Hastings music venues receive funding to reduce impact of Covid-19

Grassroots music venues at risk of closure in Hastings are to receive £93,000 in funding to help save them from the impacts of the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Marina FountainThe Marina Fountain
The Marina Fountain

The Piper, Grand Elektra, the Brass Monkey and Marina Fountain are set to receive the funding, according to Hastings and Rye MP Sally-Ann Hart.

The fund – £3.36million of Government money – is providing vital support to 135 music venues, which otherwise would face collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

The Piper, in Norman Road. 
L-R Chris Barnett, owner, and Jack Hobbs, general managerThe Piper, in Norman Road. 
L-R Chris Barnett, owner, and Jack Hobbs, general manager
The Piper, in Norman Road. L-R Chris Barnett, owner, and Jack Hobbs, general manager

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 September 4. All this funding forms part of a £1.57bn rescue package for culture and heritage from the Government.

Sally-Ann Hart MP said: “I welcome the fantastic support being given to help the arts in Hastings and Rye, which really shows that this Government is committed to supporting areas like ours.

“Grassroots venues like the four who have received this funding – Brass Monkey, Grand Elektra, The Piper and the Marina Fountain – 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. These live music venues are being saved by the Government because it is so vital to our vibrant music industry, as well as being a local treasure’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: “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.”