Independent Venue Community initiative launched to make grassroots music venues more inclusive

The initiative is supported by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council Wales, the Welsh Government, and Youth Music, and it's endorsed by Nova Twins, who are the founding ambassadors.

Independent Venue Community aims to make grassroots music venues in the UK more inclusive, by welcoming new audiences through a variety of music-related daytime events aimed at Early Years, Young People, the Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent, Mental Health and Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Older Years.

Feeling proud to launch Independent Venue Community, offering activities in venues during the day, throughout the year, around the country.@ivc_uk unlocks the potential of venues & talent of the communities around them.

Read more: https://t.co/ShIgbiPyv6 + livestream (4:45pm) pic.twitter.com/7xM4Nu1OYs

— Independent Venue Community (@ivc_uk) July 19, 2022

Sybil Bell, founder of Independent Venue Community said, "Independent venues are the absolute heart of the music business, from small villages, to towns and cities, all around the country. What’s less appreciated, however, is the role they can play as community spaces, where local people can express themselves, try new things or simply come together in person. From first hand experience, with initiatives like The Warren Youth Project in Hull or our own Soundcheck Sessions and BE, activity like this can have genuinely life-changing outcomes for people, especially those who don’t normally get access to these kinds of opportunities."

"Our goal with Independent Venue Community is to harness these individual pockets of brilliance, and to inspire more venues to engage with groups and individuals in their area," Bell added. "Ultimately, we want to build a national network of engaged local communities, and encourage more music venues to throw their doors open in the day. By doing this, I believe they can increase and diversify the people coming through their doors and unlock significant hidden value and talent. It’s a win-win situation."

Nova Twins said of the initiative, "Independent venues and the communities that surround them are at the heart of the music industry. They are the foundation of many great bands, technicians and crowds of like minded music lovers. This independent ecosystem feeds the whole industry, encouraging new artists to grow and sustain themselves. Without it, the history, culture and existence of today's UK live music would eventually die. We need to keep fostering diversity within this space, as it’s the make-up of all the music we love, from the bands on stage, to their crews and their fans."

"When we were coming up, we were often one of the few female artists of colour, both on the bills and in the crowd," the duo continued. "It was isolating and we were often met with confusion or rejection because of some people’s lack of education and experience. Music is for everyone. People should be given the same opportunities regardless of where they are from, their race or sexual orientation. Everyone should feel welcome and have a safe space to enjoy music freely."

They added, "We're so excited to be the first ambassadors for Independent Venue Community. We owe so much to independent venues like the Amersham Arms and Camden Monarch in London, they helped us develop as performers and work out the kind of show that we wanted to deliver."