City of York Council

Boosting music and arts venues in York.

We’re working with City of York Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to boost five music and arts venues in the city. We’ll be helping to boost community places and spaces hosting live music, arts and culture, whilst providing our free hands-on work experience opportunities for local young people.

Here’s a round-up of the venues we’ve supported so far.

Part funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Talk to us about partnership opportunities with VIY

“VIY have now become part of our Construction Skills Initiative and have brought in sponsorship and pro-bono support from industry to add value to their projects.”

Simon Brereton, Head of Economy, City of York Council

The Fulford Arms

Our first project in this new programme saw us help popular York music venue, The Fulford Arms, to become more accessible for gig-goers with mobility issues or physical disabilities, by creating a ramp at the entrance of the venue and building a sound booth to provide a safer experience for audiences and music tech teams.

One of our projects match-funded in 2023 by VIY partners Barclaycard, with support from Dulux.

See our feature with Fix Radio following their visit to this project.

See more on this project here
Hear what our VIY project meant to Fulford’s Owner, Chris Tukes

The Vaults

Our work at The Vaults was to improve the facilities and enhance the environment for gig goers watching live music, including building a lighting box, a DJ podium, boxed-in lighting and painting the stage area. We’re thrilled to hear the venue has since seen an increase in over 200 hundred additional customers attending gigs since our renovations in January 2024!

“Thank you to you and your team for your excellent work at the York Vaults. We have had many positive comments about the under-stage light boxes; they really add to the atmosphere when the bands play. Repainting the stage in grey rather than black has been great for the bands as they can easily see the cables and the wheeled boxes for the monitors have released more stage space and allow easy repositioning. The soundproofing to the fire door has reduced sound leakage into the street. Again, thanks to you and your team for your efforts on our behalf.” 

Chris, Manager of The Vaults, York