Trinity Centre awarded £35k grant by Arts Council England
Posted on: 14 May 2020The relief grant will allow Trinity Centre to expand its online programming and support local artists.
Bristol music venue, Trinity Centre, has been awarded a grant of £35,000 as part of a £160m emergency package allocated by Arts Council England to support the arts sector during the COVID-19 crisis.
Revealing the news on social media, the Trinity team said the grant will help them to adapt and expand existing projects.
It'll enable the venue to more community activities online, and to support independent artists involved in the #TrinityPresents series.
The Trinity Centre team, pre-lockdown | Photo: Khali Ackford
One of Bristol's longest-running live venues, and a proudly independent community space, Trinity Centre ceased trading several weeks ago due to the virus.
Over 80% of the venue's revenue is earned from live events, hall hire, bar sales and a pay and display public car park, leaving the venue in a precarious position since its closure.
Allocated as part of a huge £160m relief fund set up to support the arts during the current crisis, Arts Council England's grant provides welcome relief to a venue that has established itself over the years as a huge part of both the Bristol music scene and the local, BS2 community.
We've been awarded emergency funds from @ace_national The grant will help us adapt existing projects and move activities online. Plus we're committing 20% of the grant to pay independent artists & community members for contributions to 'Trinity Presents' https://t.co/z74ADJtDiL pic.twitter.com/tWtOQ26eHP
— Trinity Bristol (@TrinityBristol) May 13, 2020
With a view to expanding their online output during lockdown, Trinity will be working to provide more workshops in collaboration with their Associate Artist (and local resident), Roxana Vilk.
Trinity will be releasing information about an open-call commission for an independent D/Deaf or disabled artist to create a new piece of digital work.
Acknowledging that this is also an extremely trying time for artists and freelancers, Trinity is committing 20% of the grant to secure pay for the independent artists and community members involved in the venue's Trinity Presents series.
Speaking on the announcement of the grant, Trinity Board Member and local artists Tom Marshman said:
"With this promise of the emergency Arts Council grant, Trinity can feel more assured that they can continue to be at the heart of Bristol culture and community engagement."
"It's not really a time for a massive party, but more an opportunity to take a breath, pause and stabilise ourselves and look forward to life after isolation," he added.
For more information on the Trinity Centre, or to keep up with the online programming in the coming weeks, head to their Facebook page.
Header Image: Khali Ackford
Read more:
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LOUD Magazine: A Brief History of the Trinity Centre
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Bristol Takeover Online: Colston Hall unveil new online music festival
Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.