Manchester City Council to invest £250,000 into grassroots venues: ‘This support is a blueprint’
The scheme will be carried out by the Music Venue Trust in order to ensure the money – raised at bigger gigs across the city this summer – reaches the smaller venues that need it
Manchester City Council have announced an investment of nearly £250,000 in the city’s grassroots venues.
The scheme, dubbed ‘What’s the Story? Grassroots glory’, will see money raised from arena and outdoor gigs in the city this summer – including Oasis‘ recent five-night stand at Heaton Park – into the city’s small venues.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is a big noise in the music world. This summer all eyes have been on the city as we’ve hosted some huge concerts and seen unprecedented success in our large venues as the EMA MTV Music Awards showed.
“But while the biggest gigs – in the city’s arenas and parks – might dominate the headlines, we know they are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem with smaller, grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow.
Craig added: “We know that across the country grassroots venues are struggling. That’s why we want to ensure that our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events.
“We’re blessed in Manchester with an array of great smaller venues. They are there to be enjoyed and I’d encouraged anyone who values them to get out and support them.”
The scheme will be facilitated by the Music Venue Trust, whose National Co-ordinator Jay Taylor added: “Music Venue Trust wants to thank and congratulate Manchester City Council for leading on this crucial support for grassroots music venues. It’s inspiring to see Manchester recognise its place as one of the world’s leading music cities, and acknowledge that the fantastic grassroots music venue network in the city is an essential cornerstone of the amazing music being produced by Manchester artists.
“In April, the government reduced business rates relief in England for many grassroots music venues, significantly impacting their long-term sustainability. Manchester City Council has taken the lead with this bold and innovative action and we hope many more cities and towns across the country can join their efforts to secure the future of the UK’s grassroots music venue network.”
On Instagram, the MVT said: “This is how it should work: Big gigs boost the economy, and that success is shared with the grassroots. Manchester City Council is setting aside almost £250,000 from this summer’s huge shows.” They added: “This support is now a blueprint.”