Independent Venue Week and Independent Venue Community 10 Year Impact Report

Sound Connections has been working with Independent Venue Week (IVW) over the last six months to help them evaluate their work and produce their first ever Impact Report. The report celebrates IVW’s achievements over the last 10 years (2013-2023).

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the first Independent Venue Week (IVW). Conceived of by Founder and now CEO Sybil Bell, she saw it as a way in which the range and diversity of independent music venues in villages, towns and cities across the UK could be proactively celebrated collectively. She recognised that a high profile ‘moment’ in the live music calendar for independent venues offered a means by which their communities could be better supported and their essential role more clearly valued. Initially inspired by Record Store Day, Sybil was convinced that this should be an equitable opportunity for all independent venues so that it could foster collaboration and a sense of shared enterprise and purpose, rather than the outdated model of an annual venue competition suggesting one venue is deemed better than others.

In the report Sybil comments,

“Over the last 10 years in the UK, we have built and grown a positive platform that is nationally recognised and supported across the industry as the first key date in the music industry calendar, for a sector previously ignored. And it’s all been made possible by incredible support from organisations like Arts Council England, BBC Radio 6 Music with Steve Lamacq and his team along with others, highlighted later in this report.”

At the heart of the report are four key findings which celebrate the impact of the work of IVW, and the more recently established Independent Venue Community (IVC), including supporting venues and their workforce to develop and thrive, and enabling new and diverse audiences to access independent music venues.

The report also outlines future opportunities and plans and Sound Connections looks forward to working with IVW further on these. This is an important document and one which supporters, influencers and funders should take note of.

You can find out more and download the full report here.