Help Musicians UK (HMUK) and Independent Venue Week (IVW) have teamed up for the third consecutive year in a row for a new campaign, Live Music, Help Musicians, which is designed to support the health and wellbeing of artists.
IVW takes place from 28 January to 3 February, and the new campaign will support artists backstage at over 230 grassroots music venues across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland during the event.
The independent music charity HMUK will support venues taking part in the week-long series so that they are prepared, informed and skilled at handling the unique needs and challenges that gigging musicians are often up against.
In 2016 HMUK conducted research with the University of Westminster into mental health in music and their findings revealed that musicians can be three times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the rest of the population.
In order to counter the negative aspects of touring, the charity will provide venues participating in IVW with ‘healthy venue packs’ for venue staff and artists, which contain ACS quality hearing protection, and information on the support available for artist who might be struggling.
Joe Hastings, head of health and welfare, Help Musicians UK says: ‘Our exciting partnership with IVW and the launch of our ‘Live Music, Help Musicians’ campaign is a great way to commit to supporting the health and wellbeing of artists on tour and backstage, to help sustain a healthy live music industry from the grass roots up.’
Sybil Bell, founder of Independent Venue Week, added: ‘It’s fantastic to be working with Help Musicians UK for a third consecutive year and we’re so pleased that, this year, we’re working together on the launch of the ‘Live Music, Help Musicians’ campaign which is one of the most significant developments in mental health for the sector.’
IVW takes place from 28 January to 3 February, and the new campaign will support artists backstage at over 230 grassroots music venues across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland during the event.
The independent music charity HMUK will support venues taking part in the week-long series so that they are prepared, informed and skilled at handling the unique needs and challenges that gigging musicians are often up against.
In 2016 HMUK conducted research with the University of Westminster into mental health in music and their findings revealed that musicians can be three times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the rest of the population.
In order to counter the negative aspects of touring, the charity will provide venues participating in IVW with ‘healthy venue packs’ for venue staff and artists, which contain ACS quality hearing protection, and information on the support available for artist who might be struggling.
Joe Hastings, head of health and welfare, Help Musicians UK says: ‘Our exciting partnership with IVW and the launch of our ‘Live Music, Help Musicians’ campaign is a great way to commit to supporting the health and wellbeing of artists on tour and backstage, to help sustain a healthy live music industry from the grass roots up.’
Sybil Bell, founder of Independent Venue Week, added: ‘It’s fantastic to be working with Help Musicians UK for a third consecutive year and we’re so pleased that, this year, we’re working together on the launch of the ‘Live Music, Help Musicians’ campaign which is one of the most significant developments in mental health for the sector.’
