Manchester music venues awarded emergency funding as part of £3.36m Arts Council package

They’ve already awarded a substantial sum to arts venues, including several in Manchester. And now, Arts Council England has announced an emergency package to help grassroots music venues across the country – including several in Manchester.

Across the country, £3.36 million will be shared between 135 music venues which successfully applied for emergency support in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Manchester venues which will receive funding include Gorilla (£31,000), Deaf Institute (£15,000), Jimmy’s NQ (£40,000), Soup Kitchen (£41,000), Matt and Phreds (£19,700), The Stoller Hall (£7,500), The Peer Hat (£13,567), and Retro (£1,500).

The Emergency Grassroots Music Venues Fund was the first fund administered on behalf of the Government, as part of the £1.57 billion package announced recently to protect the UK’s culture and heritage sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the demand for help from some of the hardest hit in the sector, an additional £1.1 million was added to the fund to support as many venues as possible, as quickly as possible.

The accelerated funding has been delivered by Arts Council England in under a month to save grassroots venues facing huge challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Venues could apply for emergency grants of up to £80,000 to cover on-going running costs incurred during closure, including rent and utilities.

“Grassroots live music venues are valued cultural spaces within their communities, providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds to experience live music, both as audience members and as participants or performers,” said Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England.

“They are a fundamental part of England’s thriving music scene, for musicians and audiences as well as for their role in supporting talent development.”

Music venues are also eligible to apply for a share of £500 million in grants being delivered to cultural organisations by Arts Council England.

“This Government is here for culture and these grants today show we are determined to help our exceptional music industry weather the covid storm and come back stronger,” said Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden.

“Grassroots music venues are where the magic starts and these emergency grants from our £1.57 billion fund will ensure these music venues survive to create the Adeles and Ed Sheerans of the future.

“I encourage music fans to help too by supporting music and cultural events as they start to get going again.

“We need a collective effort to help the things we love through covid.”