Vilnius Council approves grassroots music venue pilot

Today Vilnius Council approved a plan to rent out council property in the centre of the busiest nightlife area, for a licensed bar, but with strict conditions in the rental contract to ensure the tenant organises a variety of events featuring innovative live musicians.

The street is one of the most valuable in the city, and therefore the number of music venues there has decreased to zero as more profitable bars and restaurants take over all the performance spaces.

Along with a reduction in live music, we also see an increase in violence and public order offences as the street’s reputation for drunken hedonism grows.

According to the simple theory that cultural activity and variety can help to reduce the number of public order offences and increase the quality of nightlife, Vilnius Council has decided to experiment with a list of criteria for “grassroots music venue” status. Apart from live music, one of the requirements is participation in all the municipality safety campaigns, harm reduction schemes and staff training.

The criteria are embedded in the rental contract of the pilot venue. After a trial period and a review, the status of “grassroots music venue” will be offered to all alcohol licenseholders whose venues meet the criteria. The criteria encourage bands and DJ performances, but also allow for other formats such as poetry readings.

Criteria

  • A live performance is defined as the acting, singing, playing, reading, reciting or dancing of a work.
  • A DJ providing only background music is not considered to be a performance. The focus of attention must be on the DJ.
  • During performances any seats must be facing the performance.
  • Karaoke is not considered to be a performance.
  • Priority is to be given to new talent, innovations, wide variety.
  • Minimum number of live performance events in any one week: 1
  • Minimum number of live performance events per year: 100
  • Permanent stage area with permanent sound system and sound engineer as needed
  • All events must be advertised and records kept for two years
  • The venue must cooperate with municipality social programs, for example harm reduction campaigns, security staff training.
  • Food, at least snacks, must always be available to buy.
  • Drinking water available free on request.

The pilot project is in Council property and events will be free entry. However, when the scheme is rolled out to include venues in private property, a certain number of ticketed events might be made compulsory.

Pilot opening hours will be until at least 6am on weekends, there is no curfew in Vilnius. The Council also offer a one-month rent rebate for exceeding the minimum number of events by 50%.

In Lithuania we say “Dainykla”

The term “grassroots music venue” doesn’t translate well in Lithuania so we are inventing the word “dainykla” which would be something like “singplatz” in German, or “chansonnerie” in French.

In the future there are plans to incentivise grassroots music venues with tax reductions and subsidies to compensate for the loss in potential revenue caused by providing a great place for new live music instead of another generic cocktail bar.

For more information, contact Vilnius Night Office info@vnb.lt


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