Three popular local music venues have set up crowdfunding pages to save their businesses

    Milton Keynes based music venues MK11, The Craufurd Arms and Unit Nine have launched fundraising pages to help the businesses survive during the coronavirus outbreak.

    All three venues have been forced to cancel shows and are at risk of permanently closing their doors forever if funds cannot be raised to pay bills and staff wages. 

    The well-loved music venues are now turning to residents to help stay afloat, with the Kiln Farm-based venue MK11 stating it is likely they will cease to exist by the end of April if money isn't raised, and Unit Nine warning of the "domino effect" of event postponements. 

    The Craufurd Arms, in Wolverton, has also stressed it will "not survive" unless the public help raise £30,000 to cover necessary expenses. "We know you all have some unforgettable memories made inside these black walls and stories of incredible (and sweaty) gigs to tell," the venue posted on Facebook. 

    "We have loved serving, meeting and entertaining you, our kind and loyal customers, over many years and you have always reached out and helped us when we’ve needed you in the past. Now we need your help more than ever."

    A crowdfunder page has been set up by The Craufurd Arms, and in just 24 hours, over 10% of the target has been raised. Residents have pooled together to raise over £4,200, with the figure still growing. 

    On the donation page, residents can opt to buy rewards packages. One includes a "Black Card", and for £500 a special card will get you free entry for life, a limited t-shirt and your name on the wall.

    Money donated to The Craufurd Arms' crowdfunder page will go towards staff costs and basic bills whilst closed to ensure the venue can reopen "in a worst case scenario of 3 months closure." 

    MK11 has also launched a GoFundMe page to cover wage costs and ensure the venue can "see this through", adding that they have taken all measures possible to decrease expenditure so they can "weather this storm for as long as possible."

    Currently, MK11's target is £6,000 which will cover wage costs of approximately £1200-£2000 per week. The GoFundMe page was created less than a day ago, and has since raised over 20% of the target amounting to just over £1,300.

    A statement posted on the fundraising page reads: "We ask for your support to help us see this through, so we can continue to provide a much needed facility for the community of Milton Keynes, and so we can continue to provide for our diligent and hardworking members of staff." 

    Unit Nine was due to be moving into its busiest period with most weekends filled with events. Now, the venue is facing a grave future as the only revenue comes from events held. On the GoFundMe page, the Old Wolverton based venue said: "With no events.. means no income. The costs of running a venue are higher than what maybe meets the eye. The government have just announced how they plan to support small businesses but we fear that it may not even touch the sides, depending on how long this crisis goes on for.

    "We KNOW that we can bring Unit Nine back to where we just had it.. but we need to cross the dark patch and pay all the bills that still need paying and the staff to keep them living."

    Should Unit Nine stay open, the venue will be hosting a celebration on Saturday 12th September. People who donate £10 or more will receive free entry to the event, 2 drinks and their name added to "The People's Venue" wall.

    You can access MK11's fundraising page here, The Craufurd Arms' fundraising page here, and Unit Nine's GoFundMe page here.

     

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