Live Music Society, the nonprofit foundation that has provided $3 million in grants to support 143 small venues and listening rooms across the United States since 2020, was awarded the Community Development Award at the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) ‘23 conference and gala in Washington, D.C. this week. Presented by Kelsey Kaufmann, owner of Cactus Club, Milwaukee: "The NIVA Community Development Award is presented to an organization that created a program or initiative that improves the music, comedy, theater, and/or performing arts ecosystem in their neighborhood, community, or state.” Live Music Society was recognized for its crucial new Music in Action Grant program, allowing small performance venues to transform their creative ideas into a material reality and providing a much-needed resource for small venues to thrive and make their operations more financially sustainable.
Live Music Society just announced their Music In Action grant, totaling $500,000 and distributed to 17 for-profit and nonprofit small venues, to help venue owners and managers in developing and implementing creative ideas to engage their communities, expand audiences, and generate new revenue sources. Initially established to provide pandemic relief, Live Music Society has introduced the Music in Action grant to create an ongoing opportunity for small performance venues to thrive. The grant promotes inclusivity, bolstering the long-term economic vitality of the communities it serves while championing historically marginalized groups including BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.
Read more about the new grant and 17 venue’s funded programs here: livemusicsociety.org/grantees
