A NEW group has formally taken over the running of a music venue threatened with closure last year.

Community Interest Company (CIC) Humantics will oversee the running of The Forum music centre, in Darlington.

The future of the popular venue, in Borough Road, was thrown into doubt last summer because of difficulties in accessing £80,000 of loan funding.

At the time, it was not expected to stay open beyond September, but hundreds of music-lovers, band members and other campaigners lobbied Darlington Borough Council and held fundraising gigs to try to keep the venue open.

The council and Humantics jointly commissioned an independent review of the business plan.

It concluded that the centre had sound prospects for the future.

Confirmation of funding from regional development agency One North East, which enabled Humantics to take over the venue, was received in October.

It allowed the CIC to access a council loan thanks to security provided by Venturesome, part of the Charities Aid Foundation. It also meant that Humantics was able to open a music school and the North-East office of the CIC Association.

Humantics has formally taken over running of The Forum, which is undergoing a refurbishment.

A CIC is a new type of company, introduced by the Government in 2005, designed for social enterprises which want to use their profits and assets for the public good.

This is the first time a CIC has arisen from a private venture.

Allison McKay, from Humantics, said that the group had been working on the business plan for more than two years.

She said: “The Forum has changed from a privately-run organisation to being taken over by the CIC.

“The objective is to reinvest any surplus into the community and develop cultural facilities and activities.”

She was delighted that the centre had overcome a number of delays, complications and setbacks for the CIC to be set up.

Ms McKay added: “The vision is to have a potential sustainable solution for the town and the region.

“We really want to demonstrate that culture and the arts can be run independently from local authority budgets.”

As well as gigs, the forum has rehearsal rooms, recording studios and the Yamaha Music School. It will hold a relaunch gig on Friday.

For more information, visit theforumonline.co.uk