supports the skills and training aspect of what we’re doing, providing the opportunity for the students to work on all of the shows that we do here for the summer series,” said Casserly Stewart.
The Academy provides short courses, industry experience days and work experience to increase job opportunities for young people, helping to create sustainable careers in music, performance, recording, production and live events.
“It’s Aaron’s magical ability, credibility and influence that has made this happen,” said Chance-Thompson.
Casserly Stewart has recruited mentors for the various programmes, including Erik “Blu2th” Griggs, Morris Hayes, Prince’s keyboardist, music director and band leader of the New Power Generation, and Martyn Ware, founder of The Human League and Heaven 17.
“We’re at a point in our lives where it’s all about giving back,” explained Casserly Stewart. “There were a lot of people that opened doors and helped me navigate the music industry. So it’s about giving back to the next generation of creatives and leaving a legacy – providing jobs, experience and mentorship in live events and music production.”
Other industry figures and musicians to have supported the initiative include BBC 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins, Gary Powell, drummer for The Libertines, and Gill Tee, co-founder of the Black Deer Festival.
“We’ve worked together to bring in mentors,” said Chance-Thompson. “Collectively, with my background and Aaron’s background, we know a lot of people in the music business and they have told us there is something magnetic about The Piece Hall and they want to be part of it.”
To date, The Academy has linked up with University Of The Arts London and nearby Calderdale College on Level 3 Diploma courses across both Live Production Arts and Music Performance Production.
Chance-Thompson said the Academy has already created opportunities in the region and beyond.
“The work that we have done in live events has been really successful,” she said. “Some of the people that we’ve helped train have gone on to do all kinds of things [in the sector], but they actually love coming back here for the summer series. We’ve created a local talent pool that can be used across the region.”
“It’s creating a pipeline for emerging artists and helping them navigate through the industry, because it can be really challenging, and it’s also educating them on the business side of things,” added Casserly Stewart.
The funding for the education programmes is overseen by The Piece Hall Trust.
“It ensures the sustainability of The Piece Hall for future generations and helps with economic uplift of the area,” said Chance-Thompson.
A recent study showed that it has generated £680 million for the economy over a decade.
The team are building relationships across the industry, including working with the Royal Albert Hall on a joint programming agreement.
“Nicky and I have been travelling down to London to establish partnerships with the music industry and organisations,” said Casserly Stewart. “We’re doing a collaboration where Academy students will go to the Albert Hall to work on some productions, and they will send some of their crew up here to see how an outdoor show works.”
The Cuffe & Taylor/Live Nation deal continues with a summer line-up including Garbage & Skunk Anansie, McFly, David Byrne, Tom Grennan, Royel Otis, The K’s and CMAT.
“We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved with [Live Nation], because a lot of people thought that artists would not want to play Halifax when there are so many other venues,” said Chance-Thompson. “But artists are now asking, ‘How can we play there?’”
PHOTOS: YORKSHIRE POST/THE PIECE HALL TRUST
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