Music Venue Trust calls for £1M fund to support grassroots music venues
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) is calling for the creation of the Grassroots Music Venue Crisis Fund — a £1 million fighting fund to prevent the permanent closure of hundreds of grassroots music venues in the country as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
‘Despite Government action, over 550 Grassroots Music Venues remain under immediate threat of closure, representing the potential permanent loss of over 5,000 jobs, over 100,000 concerts, over 300,000 performances by musicians, and over 1 million temporary employment opportunities for gig economy workers’ MVT said
‘These devastating outcomes for musicians, production and touring crew and everyone who relies on the grassroots sector would be per annum and permanent. Any Grassroots Music Venue permanently closed by this crisis will not be reopened.‘
MVT — which represents independent live music venues across the UK —, is now looking to the music industry, the cultural sector and the UK’s most successful musicians to create the fund, which will give the charity the funding it needs to place its existing Emergency Response service on a crisis footing, to provide emergency financial support when required.
Over the past year the Emergency Response Service has been successful in 98% of threatened closure cases, preventing 91 closures in the space of 12 months.
Earlier this month, MVT already shared an open letter addressed to Boris Johnson urging the government to cancel Festival of Britain and divert funds to grassroots venues.
Donations to the Grassroots Music Venue Crisis Fund can be arranged by contacting Beverley Whitrick - beverley@musicvenuetrust.com 07809 155388.
