30 U.K. VENUES STILL IN CRISIS 

Thirty grassroots venues across the U.K. are still at risk of permanent closure as they are ineligible for government funding. A new campaign launched by the Music Venues Trust aims to raise £1.75m to save them.

Titled #savethe30, the campaign highlights venues in imminent danger of permanent closure. They include London locales The Waiting Room, The Lexington and Windmill Brixton.

Alongside an online crowdfunding campaign, which offers the opportunity to donate to specific venues, MVT will facilitate a range of targeted activities under the #saveourvenues banner, bolstering a combined effort by audiences, local communities and councils as well as the creative community. MVT is urging everyone who cares about these venues to write to their local MP, council and charities to demand action.

MVT CEO Mark Davyd said the previously announced #saveourvenues campaign has raised more than £3m and unlocked more than £80m in government support via the Cultural Recovery Fund, helping to stave off the imminent closure of more than 400 grassroots music venues.

“We are now focusing exclusively on those 30 remaining venues that face immediate permanent closure,” he elaborated. “If people want these local venues to still be there when this is over, there is a very clear call to action: Choose a venue, get donating, get writing, get calling, get organized. Save them all. Reopen every venue safely.”

In addition to the 30 sites in crisis, MVT says it has identified an additional 273 locales at risk of closure if they do not receive additional support between now and the end of March. Fortunately, 353 venues are expected to be safe during that period.