Music Venue Trust is going to distribute £230,000 to 24 of the UK’s grassroot music venues that are at risk of closing. Some of the venues that have been impacted the worst, according to the Music Venue Trust Instagram are The Waiting Room, The Railway Inn, The Venue, The Post Bar and The Lexington. These venues, among many other venues around the UK have been in danger of closing due to the ongoing government restrictions because of the global COVID-19 health crisis.
The Music Venue Trust works to protect live music venues in the UK from being closed down throughout the pandemic. In October, the trust worked to save 30 venues. They launched their Traffic Light campaign. Marking 30 grassroot venues on the ‘red list’ and in immediate danger of closing down for good. The trust secured over £80 million in donations and government grants this year through their #SaveOurVenues campaign. This helped over 400 grassroot venues in staying open until March of 2021.
CEO of the Music Venue Trust, Mark Davyd spoke about they needed to intervene to provide relief for the 24 venues in danger. The funding should be able to help the venues “stave off the immediate threat of closure and provide a firm footing for survival.” Mark also highlighted the support they’ve received from “audiences, artists, individual donors, companies who have made financial contributions and from the wider music sector.”
He continued by saying; “It has been truly overwhelming and humbling to see how much grassroots music venues matter to so many people. We particularly want to thank our friends in the media for continuing to shine a spotlight on the plight of grassroots music venues.”
The Music Venue Trust’s website offers resources and advice for venue owners and also mental health resources for those impacted by the closures. You can also donate to the trust on their website.
