140 music venues across the UK have been saved from the threat of immediate closure, Music Venue Trust has announced today. After so far raising £1.5 million, the charity’s #saveourvenues campaign is now able to remove these venues from its critical list as the wider industry faces economic collapse.
This is a boost to the three week old campaign. Music Venue Trust has set out to save grassroots venues from permanent closure as a result of lost income, an ongoing anxiety during the COVID-19 lockdown. #saveourvenues has swept up support across the board with the general public, industry companies, and public arts bodies pitching in. Live streamed sessions have tied in with crowdfunders, and MVT have been in constant liaision with venues and landlords, providing legal advice and support throughout the crisis.
While some business in England is returning to normal, live events face no sign of relief in the imminent future. These 140 venues have been taken off critical for now, but Mark Davyd, CEO of MVT, is emphasising that the hard work continues as over 500 venues in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland still fight for survival.
“[Removing] 140 grassroots music venues off of our critical list is a cause for celebration but we are not complacent as this is only a short-term fix. Whilst the immediate threat of closure for these venues has been halted, they are still under real threat in the coming months, as are over 400 others.”
“This is a good start and we can’t emphasise how grateful we are to those music fans, music industry companies and public organisations who have supported the #saveourvenues campaign so far, but we cannot relax as we still have a mountain to climb to secure the long-term future of this sector.”
“We still desperately need more music industry companies to step up and help alongside real action from the government around rent relief, financial help and clearer guidance.”
You can donate and find out more about #saveourvenues, including resources for artists, fans and venues, here.
