VIY partners with MVT to support grassroots music venues

We’re proud to be partnering with MVT to launch Stay The Night and Feel At Home, two programmes of capital improvements in grassroots music venues across the UK. Funded by the grassroots levy, a £1 contribution per ticket on shows over 5,000 capacity, distributed by the LIVE Trust, these programmes are about practical, on-the-ground improvements where they matter most.

• Stay The Night transforms underused venue space into artist accommodation, helping reduce touring costs and easing one of the biggest financial pressures facing live music today.
• Feel At Home upgrades backstage spaces so artists arrive somewhere that’s welcoming, functional, and ready to support them.

This isn’t just about improving buildings – it’s about improving the conditions artists work in, making touring healthier, fairer and more sustainable. At the same time, the projects support NEET and at-risk young people to learn hands-on trade skills and boost their employability skills.

These are not grant schemes and venues do not receive funding or manage construction. Instead, projects are fully delivered by MVT and VIY, removing barriers to participation and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Bev Whitrick, COO at MVT says: “This partnership is about fixing real, structural problems in the grassroots touring ecosystem. We know that rising costs, particularly accommodation, are making touring increasingly difficult. Stay the Night addresses that directly, while Feel At Home ensures artists are properly supported when they arrive. At the same time, these projects create meaningful opportunities for young people to gain skills and experience. It’s practical, it’s immediate, and it delivers long-term impact for both venues and communities.”

First Completed Project: Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich

Our first project is now complete at Voodoo Daddy’s in Norwich, where the grassroots venue has expanded into a newly acquired neighbouring building. The project has created dedicated, self-contained artist accommodation alongside upgraded backstage facilities, transforming previously unsuitable space into practical infrastructure for touring artists. This includes a living area in the new building, with six bunk beds, a shower room, a kitchenette and a functioning toilet.

Ben Street ,Voodoo Daddy’s Venue Manager says: “It’s been amazing to be involved with MVT’s Stay The Night initiative and see our green room transformed into an artist accommodation space. Working alongside the VIY team, the mentors and young people that have helped with the project has been a real pleasure and it feels good to know that they’ll be gaining valuable vocational experience and accreditation here too. The work has already had an impact by allowing us to book in a number of international acts who were struggling to make a show work in Norwich but were happy to confirm once they knew we could offer nice and convenient accommodation right by the venue!” 

Five further projects have now been approved across the North East, Yorkshire, the Midlands and South East London, with additional match funding identified to support delivery across England and Wales. The next phase of the programme will prioritise venues in Scotland and the South West of England.

We’re excited to continue working with MVT to deliver more projects that support grassroots venues, strengthen the touring ecosystem, and create meaningful opportunities for young people across the UK.