LA independent venues’ bid to keep afloat

Article posted by Coliseum, May 7^th, 2021

Image: Los Angeles Theatre

Over 100 independent Los Angeles (LA) venues, promoters and festivals have formed a coalition to push State and local lawmakers to provide venue-saving funding to keep the lifeblood of the creative economy open. The Los Angeles Independent Venue Coalition (LAIVC) will advocate for emergency funding, fee reductions and Science-backed reopening plans.

‘All Access’ quoted LAIVC co-founder Heather Martin as stating, “Independent venues are the backbone of the Los Angeles creative economy that generates $139.7 billion and employs over 400,000 local workers. These venues were the first to close and will be the last to reopen at full capacity.”

COVID-19 clobber in the United States not so long back has decimated the live events industry along with the rest of the world as the fatal respiratory disease comes as the greatest curse to mankind.

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The LA Independent Venue Coalition (LAIVC) is a collective of owners, managers and promoters from LA’s live entertainment venues who have banded together to support the community and influence the industry. The LAIVC’s goal is not only to help guide State and local policies governing independent venues but also to keep people at the center of conversations affecting its industry.

‘All Access’ further stated that the LAIVC has already garnered immediate success, earning the support of California Assembly Member Laura Friedman, who has recognized the importance of saving independent venues and rallied bipartisan support to request funding to save California’s stages.

In her letter to Speaker Anthony Rendon of the California State Assembly and Toni Gayle Atkins, pro tempore of the California State Senate, she stated, “We write to raise your awareness about independent live music venues throughout the State of California and urge your consideration of including a targeted appropriation in the State Budget specifically for these venues. These independent venues are not only the foundation of our local creative economies, employing thousands of Californians, they also serve as catalysts for socioeconomic inclusion and powerful platforms for emerging and independent artistes.”

The mission of LAIVC is to help support the ecosystem of independent venues, promoters, festivals, and their employees.

The ‘LAIVC’ stated, “As the first businesses to close and the last to reopen, the live entertainment industry has experienced incredible economic losses. With little to no revenue-generating options and no relief from day-to-day expenses, many independent venues are in danger of closing. And a shuttered venue is not just another closed building. The closures have not only forced thousands of employees onto unemployment, but have deprived artistes of a place to hone their craft, and robbed the City of one of its most valuable cultural currencies.”

The ‘LAIVC’ further stated, “We advocate the value and importance of our economic and cultural contribution to the LA area and beyond. We actively pursue guidance and support from the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. Together we aim to preserve the diverse community of independent venues and economic opportunity for every owner, employee, and partner in our wonderful cultural ecosystem.”

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