Government funding rescues 10 grassroots music venues in South West

The government has announced a £3.36million fund to save grassroots music venues at immediate risk of closure.

• 135 grassroots music venues have been saved by emergency funding as part of the £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund, including 10 in the South West
• The government is making available an immediate rescue package worth £3.36million as grassroots music venues are the first recipients from the massive Culture Recovery Fund
• Government encourages public to be Here for Culture and support local cultural organisations as Covid-secure performances restart and museums and galleries reopen.

The fund is providing vital support to 135 venues, which otherwise would face collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The list includes 10 venues in the South West, which will share £226,789.

Three venues in Bristol have been awarded funding – Motion Events Ltd in Pennywell Road (£79,906), The Old Bookshop in Bedminster (£46,101) and The Louisiana in Wapping Road (£5,500).

Also receiving funding are Madding Crowd in Bournemouth (£28,000), Komedia Bath in Bath (£20,000), St Austell Band Club in St Austell (£13,460), 23 Bath St in Frome (£11,000), The Hutong Café in Plymouth (£9,000), Level III in Swindon (£8,322) and The Barrel House Ballroom in Totnes (£5,500).

Accelerated funding is being provided to cover ongoing running costs incurred during closure, including rent and utilities, so that some of the country’s most treasured venues can survive.

This support is on top of the £500million in grants being delivered to cultural organisations by Arts Council England, which is still accepting applications until 4 September.

All this funding forms part of an unprecedented £1.57billion rescue package for culture and heritage from the government to see these sectors through the coronavirus pandemic.

Indoor performances can now restart with socially-distanced audiences so music venues are now able to reopen safely, alongside other culture venues and heritage sites.

Ministers and MPs across the South West are encouraging everyone to visit reopened venues and support cultural organisations starting to put performances back on.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This government is here for culture and these grants show we are determined to help our exceptional music industry weather the Covid storm and come back stronger.

“Grassroots music venues are where the magic starts and these emergency grants from our £1.57billion fund will ensure these music venues survive to create the Adeles and Ed Sheerans of the future.

“I encourage music fans to help too by supporting music and cultural events as they start to get going again.

“We need a collective effort to help the things we love through Covid.”