Sussex Performance Venues Struggling Under Lockdown Despite Crowdfunding

Monday, 5 October 2020 16:39

By Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Prince Albert, Brighton (Photo: © Ethan Doyle White / Creative Commons)

"Grassroots" music venues throughout Sussex are crowdfunding to try to survive the winter as a lack of live performances causes their income to dwindle.

Although nearly 3-million pounds has been raised in a national campaign to help places that put on shows, no Sussex location has yet reached its fundraising target.

The 10pm curfew imposed on 24 September will leave the businesses having to trade on an eighth of their usual income, a charity leader has warned.

The Music Venues' Trust (MVT) launched its Save our Venues campaign in April, after a survey revealed 554 of its 670 member venues were under threat of "imminent closure".

Since then, £2.9m has been raised around the UK, meaning only two of the at-risk venues have closed permanently.

Among the fundraising drives, a guitar raffle by the Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner raised more than £120,000 for the Leadmill in Sheffield, where the band played their first gig.

Acts such as Elbow, KT Tunstall and the Pet Shop Boys are also set to play one-off socially distanced shows at smaller venues around the UK, the tickets for which are subject to a prize draw.

But the trust understands more money will be needed to see the sector through the next six months with the furlough scheme coming to a close.

Of the £2.9m raised, 62 per cent has been spent on rent arrears alone.

Venues were given the all-clear to begin trading again from 15 August, but the latest survey by MVT found only 55% had plans to reopen before Christmas with social distancing rules in place.

Some have been able to open outdoor areas for events over summer and others have sought to set up live-streaming equipment to host virtual gigs at a reduced ticket price.

But there has been support from the government too.

In July, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced a £1.57bn rescue package for the arts in the UK affected by Covid-19.

Of that, £2.25m was made immediately available to small gig venue operators who could apply for grants of up to £80,000.

Some £500m of the package has been ring-fenced for keeping cultural venues afloat and is being distributed by Arts Council England (ACE).

Many operators are now pinning their hopes on either local crowdfunding campaigns or the outcome of the Arts Council England fund - called the Cultural Recovery Fund.

Recipients are expected to be announced this month (October).

Sussex venues who are part of the scheme, and are appealing to necessary funds to be able to return after the pandemic, are:

In Brighton and Hove, the Hope & Ruin, The Green Door Store and Rossi Bar, Komedia Brighton Live, The Brunswick, The Prince Albert, the Latest Music Bar, The Pipeline, and Artista (The Secret Comedy Club).

In Eastbourne, the Printers Playhouse is appealing for funding, and in Shoreham, the Ropetackle Arts Centre is doing the same.

Horsham's The Rec Rooms likewise says it needs funding to be able to re-open after lockdown is lifted.