In response to the continued economic threat to over 500 grassroots music venues throughout the UK, Music Venue Trust has launched a new campaign, #SaveOurVenues.
Following on from the launch of their Grassroots Music Venues Crisis Fund last month, #SaveOurVenues is aimed at artists, music fans and the wider music industry and aims to raise money and awareness.
Artists are being encouraged to choose a venue that is currently in crisis from an interactive map and dropdown menu, which can be found on the campaign website and perform an ‘at home’ gig in support of that venue.
Each venue will have their own crowd funding page with a clear target of the funds it needs to raise to stay afloat throughout this difficult period.
One of the main drivers behind this initiative is Frank Turner, whose recent series of ‘Independent Venue Love’ shows raised thousands of pounds.
Turner said: ‘The UK live music industry is staring into the abyss right now. I’m not able to save the whole thing on my own, but I decided to do a series of livestream shows to raise money for specific independent venues that I know and love, and that are in serious risk of disappearing right now.
‘The success of these shows demonstrated the love that exists between music fans and their favourite grassroots music venues so the #SaveOurVenues campaign is a brilliant way of building on that and hopefully giving artists and music fans a chance to get involved and play a big part in helping them survive.’
Music fans are being encouraged to show their support for grassroots venues by engaging with the #SaveOurVenues campaign by accessing upcoming live streams and donating to their local venue’s crowd funding page.
The wider music industry is also being encouraged to donate to the main #SaveOurVenues fund, and those wishing to donate in excess of £1000 are being asked to contact MVT founder and CEO Mark Davyd directly (mark@musicvenuetrust.co.uk).
