Government funding boost for Frome music venue

LOCAL music venue 23 Bath St in Frome has received a £11,000 boost from the government. The venue says it feels lucky to have received some help and urged everyone to support everyone in the industry.

23 Bath St is one of 135 venues across the country receiving the vital support as part of the government’s £3.36million fund to save grassroots music venues at immediate risk of closure.

Accelerated funding is being provided to cover ongoing 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 £500million in grants being delivered to cultural organisations by Arts Council England, which is still accepting applications until 4th September.

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. However, some venues, including Frome’s Cheese and Grain, say they will be unable to open until it is viable to do so. Tickets prices  may struggle to cover costs when audience numbers are limited due to social distancing.

A spokesperson for 23 Bath St said they were overjoyed to receive the money, and that it had lowered stress levels.

“We are delighted that our work in the sector has been recognised, and we would like to send a huge thanks to the Arts Council, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and especially the Music Venue Trust for putting in many hours of work to assist venues across the country to gain support in this unprecedented time. 

“We feel lucky to have been able to receive such a grant where some others in the industry have not had such help. We urge everyone to support friends, family and affected industries as this crisis is not yet over.”

The spokesperson said the grant will be used to help cover overheads and retain staff.

“This is not a hand-out without rules, we cannot use it for improvements, investment or events. Any funds we cannot prove were used to keep the venue afloat will be returned.  This fund was designed as an emergency response for those who are struggling to make ends meet, it is meant to only help until the end of September, and they have a larger fund available for those who will need further support.

“We made the decision to re-open 23 for bar service and invested our time into opening a kitchen at the venue. We felt that we should try everything we could think of to generate income to get through the Covid situation. When we became aware of the possibility of funding, we were relieved to think that some support would be available.”

They added that the grant had  considerably lowered stress levels, “as even with changing our opening hours to a more traditional pub style, we simply are not generating the correct level of income to maintain our business due to the level of staffing, and limitations to maintain a safe environment.”

Ministers and MPs across the South West are encouraging everyone to visit reopened venues and support cultural organisations starting to put performances back on.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said, “This government is here for culture and these grants 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 £1.57billion 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.”