A new initiative to support venues and grassroots spaces throughout 2024, by offering a platform to receive support from their communities.
Everpress, a leading global marketplace for independent creatives, announces the launch of ‘Save Our Spaces,’ a new initiative aimed at supporting independent music venues, grassroots community spaces, queer and trans-owned spaces, and local hospitality businesses. This initiative provides a platform and tools for these vital cultural hubs to receive support from their communities and advocate for their right to remain operational.
The cultural landscape of our communities relies on these spaces, yet many are facing significant challenges, from financial strain to regulatory hurdles. ‘Save Our Spaces’ seeks to address these challenges by rallying support and providing resources for these establishments to weather the storm.
“Our communities are built on the foundation of local venues and spaces that hold a special place in our hearts. We must protect and support them in every possible way. With ‘Save Our Spaces,’ we want to reach as many venues as possible to help them raise funds and remove the barriers to launching a merch offer.” said Simon Backhouse, CEO of Everpress.
Why Now?
- 2023 was the ‘worst year for closures in a decade’ for grassroots music venues, according to Music Venue Trust.
- Between 2006 and 2017, the number of LGBTQ+ venues in London decreased from 125 to 53.
- Over 23,000 hospitality venues and businesses have shuttered in the last three years, with a staggering 6,000 closing their doors in 2023 alone, according to the Hospitality Market Monitor.
- Local policies and the cost of living crisis are increasingly affecting independent venues.
How ‘Save Our Spaces’ Works
Everpress is supplying a design by Marnie Cox, available to all venues, enabling them to launch fundraising campaigns without spending resources on designing their own products. The initiative removes all financial and fulfilment barriers associated with producing merch – no upfront costs or charges and Everpress delivers products directly to customers. Launching the week commencing May 16th, participating venues will have their own campaign featuring the design on T-shirts, tea towels, tote bags and art prints.
Confirmed venues include E. Pellicci and Skehans, both using bespoke variations of the supplied artwork, while The George Tavern and Colour Factory are launching their own merch.
All products are available in Black on White, Blue on White, Red on White or White on Black.
Prices are set at: T-shirts – £25, Tea Towel – £15, Tote – £18, Art Print A3 – £25, Art Print A4 – £22.
Everpress Support
Everpress is committed to helping venues achieve success with their campaigns. Support includes:
- Design provided and supplied by illustrator Marnie Cox
- Campaign set up across a range of products (T-shirts, tea towels, tote bags and art prints)
- Social and email promotion reaching over 400,000 subscribers
- Support and guidance on promoting campaigns
- Promo packs with campaign assets and mockups for sharing on social media
- Samples available at cost price
- All production and shipping directly to customers
- PR support for the collection via Everpress’s Press Office
Engage, Create Awareness, Raise Funds
By engaging their communities, creating awareness about their cultural hubs, and raising vital funds, participating venues can join Everpress in preserving cultural spaces across the UK. Culture is here to stay, and ‘Save Our Spaces’ aims to ensure it thrives.
To launch your own Save Our Spaces campaign visit https://everpress.com/landing/save-our-spaces-open-call
