The Old England, The Louisiana, The Exchange launch crowdfunders

The Old England, The Louisiana, The Exchange launch crowdfunders

Posted on: 28 Apr 2020

The venues form a part of the Music Venue Trust's nationwide #SaveOurVenues campaign.

 

Yesterday (Tuesday 28 April), the Music Venue Trust launched a nationwide campaign to protect the UK's most at-risk music venues amid COVID-19.

 

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Trust estimates that 556 grassroots music venues in the UK are at imminent risk of closure. 

 

"The situation is dire, government support has been exhausted, and it now falls to artists, music fans, local communities and the wider industry to take action," the campaign website reads.

 

"Put bluntly, without these venues the opportunities for artists and audiences to connect in a meaningful way at a local level will simply disappear in a lot of cases."

 

The #SaveOurVenues campaign aims to raise money to help said venues survive the outbreak.

 

 

Beloved local music venues, including The Louisiana, The Exchange and The Old England, are taking part in the campaign, and have each launched individual crowdfunding pages.

 

Each venue has set different fundraising targets, according to its individual needs.

 

Anything raised beyond these individual targets will be donated to the Music Venue Trust GMV Crisis Fund to protect other venues across the country.

 

The Louisiana, for instance, aims to raise £5,000 to cover venue running costs whilst it remains closed during the pandemic. 

 

"Our venue faces closure because of having to close our doors, due to Covid-19," The Louisiana's crowdfunding page reads.

 

"Our insurance company tell us we're not covered, even though we have Business Interruption Insurance."

 

"Your donations will be used to help cover running costs - rent, utility bills, maintenance."

The LouisianaThe Louisiana 

 

The Exchange, which due to its successful Community Ownership campaign in 2018, is not under threat of closure.

 

Nevertheless, The Exchange is supporting the #SaveOurVenues campaign and has launched an individual crowdfunder, with a target of £500.

 

Anything raised above this target, the page explains, will also be donated to the Music Venue Trust GMV Crisis Fund.

 

"Unlike others, our venue does not face closure because we ran a successful Community Ownership campaign in 2018," The Exchange's crowdfunding page reads.

 

"We felt it was important to be a part of the #saveourvenues campaign to show solidarity and support for other venues and the work that Music Venue Trust are doing."

 

"Your donations will contribute towards paying members of our team who were not entitled to Government grants."

 

"We encourage people to only donate money if you have enjoyed a set that an artist performs for us. Please consider supporting other venues first."

The Exchange The Exchange 

 

Like The Louisiana, The Old England's target is £5,000. Any funds raised will help The Old England to pay for rent and bills, thus minimising the risk of closure.

 

Anything raised above this target will also be donated to MVT's Crisis Fund.

 

"During this lockdown period, The Old E's rent has been deferred but not reduced.

 

"This means we are currently accumulating debt - the same is true for venues across the country," the Old England's crowfunder explains.

 

"Your donations will help us ensure we can pay our rent and bills when needed, helping minimise our risk of closure."

 

"We estimate that £5,000 will allow us to pay most expenses until the end of July."
The Old EnglandThe Old England 

 

Read more:
 

  • What Bristol’s music venues are listening to under lockdown: The Louisiana

     

  • What Bristol's music venues are listening to under lockdown: The Exchange

Article by:

Kate Hutchison

 


Kate Hutchison

Get in touch with Kate at kate@365bristol.com.