Liverpool City Council has launched a new grassroots music venues support programme designed to strengthen and sustain the city\u2019s small live music spaces.<\/h4>\n
The programme brings together\u00a0direct financial support\u00a0with\u00a0tailored business development assistance, helping venues adapt to ongoing challenges and continue to platform new and original music by Liverpool\u2011based artists.<\/p>\n
Grassroots venues across the UK have faced significant pressures in recent years, including rising operational costs, changes in audience behaviour, and the wider impact of the cost\u2011of\u2011living crisis.<\/p>\n
As a\u00a0UNESCO City of Music, Liverpool is committed to safeguarding this essential part of its cultural infrastructure and ensuring that venues remain resilient, innovative and inclusive.<\/p>\n
The grants scheme marks the start of a year-long programme to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Liverpool\u2019s status as a\u00a0UNESCO City of Music.<\/p>\n Funded through the\u00a0UK Shared Prosperity Fund\u00a0and delivered in partnership with\u00a0Music Venue Trust (MVT), the programme includes two core pillars:<\/p>\n Financial Support and Talent Development \u2013\u00a0a dedicated grants scheme will incentivise venues and promoters to programme new, original music by Liverpool\u2011based artists. Priority will be given to emerging and grassroots spaces, particularly those with a\u00a0capacity under 300.<\/p>\n Applicants will be able to apply for support for\u00a0up to six nights of live music programming, with grants of up to\u00a0\u00a33,000 per venue or promoter. These grants will help venues host new talent, grow audiences, and strengthen Liverpool\u2019s pipeline of emerging artists.<\/p>\n Business Support and Capacity Building \u2013\u00a0a\u00a0bespoke package of business support, delivered in partnership with MVT. This will help both new and established venues strengthen their business models, diversify audiences, and respond to evolving trends across the live music sector.<\/p>\n The programme will additionally provide a referral route into\u00a0Music Futures\u00a0Promoter Development Project, a 12\u2011month development offer, supporting promoters from under\u2011represented backgrounds or working in under\u2011supported genres.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be a great music city you absolutely have to have grassroots music venues at your very heart. This is where emerging artists take their first nervous foray on stage and where audiences are inspired by what they see and hear on stage. It is at these venues where, if you are lucky, you will experience a performance\u00a0that will stay with you for the rest of your life.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nothing like live music in a\u00a0packed venue when you are sharing an amazing experience with all the like-minded fans in the room. You can see photos from someone\u2019s phone or a recording of the gig, but nothing beats the experience of being there, in the moment, when that musical magic happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Applications open:<\/strong>\u00a0Monday 26 January 2026<\/p>\n Deadline for submission:<\/strong>\u00a0Friday 13 February 2026 at 12 noon<\/p>\n Notification of outcome:<\/strong>\u00a0No later than Friday 27 February 2026<\/p>\n![\"Sound](\"https:\/\/theguideliverpool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/af55ddd1-7739-4930-acf9-675a9beb99d9.jpg\")
Kevin McManus, Liverpool\u2019s Head of UNESCO City of Music, said:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Apply here<\/a>. <\/h3>\n
Find some of the incredible grassroots music events happening across Liverpool on our calendar<\/a>. <\/h4>\n
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