CAN YOU CIC IT? is incredibly excited and humbled to have been successful with our Arts Council England grant for Independent Venue Week 22 #IVW22 as well as our new development, education and community program, Yes We Can.
Our community has experienced the toughest 18 months of their existence and the people who thrive in these spaces, on and off stage, have been heavily impacted, both personally and professionally. Many are still facing huge challenges whilst the reopening of spaces safely, is a gradual and ongoing process.
This grant allows us to work with our incredibly resilient venues, promoters, artists, crew, reps and gig goers alongside partners who are leaders in their field to, once again, deliver an exciting program of activity celebrating and championing the grassroots live music sector, all around the country.
Independent Venue Week runs for a 9th consecutive year from Monday 31st Jan – Sun 6th Feb 2022 and our whole community is excited about a return to live shows in busy venues with some amazing artists, new and established. This year will also see live shows taking place outside of the main week itself, further supporting the community throughout the year.
Yes We Can will start it’s rollout from September 2021 with a series of activities across a range of communities. More details to be announced in due course.
Claire Mera-Nelson, Director, Music, Arts Council England, said: “As we move beyond lockdown and into a recovery phase, the importance of independent, grassroots music venues to the local and artistic communities they serve is greater than ever.
Independent Venue Week has always been a vital ingredient in the success of our grassroots live music sector, showcasing our brilliant independent venues and artists across the country each year; but now their work will become even more important as they move to deliver year-round development, education and community programmes on a national basis.
Thanks to National Lottery funding and the players that make it possible, we’re delighted to be able to support Independent Venue Week and the grassroots venues and artists it supports. We’re excited by the opportunities this work will open up to artists and communities alike – helping to explore new ways to re-energise spaces, attract new audiences and provide innovative platforms for a new generation of artists.”
It has been our work creating, delivering and growing Independent Venue Week, supported by Arts Council England and other partners, over the last 9 years that has brought about the Yes We Can platform.
“Through our venues, we have met incredible people working locally across a range of communities from education for youngsters (often excluded), mental health, LGBTQ+ as well as the deaf, disabled and neurodivergent, all around the country. Seeing this activity brought home to us just how pivotal venues are as cultural and community hubs” said Sybil Bell, Founder of Independent Venue Week and Co-Founder of Yes We Can.
“Being awarded this grant from Arts Council England is a really huge deal for us – being able to move forward with his program is incredibly exciting and important for us and the communities we will be reaching”.”
We know how competitive the funding process currently is, especially over the last 18 months, so it means a great deal that Arts Council England recognises the work CAN YOU CIC IT and our collective community does to celebrate and champion grassroots music venues. And now this means not just during IVW but our growing work as part of Yes We Can throughout the year.
To support the development our work we have created two new Advisory Groups; The main group will bring together professionals from the music, charity & education sectors to advise & guide us in best practice ensuring our ability to improve the quality & diversity of our work & be able to respond to upcoming challenges & opportunities.
An under-30s group will be made up of participants from our programs who are motivated to work collaboratively with us, advise us on young people’s and industry needs & help us to deliver it.
Details of the Advisory Group Members will be announced imminently.
Sign up for venues and promoters is open and details can be found on this page.
Can’t wait to get down to the front making new memories with you all #IVW22
