Falkirk music venues could share in £4 million of funding

Last December, in response to the impact the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having on art and culture in Scotland, culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, announced an additional £4 million in emergency funding for the established Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund, delivered through Creative Scotland.

The purpose of the fund is to provide grassroots live music venues that were financially sustainable before COVID-19 with the funds to prevent permanent closure and allow them to stabilise until the end of June this year.

The awards for the first round of the Grassroots Music Venue Stabilisation Fund were announced last September, when £2.2 million in emergency support was provided to 68 venues across Scotland.

Temple nightclub was one of the lucky recipients, receiving a vital cash injection of £35,000 from the fund.

The Burnbank Road venue is home to DJs and hosts regular live sets from a wide variety of local bands and acts from further afield.

At the time, Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson welcomed the funding for the popular night spot.

He said: “Scotland is well known for its vibrant live music scene and this fund shows the industry, which has been among the worst affected during the pandemic, can count on the Scottish Government’s support.

“However, I’m hopeful this vital cash lifeline for popular music venues such as Temple Falkirk will help them through this difficult time and ensure that they will be able to reopen again as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland, added: “Live music has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19 and Creative Scotland is only too aware of the severity of that impact.

“Music is such a significant part of Scotland’s cultural life and it is here, at grassroots level, that talented musicians create new material connecting with audiences young and old.

“We look forward to the day when we’ll all be back together, cheering on artists face to face – but, until then, this fund will provide a lifeline to one of the most vibrant scenes that Scotland has to offer.”

The deadline for funding applications is Wednesday, February 3.

Visit www.creativescotland.com for more information.