Austin Promoters, Venues Band Together To Salvage SXSW

They aim to raise money to put on showcases in Austin, provide financial relief for artists and cover expenses involved in the cancellation.

Independent Venue Week also announced it is trying to help fill open dates for venues in Austin and beyond affected by the cancellation. 

The cancellation of SXSW due to global health crisis has and will adversely impact thousands of artists, hospitality and production workers, businesses and organizations that rely on that event to survive.   The Red River Cultural District, which represents live music venues Cheer Up Charlies, Barracuda, Beerland, Empire, Elysium, Mohawk, Scratchhouse, and Stubbs, along with promoters Heard Presents and Austin-based software startup Prism.FM, and a growing list of Austin-based businesses and individuals, are Banding Together to 

Ensure as many artists and events that want to continue on and perform a showcase in Austin in the following weeks are able to do so

Provide financial relief to artists, workers, and partners who have incurred unrecoupable expenses in connection with confirmed events and performances

Provide financial relief for artists workers and partners who have lost income that they counted on to pay bills, rent, etc.

Cover any additional expenses that may be incurred to ensure safety of patrons of these events as required by our local, state, and federal governments

Our venues and staff are ready and willing to work to make ten glorious days of music, art, culture and technology happen across our city, and more folks around town are joining us every minute.  Artists and workers have incurred expenses to get to and stay in the “Live Music Capitol of the World” during the next few weeks. Some may have been reimbursed or refunded but many folks are out thousands of dollars. Our goal is to keep as many artists as possible coming to Austin. We also want to assist rehoming events that are losing their venues or can’t afford to pay for equipment or staff.

We are actively working to put artists on replacement showcases. If you are an musician, sponsor, content creator, influencer, production worker, bartender, promoter, manager, agent or philanthropist who’s life blood is subsidized by SXSW please fill out the form HERE  and someone from our team will reach out to support however we can.

If your organization had to cancel an event due to health/ travel/ public relation concerns consider this your opportunity to still make something cool happen in Austin. We know you still believe in supporting the community in Austin and want to help. Know that this good will charitable donation goes towards the thousands of people here, performing, working, and trying to survive; as well as your corporate karma.

As a donor you will be granted priority access, subject to available capacity and safety concerns to any event that happen as a result of this campaign.

Participating Organizations:

Heard Presents

Prism.FM

Red River Cultural District

Giant Noise

Venues:

Barracuda

Beerland

Cheer Up Charlies

Empire Control Room & Garage

Elysium

Mohawk

Stubbs