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Music Venue Trust Secures The Bunkhouse in Landmark Acquisition
September29
Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of Grassroots Music Venues, has a
Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of Grassroots Music Venues, has announced the first acquisition of a Welsh venue by Music Venue Properties under its groundbreaking #ownourvenues scheme.
The Bunkhouse, a 235 capacity live music venue, rehearsal space and photography studio in the heart of Swansea city centre, will now be placed into permanent protected status.
"The last few years have been a rollercoaster for The Bunkhouse and the music community in South West Wales. When the building went on the market, the threat of closure was very real, and it wasn’t just about potentially losing my business, it was about losing a home for the musicians, the artists, and the fans who have found their voice here. The Bunkhouse has played a pivotal role in shaping the music scene in Wales, and the thought of it disappearing was heartbreaking for everyone”> said Jordan McGuire, Director of The Bunkhouse.
Dubbed The National Trust for Grassroots Music Venues (GMVs), #ownourvenues was originally launched in 2022 as a crowdfunded project. To date almost £2.6m has been raised from over 1250 individual investors and funding, and received support from Swansea Council and Figurative, formerly part of Nesta, to realise this purchase.
Following the purchase, The Bunkhouse’s operators have signed a ‘cultural lease’ with Music Venue Properties (MVP), which is an innovative agreement specifically created by MVP to guarantee that, as long as The Bunkhouse operates as a space for grassroots live music for their local community, they can enjoy the use of the building.
Music Venue Properties is the independent Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS) created by Music Venue Trust, and funded by the #ownourvenues investment scheme, to progress its plans to revolutionise cultural ownership in the UK. The purchase of The Bunkhouse follows the acquisition in October 2023 of The Snug in Atherton, Greater Manchester and The Ferret in Preston in May 2024. Further venues across the country have been identified for purchase.
Mark Dayvd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said, “The Bunkhouse is the lynchpin venue for new and emerging artists in the Swansea scene. Jordan and his team have created an essential stop for any breaking band tour and it’s fantastic to see that work recognised and the future of this venue secured for decades to come. Long live Bunkhouse!”
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