We’re delighted to announce that we’ve teamed up with Ticketmaster to help promote our major new Crowdfunder campaign to help Keep Rural Arts Live in the Highlands & Islands
Excitingly the campaign has hit over 30% of its target in its first week, thanks to our generous donors and the match funding support of Creative Scotland. Ticketmaster’s new promotional partnership will offer the campaign a wider reach to loyal fans across the cultural sector nationwide. The campaign is running now and you can chip in anything from the cost of an interval cuppa or a Friday night ticket.
The Keep Rural Arts Live fundraising drive will ensure that it will be affordable, safe and sustainable for professional artists to perform across the Highlands & Islands, and for audiences to come out to watch them. 100% of the money raised will be shared with our Corrie & Cairn members to help subsidise any potential lost ticket income due to socially distanced reduced capacity, meaning performers and their crews won’t be out of pocket; it will ensure tickets remain affordable for the whole community without substantial pricing increases; it will help a vital part of the Highlands & Islands economy to stay buoyant by continuing to welcome the travelling companies and the money they spend in the local area in terms of venue hire, accommodation, hospitality and more, and it will offer invaluable opportunities for up-and-coming local talent to share the stage with some of the biggest names in the Scottish and UK arts scenes.
The Keep Rural Arts Live campaign is asking for donations from £2+, with Thank You packages available to local businesses who may be in a position to donate more, with a target of raising £20,000+
Andrew Parsons, MD of Ticketmaster UK, said:
“Venues and artists across rural Scotland need the support of the industry and fans now more than ever so that when the time comes, they can get back to what they do best. We’re really proud to partner with the Keep Rural Arts Live campaign and endeavour to do all we can to assist with the return to live. The Highlands and Islands is home to some of the finest and most atmospheric independent venues you can find – and long may this continue.”
Rhiannon McIntyre, Co-Director at The Touring Network added:
“This Keep Rural Arts Live Crowdfund Campaign is really about ensuring venues in the Highlands & Islands are able to book performers to tour to the region when they’re ready and able. For rural areas – social isolation is a real thing and a lot of venues have become the social infrastructure during this pandemic. We want to make it viable for them to open for their audiences – bring some joy to their lives after what has been a pretty grim few months! 100% of the monies received will be going to venues and performers across the region to pay performers fairly and subsidise ticket prices for those who might not be able to afford it! Ticketmaster’s involvement is crucial to help us spread the word far and wide, and we are grateful for their support. Please donate what you can now, to Keep Rural Arts Live!”