Fresh start A new era begins as hall unveils Bristol Beacon name
THE Colston Hall’s new name has been revealed after years of speculation – as the Bristol Beacon.
Bosses of the city’s biggest concert venue said they hoped the new name would herald a ‘fresh start’ for the hall, which is still temporarily closed as a £55million refurbishment project continues.
The new name comes as part of a ‘Transformation Promise’ which will see the city’s biggest concert venue change the way it operates to ensure more diversity of its audience, programme and workforce.
The new name was announced amid a Covid-restricted fanfare in the iconic venue’s foyer with speeches by Louise Mitchell, the chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust, which runs the venue, and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees.
Ms Mitchell said she wanted the name to reflect a new start for the venue as a focal point for music in the city, and the Bristol Beacon would be a “symbol of hope and community, a focal point for music in the city, a gathering space, illuminating the way ahead”.
She said: “A place of welcome, warmth and light. We’re giving an open invitation to the city for everyone to come and share in the joy of live music.”
Ms Mitchell said the choice of the new name came at the end of a long process of listening to people across Bristol, especially people who’ve never really been to Colston Hall.
“The trust hopes that this moment serves as a fresh start for the organisation and its place in the city, with a focus on music performance and education.”
Writing on their website, the Trust stated: ‘ We believe in the power of music to break down barriers and cross boundaries. Bristol Beacon will celebrate this in everything we do’.
“You’ve told us that you want us to inspire more people through music. With this change, and the coming transformation of our building, we can do that together. Today marks the start of a new chapter as Bristol Beacon.”
The decision to drop the name of the 17th century slave trader Edward Colston was made after growing pressure from campaign group Countering Colston.
The group began lobbying outside the venue in 2016, writing out facts about Edward Colston’s key involvement in the development of the transatlantic slave
trade in chalk on the pavement outside the venue’s front door.
Inside the venue, members of Bristol Music Trust began their own lobbying for change, and the announcement that the venue would re-open with a new name after its £55 million refit was made in April 2017.
The new name was settled upon long ago – there was a plan to announce it in May, weeks before the statue of Edward Colston was pulled down, but it was postponed because of coronavirus.
Ms Mitchell said in April 2017 the name of Colston was ‘toxic’ in Bristol.
She said yesterday: “The name of the venue, and its associations with the slave-trader Edward Colston, has long been the focus for debate in the city.
“Colston Hall was founded 150 years after Colston’s death, with no financial investment or direct link to the man or his wealth.
“The charitable Trust – which has been responsible for the management of the venue and the city’s music education hub since it was established in 2011 – publicly declared in April 2017 that the venue would be renamed as part of the multi-million pound transformation that is currently in progress and following a substantial consultation process.
“The Trust hopes that this moment serves as a fresh start for the organisation,” she added.
The Beacon is, ultimately, owned by the City Council, and its finance chief, Craig Cheney, welcomed the new name.
He said: “I’d like to thank Bristol Music Trust, and all our partners involved, for the work done over the past few years with a consultation that gave thousands of people across the city the opportunity to share their views and speak into this decision.”
“I welcome the new name as something that will help the venue reach out and connect with the whole city. The connection with community, contending with our history and looking ahead resonate with our ambitions for the venue’s inclusive future as a world-class arts and cultural venue to represent Bristol.
“It also runs in a parallel with the city conversation reflecting on our history and how this understanding can be represented in our future.
“For now, we look ahead to how this can become a place fully connected to its city communities, where everyone feels welcome and can enjoy coming to experience what Bristol has to offer.”