South Ayrshire Council News

Ayr Town Hall has been refurbished, the organ has been restored and the Ayr Ark Project for Youth is set to benefit from a series of FREE organ recital concerts at the Town Hall.

Members of South Ayrshire Council’s Leadership Panel have decided that £1,800 from Ayr Common Good Fund will be used to fund a series of organ recital concerts in Ayr Town Hall in April this year.

Councillor Bill McIntosh, the Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Resources and Performance said: “Ayr Town Hall is a civic facility that has been upgraded to a very high standard. The Victorian organ has pride of place in the building and now that it has been restored local people and visitors to the area will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.

“Ayr Town Hall has been the venue for many musical events including festivals, concerts, competitions and school concerts, some of which have been broadcast on national radio. It was decided that entry to the concerts would be free so that as many people as possible could enjoy the music and see for themselves the organ and the refurbishment that has been carried out in the Town Hall. Donations to the charitable collection at each concert will be purely voluntary, however, I am sure that people will generously donate to a good cause such as the Ayr Ark Project.”

The organ located in the main hall at Ayr Town Hall is an original Victorian pipe organ that was built by Messrs Lewis and Company Limited in 1903. The organ, now fully restored, is of very high quality and the outstanding acoustics within the hall allow the music coming from it to be heard at its best. Arrangements are currently being finalised for the concert and a number of organists have already agreed to perform.

The donations received from the charity collection will go to the Ayr Ark Project for Youth, which is a charitable trust. The Ark provides activities for young people as an alternative to the licensed club culture, particularly focusing on the 12 to 18 years old age group. Situated at the Citadel in Ayr the Ark helps to divert young people away from antisocial behaviour and helps them to use their leisure time wisely.

The dates for the concerts have still to be finalised and will be publicised once they are confirmed.