141 venues in London affected by COVID-19 are set to receive funding after a new support program was announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan. He stated that a total of £450,000 has been set aside to help the grassroots venues stay afloat while the nightlife industry is on pause. In addition to the monetary contributions, the venues will receive one-on-one support from the Music Venue Trust which will offer proprietors a variety of legal advice.
In a statement obtained by DJ Mag, Khan spoke on the importance of London’s nightlife industry and promised to do what he can to protect jobs affected by the closures. In his own words:
“London’s music scene is the envy of the world and integral to our economy at night, but it has been devastated by the impact of COVID-19. I am pleased that we have been able to support music venues with essential advice and support to stay in business, and provide funding for those most in need to cover rent and other ongoing expenses at this challenging time. We will continue to do all we can to help, including pushing government to protect jobs and provide the clear guidance that is required so they can plan for their future in our capital.”
At the time of writing, 14 venues have received grants ranging from £1,070 to £19,790.40 totaling £178,000 with the promise of more to come. It’s been stated that the support will be delivered over the course of the next few months. You can find more information on the new program and view the full list of currently funded venues on the City of London’s official website here.
