The Culture Recovery Fund has helped save 135 grassroots music venues at “imminent risk of collapse”, a new report has revealed.
The figures, published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), show that more than £3.3 million in funding is being shared among 135 venues across England who applied for support to “survive the pandemic”.
These include The Troubadour in London, The Jacaranda in Liverpool, The Sunflower Lounge in Manchester, and the Night People in Manchester, which have played host to artists including Adele, Ed Sheeran and The Beatles in the early days of their careers.
With grants of up to £80,000 available, the emergency fund will cover on-going running costs incurred during the enforced closure of music venues, such as rent and utilities.
The funding forms part of the £880 million Culture Recovery Fund intended to support arts, film and culture organisations affected by Covid-19.
Welcoming the announcement, Darren Henley, CEO of Arts Council England, said: “This much-welcomed emergency investment from the government into grassroots music venues will have a profoundly positive impact on England’s music ecology, and today’s news will mean a great deal to the many artists, audiences and communities they serve across the country.
“I’m pleased that the Arts Council has been able to use its expertise to administer this fund, ensuring that we are supporting music venues in these challenging times.”
Mark Davyd, of the Music Venue Trust, added: “We warmly welcome this first distribution from the Culture Recovery Fund which will ensure that the short term future of these venues is secured while we continue to work on how we can ensure their long term sustainability.
“Both DCMS and Arts Council England have worked very quickly to fully understand the imminent risk of permanent closure faced by a significant number of grassroots music venues across the country, and the funding they’ve brought forward creates a real breathing space for under pressure venues.”
The Culture Recovery Fund is just one of many initiatives launched by the Government to protect vulnerable businesses. The rescue package also includes Business Rates Relief, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and grant funding of up to £25,000 available through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
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