UK government announces £2.25million fund dedicated to saving grassroots music venues

Earlier this month, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced a £1.57billion "emergency support package" to help the "cultural, arts and heritage institutions weather the impact of coronavirus."

On Saturday (25 July), Dowden confirmed that the first chunk of the funding (£2.25 million) will be used to save up to 150 grassroots venues across the UK from insolvency.

Dowden said, "Without our grassroots music venues, we wouldn’t have The Beatles, Adele or Elton John. Nearly all of our globally successful music stars started out at UK clubs and live music venues - and we must make sure those organisations weather the Covid storm."

He said of the emergency funding, "The first £2.25 million of our unprecedented cultural rescue package is targeted at their survival. We’re working to deliver the rest of the £1.57 billion emergency package as quickly as possible, so that we can protect and preserve our precious culture, arts and heritage for future generations."

The emergency fund will be provided by Arts Council England (ACE), and will be split between music venues around the country, including some that have been highlighted as part of Music Venue Trust's #saveourvenues campaign.

A press release states that the fund will give venues grants of up to £80,000 to spend on essential costs including rent, utilities and maintenance contracts.

Beverley Whitrick of Music Venue Trust said, "Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this essential funding for desperate grassroots music venues facing urgent, short term challenges. Without this help, the sector would be facing a wave of permanent closures. Throughout this crisis we have worked closely with DCMS and are delighted that the urgent need for this intervention has been recognised and responded to."