The Government has announced a £3.36million fund, to save grass roots music venue at immediate risk of closure. Including £24,382 to help MK11 Live Music Venue & Sports Bar in Milton Keynes.
The fund is providing vital support to 135 music venues, which otherwise would face collapse due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Accelerated funding is being provided to cover on-going running costs incurred during closure, including rent and utilities, so that some of the country’s most treasured venues can survive.
This support is on top of the £500 million in grants being delivered to cultural organisation by Arts Council England, who are still accepting applications until 4 September. All this funding forms part of an unprecedented £1.57bn rescue package for culture and heritage from the Government to see these sectors through the coronavirus pandemic.
Indoor performances can now restart with socially distanced audiences so music venues are now able to reopen safely, alongside other culture venues and heritage sites. Ministers and Iain Stewart MP are encouraging everyone to visit reopened venues and support cultural organisations starting to put performances back on.
Iain Stewart MP welcomed the announcement:
“I welcome the fantastic support being given to support the arts in [CONSTITUENCY], which really shows that this Government is here for culture”
“Grassroots venues like MK11 are the engine room of the hugely successful British music scene. Providing aspiring musicians with an important source of income and honing the craft of the great musical talents of the tomorrow. MK11 Live Music Venue & Sports Bar is being saved by the Government because it is so vital to our vibrant music industry, as well as being a local treasure’.
Commenting, the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said:
“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.
“Grassroots music venues are where the magic starts and these emergency grants from our £1.57bn 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.”