"We hope that this fund will help bring the stability required to ensure that we still have our incredible live music scene to return to, post-Covid-19." Photo: Shutterstock
In an announcement on Thursday 20 August, Nicola Sturgeon said that Scotland will remain in Phase 3 of the route map out of lockdown but that re-openings pencilled in for Monday 24 August can go ahead if appropriate guidance is implemented.
The First Minister also restated her hope that theatres and live music venues will be able to re-open for preparations and rehearsal from 24 August, and re-open to audiences with social distancing in place from 14 September.
Funding for grassroots music venues
Creative Scotland has also announced new support for Scotland’s grassroots live music venues.
Venues will be able to apply for the £2.2m fund, which was announced Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop in July.
Applications for support will be open from 12 noon on Wednesday 26 August and must be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 3 September.
Welcoming the funding, MU Regional Organiser for Scotland and Northern Ireland Caroline Sewell said, “This is crucial funding to support Scotland’s grassroots live music venues at this time of real uncertainty. Our grassroots venues are the heartbeat of our live music ecology and are often already in far too precarious a situation with the looming threat of gentrification and noise complaints.
“We hope that this fund will help bring the stability required to ensure that we still have our incredible live music scene to return to, post-Covid-19.
“We await further announcements from the Scottish Government as to how the remaining funding for the creative sector will be allocated, and continue to lobby hard and make the case for freelancers and those who have fallen through the gaps of existing support schemes,” she added.