Newsbeat
A new hope for Strawberry Field?
20th November 2005
"Strawberry Fields Arts Foundation will keep the dream alive for children", reads SFAF's latest press release -- but millions of dollars needs to be raised to purchase the Beatle landmark before the dream can become a reality.
The Strawberry Field facility is owned by The Salvation Army. According to the Strawberry Fields Arts Foundation (SFAF), a US-based non-profit corporation, based on UK charity laws, The Salvation Army must put the property on the open market and get the highest possible price. The SFAF hope to purchase the site and convert it into a facility for educating economically disadvantaged children in music and the visual arts.
Urban Spaceman thinks this is a wonderful idea but would like to reserve judgement for the time being -- after all, the site is currently being used as a monastic-style refuge for religious contemplation and as yet, there have been no indications from the Sally Army that it is up for sale. Also, according to the SFAF the site is "named after the famous Beatle song Strawberry Fields Forever" -- but of course it's common knowlege that the site pre-dates the song. John used to hop over the wall into the grounds of the then-orphanage as a child, years before he became a Beatle. Can we trust the SFAF to have its heart in the right place if it can't even get the simplest Beatles-facts correct?
Still, it does seem to be a very good cause indeed -- "In addition to music and art classrooms, SFAF will also house an ART GALLERY, MUSEUM, BED & BREAKFAST, MUSIC CAFÉ, SCULPTURE GARDEN COMMUNITY GARDENS , and RECORDING STUDIO".
Urban Spaceman will keep you updated with any more info as it becomes available.