IIVA Marquee Relief Fund (MRF)

MRF Grant Recipients

Congratulations to the recipients of the grant awards from the Marquee Relief Fund. Twenty awards have been issued to twenty independent Indiana live music venues for a total of $50,000. Applications for future rounds will be posted on this page. Applicants who did not receive an award in the first or second round should submit a new, updated application for Round 3. Round 1 and 2 applications will not carry over to Round 3. The current round of funding is open to all member venues, including those who have received a prior MRF grant.

Round 1 Award Recipients

• The Bluebird - Bloomington, IN: $2,500

• The Hoosier Dome - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• The Melody Inn - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• Mike’s Dance Barn - Nashville, IN: $2,500

• The Pavilion at Pan Am - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• Duke’s Honky Tonk - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• The Patron Saint - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• White Rabbit Cabaret - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• The Slippery Noodle - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• The Mousetrap - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

Round 2 Award Recipients

• Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground - Bean Blossom, IN: $2,500

• Casba - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• The Jazz Kitchen - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• Helium Comedy Club - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• Brown County Music Center - Nashville, IN: $2,500

• Blockhouse - Bloomington, IN: $2,500

• Zonie’s Closet - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• HI-FI - Indianapolis, IN: $2,500

• Mojo’s Boneyard - Evansville, IN: $2,500

Marquee Relief Fund Grant Details

IIVA EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS

The IIVA administers two emergency relief funds for independent music venues, festivals and promoters. Our two relief programs are funded through direct tax-deductible donations from fans, organizations, local businesses, fundraisers and through proceeds generated from the sale of IIVA merchandise. Our grant programs are administered by IIVA through its Board of Directors.  IIVA’s Board of Directors understands the needs of our members, their businesses and the role venues play in the live music ecosystem.  Additionally, independent jurors who have an understanding or are engaged with the live music industry, may be consulted and provide jury support in the grant review process. No board member or juror will hold any financial stake in a music venue. When additional fund distribution requirements are presented, IIVA engages with Music Family Tree to provide administration support. 

Individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations that are interested in contributing to IIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund should visit our Grant Program page to learn out contribute.

Marquee Relief Fund (MRF) is dedicated to supporting brick and mortar venues whose primary source of revenue is engaging in the business of live music and live entertainment which specifically includes performing arts and comedy. .  

Emergency Live Music Relief Fund (ELMR) which is focused on supporting independent promoters, festivals, artists and direct contributors to the ecosystem of live music venues.  

CRITERIA AND QUALIFICATIONS

Grants will be processed through the review panel following each application period, subject to available funding. Grants are designed to assist grant recipients that are experiencing catastrophic revenue loss due to government-mandated closures and have been unable to generate meaningful revenue to replace the cancellation of events, classes, performances, and other related work.

IIVA is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) in all of its actions. The criteria and assessment process for IIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund was created with input from community members with diverse backgrounds and experience.

This program will prioritize applicants that meet the mission and values of IIVA including but not limited to:

• Ensuring diversity, equity, inclusivity and accessibility

• Building a more sustainable future for the venue

• Has a meaningful artistic and cultural impact on a local community

• Venues supporting the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other historically marginalized communities

ELIGIBILITY

Funding will be granted to physical “brick & mortar” independent venues that present music, comedy, and performing arts, that meet the criteria below:

• A business registered and in good standing in the State of Indiana

• Active Indiana Independent Venue Alliance Member - Membership is free, join here.

• Must have been fully operational prior to March 1, 2020

• Venues that are for profit or not-for-profit; businesses may be corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, or individual sole proprietors

• Represent a physical venue space or business which includes bearing the responsibility for mortgage/rent, utilities and upkeep of the venue.  

• Venues and promoters that are not owned (in whole or in part), managed, or exclusively booked by an organization that has any of the following three attributes (Venues and Promoters are disqualified from applying if they meet more than one of the below attributes):

  • “Publicly-traded”

  • Multinational

  • Own, manage or book venues in more than one state

• Venues and promoters must program original live music, comedy and/or similar performing arts as a primary driver of their business; factors to be considered in meeting this qualification include:

  • Provide fair pay to artists, and do not have artists play for free or solely for tips, except for legitimate fundraisers or similar educational, charitable, or community-oriented events

• Have a paid ticket or cover charge to attend a majority of performances

• Have a defined performance and audience space

• Provided mixing, sound, and lighting systems

• Utilize at least two of (including owner/operators): sound engineer, talent buyer, promoter, stage manager, security personnel, box office manager

• Promote performances through advertising and listings in printed and/or electronic publications, websites, email blasts and/or social media

As an organization, our members are committed to following local and state health ordinances and and recommendations from public health authorities intended to prevent or minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our position is full-compliance with an approach emphasizing an overabundance of caution where discretion is allowed. To that end, eligible recipients of the Marquee Relief Fund (MRF) and the Emergency Live Music Relief Fund (ELMR) are limited to those applicants who have committed themselves to creating a safe environment for the public, the performers and their staff. Potential recipients may be disqualified from a grant award at the sole determination of the IIVA's Board of Directors that an applicant is in non-compliance with this position or is otherwise exposing individuals to unnecessary and unreasonable risks as it relates to the pandemic.

APPROVED USE OF FUNDS

• Rent and/or mortgage assistance

• Staff Retention

• Emergency planning/staff training

• Additional security personnel

• PPE Items

• COVID-19 venue upgrades, including purchase of other new equipment or software for safety protocols

• Insurance premiums

• Licenses, fees, real estate and other local taxes

• Utilities

• Programming or creative outdoor expansions 

• Existing loans incurred due to Covid-19 pandemic

• Recouping deferred expenses due to cancelled events including artists, deposits, ticket refunds, etc.

FUNDS MAY NOT BE USED FOR

• Unrelated real estate

• Distributions to partners

• Business acquisitions

AWARD AMOUNTS

• Award amounts will be determined based on funds received through IIVA’s ongoing fundraisers and awarded to applicants based on the criteria included herein

REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must provide and demonstrate a financial need through the application process. Information provided will be kept confidential and not shared except in the aggregate for the purposes of evaluating program impact. These requirements include:

• Supporting documentation:

  • Upload financials/ budget paperwork (from March 1 - June 30, 2020, comparing to either the previous four months or the same time period from 2019)

  • Current balance sheet

  • Current Cash flow statement + last 4 months

  • Copy of articles of corporation, EIN, Certificate of Good Standing, or other similarly appropriate foundation documents

• Additional supporting documentation will be required if approved for funding including:

  • W9 to process payment

  • Banking ACH/Wire information

APPLICATION TIMELINE

• Applications close on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 5:00 pm EST.

• Awards Notifications: By Friday May 14, 2021

DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS

Maximum amount of funding received will be determined and distributed in an equitable manner per the following:

• Total amount of funding available by IIVA Emergency Relief Funds

• Total number of approved Marquee Relief Fund applications

• Application score

• Immediate need

• Availability of grants or emergency relief to applicant

Upon grant approval, grantees will receive 100% of their awarded funds. Once final documentation and approval is finalized, payments will be distributed within 7 days.

REVIEW PANEL & SCORING CRITERIA

IIVA is committed to creating an inclusive and transparent review and selection process. The review panel will consist of IIVA board members but may also include industry peers, none of which hold a financial stake in a live music venue. 

The core four criteria are:

1. Cultural impact: contributions to cultural economy including community served, advancing artistic experiences through music/comedy/performing arts, social interests; minority owned or operated; etc

2. Economic impact: years in business, size of business, location—rural, urban, opportunity zone, etc

3. Financial Need: Immediate financial need and severity of loss of business with priority given to severity of need

4. Appropriateness: meeting the eligibility, showing an immediate need based on current financial strain due to COVID-19

APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS

Applications are first reviewed by IIVA administrative staff for completeness and qualification. Only complete and qualifying applications are forwarded to the Board of Directors for review by the committee. Each grant application is carefully reviewed and scored based on established criteria. Any independent jurors who will be involved in the review process will sign a conflict of interest and confidentiality waiver prior to reviewing any submission. 

Final decisions will be provided by the IIVA Board of Directors via letter of approval by the approval notification date listed below. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Round 3 Applications are closed

The Marquee Relief Fund grant opportunity is open exclusively to entertainment venue owners/operators.  Future opportunities will be available for festivals, promoters and artists.

For more information or questions about our grant programs, please visit indianavenuealliance.org/grants

If you have a question, please contact Karah Mason at karah@indianavenuealliance.org