As omicron surged, Bay Area venues remained open, but those in the music industry say they’ve been left to make public health decisions well above their pay grade.
Even before the pandemic, the U.S. lagged significantly behind other industrialized countries in per capita arts spending.
Lily Janiak May 9, 2021Updated: May 12, 2021, 5:44 pm
Old show calendars decorate the wall of Bottom of the Hill, a venue that has been closed since March 2020. Photo: Marlena Sloss, Special to The Chronicle
One of the extraordinary phenomena of this pandemic has been the way that artists, administrators, advocates, companies and fans have come together to find new ways to support the performing arts after whole seasons were postponed, then postponed again, then postponed again indefinitely.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the United States lagged significantly behind other industrialized countries in per capita arts spending; COVID-19 only laid further bare how flimsy our support system for artists is.
New Nonprofit Vows To Pay Off Nightclubs‘ Unpaid Bills
The Independent Venue Preservation Initiative says it will pay venues’ unpaid bills going back to last February, but will depend on community-driven micro-donations to do so.
Another relief program is on the way to help nightclubs, as Billboard reports that a newly forming nonprofit called the Independent Venue Preservation Initiative (IVPI) is launching a “Subscribe to Live” program that will pay nightclubs’ unpaid bills going back to February 2020.
We are ready to pay venue bills. Join us with your monthly micro-donation at https://t.co/UaNWBBbCm9 and make sure we keep our independent live performance venues safe from closure. #paythebills#subscribetolive#ivpi#ivpiorgpic.twitter.com/KUCS08ZJKZ Independent Venue Preservation Initiative (@IVPIORG) April 23, 2021
S.F. Board of Supervisors creates Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund
The fund would give priority to small, legacy venues that are in imminent danger of closing because of the pandemic
Lily Janiak February 9, 2021Updated: February 11, 2021, 4:36 pm
Co-owner Lynn Schwarz pours a drink at Bottom of the Hill, which has been closed since March. Schwarz gave public comment at a recent meeting of the supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee, urging them to support the San Francisco Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund. Photo: Marlena Sloss, Special to The Chronicle
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, Feb. 9, to create a San Francisco Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund to provide grants to venues affected by the pandemic.