Hastings Music Venue In 'Imminent Danger' Of Permanent Closure

The Grand Elektra in Hastings has been highlighted in a campaign to save grassroot music venues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As reported previously by More Radio, the Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of UK grassroots music venues (GMVs), is campaigning to save venues that are still in crisis after the charity's successful #SaveOurVenues campaign.

The focus is now on helping thirty venues which were unsuccessful in some degree or another in an application to receive funding from the government's Cultural Recovery Fund. 

The new 'Traffic Light Campaign' highlights venues considered safe until March 31 (Green), those at risk of closure between now and March 31 without additional support (Amber), and those at imminent danger of permanent closure (Red).

The Grand Elektra in Hastings joins two Brighton bars (Rossi Bar and The Brunswick) on the red list.

Director Paul Mandry said:

"Grand Elektra has been an iconic venue in Hastings for the last 40 years under many guises.

"Since we opened we have put on events, live music and developed a plethora of diverse acts to continue its legacy and entertain the community.

"Having been shut since March due to the ongoing pandemic, the future of the venue is now looking uncertain.

"We need support from the community to protect the venue until next spring when we hope to be able to reopen"

In a statement, the MVT said:

"These grassroots venues play a crucial role in the development of British music, nurturing local talent, providing a platform for artists to build their careers and develop their music and their performance skills.

"These venues also play a vital role in the cultural and economic vibrancy of any village, town or city."
 
A range of targeted activity under the #saveourvenues banner has been announced, based around a combined effort by audiences, local communities, local councils and the creative community to prevent the permanent closure of these remaining GMVs.

MVT are now urging everyone who cares about these venues to write to their local MP, council, local charities, and anyone else they can think of to demand action to prevent them being closed for good.
 
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said:

"What the #saveourvenues campaign has achieved during the last 8 months is truly remarkable.

"Thanks to the efforts of music fans, local communities and the wider music sector we have raised over £3m in donations and have unlocked over £80m in government assistance to help stave off the imminent closure of over 400 grassroots music venues.

"We are now focusing exclusively on those 30 remaining venues which face immediate permanent closure.  

"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 organised.  

"Save them all. Reopen Every Venue Safely."
 
A new crowdfunding initiative powered by Crowdfunder has been launched to secure the future of these 30 GMVs.

By visiting a single landing page at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-venues-red-list people can choose an individual venue to donate to. If an individual target is reached by a particular venue the surplus donations will go towards supporting other venues in crisis. 
 
As part of these crowdfunding efforts there will also be a new range of merchandise exclusively available to support this campaign and available for delivery by Christmas.

Every item bought directly supports a venue, with MVT paying the costs of printing, packing and delivery.