News Beat
Darlington Forum founder made MBE in King’s Honours List 2026
Allison McKay, 59, is the founder, director and CEO of Forum Music Studios social enterprise, and has been acknowledged in the New Year Honours List for services to music.
Ms McKay, of Darlington, said she felt “overwhelmed” by the nomination, and is thankful for those who support her and the Forum venue.
She took on the challenge to transform the site in 2011 when it was close to bankruptcy and since then it has become a beloved hub for live music and community events in the area.
She told The Northern Echo: “It was struggling, so we converted it into a community benefitting society and have just worked really hard to create good opportunities for the area.
“It’s done kind of what I set out to do, which was to create a venue that gives artists and audiences a great experience as well as creating opportunities for people within the community, especially those that are harder to reach or can’t really get involved in music making.”
The venue has undergone several expansions since Ms McKay’s takeover 14 years ago. A £404,000 capital grant from Arts Council England in May 2024 and £75,000 raised through community shares in 2025 have allowed them chance to upgrade the venue and expand development.
Their commitment to sustainability and community engagement continues in their further development of the site, including plans for a carbon net zero recording studio and green room facilities.
“Being able to raise so much is a testament to the support from the community and shows the work we do has an impact,” she added.
“It can be difficult because you’ve got a lot to prove that you’re worthy of it and that you will spend public money in the right way.
“It was a challenge, but at the same time, it has shown that the work we do is very much supported. It rubber stamps the fact that something like this is needed.”
In addition to her work at the Forum, she is a long-standing trustee with Lingfield Education, supporting a trust that serves more than 5,000 pupils across 21 schools in six local authorities.
After living in London for a number of years before settling down back in Darlington, she said she wanted to contribute to making the area “a great community” not just for her family, but for others too.
“People haven’t invested in me, they’ve invested in the Forum Music Studios,” said Ms McKay.
“They want it to be here for future generations and they recognise how important it is in the community. That’s the most important thing.
“There are people who have worked here as long as I have and before. The work we’ve managed to do is something we all strove to do. They’ve been as important as I have in this.
“I see this as an award for the Forum and everyone who works here, supports it and everyone who has engaged in what we do.”
