Halifax Piece Hall plan to help grassroots music venues

All of the funds raised will go directly towards supporting grassroots music, a spokesperson said

Concertgoers who attend shows at a landmark building in Halifax are being given the chance to help the local grassroots music scene in the process.

Music Venue Trust (MVT) has signed a funding agreement with The Piece Hall and promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

From 2024, music fans attending shows at the former Georgian cloth hall will be able to add a donation to MVT when buying tickets through Ticketmaster.

Mark Davyd, founder of MVT, said the plan would make "a genuine difference".

A spokesperson for The Piece Hall said all funds raised through the scheme would go directly towards supporting grassroots music venues in Calderdale, through a grant-giving fund established by MVT.

Mr Davyd said: "This has been an incredibly challenging year for grassroots music venues, with more than 100 venues forced to close their doors to live music and many more at risk.

"It is absolutely vital that everyone in the music industry recognises the incredible strain the grassroots sector is under."

The Piece Hall, the world's only remaining Georgian cloth hall, has become a sought-after venue for global artists to perform at.

The Grade I-listed Piece Hall in the centre of Halifax was built in 1779

The historic building was built in 1779 for the trading of cloth and reopened in 2017 following a £19m refurbishment.

Nicky Chance Thompson, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, said: "Our partnership with Cuffe and Taylor means we can bring global superstars to Halifax.

"We try, wherever possible, to make sure they are supported by local talent, but I'm conscious that we need to do what we can to support our smaller independent venues."

The funding agreement with MVT came about after Michael Ainsworth, owner of The Grayston Unity in Halifax, approached The Piece Hall and highlighted the plight of grassroots venues.

Mr Ainsworth said: "As the owner of a grassroots music venue I'm delighted The Piece Hall listened to my request and has agreed to implement this and be the first venue in the UK, and possibly the world, to do such a thing to support independent venues."