A Cause For Attention
Some bands pick a platform, some tours take a stand – Here’s music news that doesn’t highlight the messenger, just the message.
This week’s focus: Muse and The Helen Foundation
From last week’s attention to far-off-places, we move to a band that’s supporting a charity from their home. The members of Muse (Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme) first formed at Teignmouth Community College in England. All three had moved into the Teignmouth area (a part of Devon) as young children, and met each other at an early age.
On December 26, 2005, a young woman from Teignmouth named Helen Elizabeth Kirk tragically died after a car accident. She had been devoted to the arts as an aspiring actress, and in January of 2006 The Helen Foundation was launched as a living memorial. Helen had been involved in theatre-in-education work in the UK and abroad, and was “passionately committed to the power of the arts to make a real difference to young people’s lives.?
The charity's work is largely concentrated on schools in South Devon, supporting the arts in Teignbridge through youth who have talent and aspirations towards acting, music or any other artistic career. Prizes are offered to award students who show great effort towards the arts, and there are scholarships available to young people between the ages of 7-18 who would not otherwise be able to pursue artistic ventures.
"Muse are the patrons of the Helen Foundation because they knew her from an early age," said Annie Kirk, one of the organizations founders and Helens mother. "She was a friend of all three right from when she was a little girl through school and beyond."
While the personal ties are strong, the band is no stranger to the positive involvement of art charities. At the start of their career, they received a sponsorship award provided by the Prince’s Trust, which granted the band new musical equipment.
A spokesman for Muse said: “the band are delighted and honored to be patrons of The Helen Foundation. Muse are very proud of their Teignbridge roots, and recognize that the area has much artistic talent to be uncovered and nurtured.?
There is a dedication to Helen on their 2006 release, Black Holes and Revelations, and it was their idea to hold a yearly support band contest to raise awareness and funding. Local bands compete to open for Muse and gain exposure, an advantage that band members recognize as an essential part of their own success.
The spirit of giving has apparently spread to Muse fans. This June, a day before the yearly concert, hundreds gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square for a Muse sing-along supported by a PA system directly under Nelson’s Column. A fan website, Trafalgarmusefans, had appeared, advertising the event and asking fans to get monetary support for three charities: Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer Research and The Helen Foundation.
“The young organizers – none over 20 - deserve every credit for putting the event on,? said Kirk. “We raised over £600 in buckets alone for the three charities and individual sponsorship will add much more.?
Well done, Muse. Well done, Muse fans.
Posted by Leen Morrissey on Oct 04, 2007 @ 12:00 am
