Help 10 Forward Arts Venue Reopen
Donation protected
Prior to mid-March 2020, 10 Forward was an underground, volunteer run venue in Greenfield MA hosting non-stop live music, contemporary dance, DJs, theater, fundraisers, and everything in between.
Under normal circumstances, it is a feat of incredible devotion and luck for underground venues to survive, and we have miraculously made it through this pandemic, but just barely.
The dream of keeping this space open for artists, dancers, theater makers, organizers and outsiders to congregate, experiment, thrive and celebrate life, was joyfully alive for a year prior to the pandemic, we were learning the ropes as we threw ourselves into the business of running a venue. In November 2019, Sarah was able to buy the assets of the venue, take over the lease and financial obligations, and start a formal LLC for 10 Forward, (formerly The Root Cellar) having run the space collaboratively with many others in the community for a year prior. Less than four months later, the doors closed due to the pandemic.
10 Forward is categorized as a stage 4 business under Gov. Baker's orders as it is a nightclub with a dance floor and a bar that has no safe way to conduct business before the vaccine is proven effective at stopping the spread entirely. Devastatingly, because the 10 Forward LLC was started so soon before the pandemic, we haven't qualified for any of the funding from government loans or private grants which we would normally qualify for. There were even grants prioritizing women owned businesses and community performing arts spaces we didn't qualify for because of this timing!
The past year of paying monthly bills, insurance, liquor license fees, and incidentals, has drained what funds the bar had left to operate on, and in order to reopen, we will have to raise money by asking the community that we so dearly miss. We are hoping to raise $15,000 in order to create a sustainable post pandemic future for the venue. If we reach our goal, you can look forward to post-covid nightlife in Western Mass with live music (through the best PA in the valley), Astrology Raves, Star Show Episodes (PussyVision), Bad Behavior Parties, Contemporary Dance, Electronic Music Open Mic Nights, Anachestra Residency, Fireside Chats, FutureFolk DJ night (DJ Quills), Temperature Parties (DJ Trends, J-SKI, and SnackAttack), 16mm Film Screenings, Drag Nights, Spontaneous Composition Improvisation Nights, Jazz and Chess Nights, and many more events, performances and parties that will keep underground culture alive and thriving in our community.
Under normal circumstances, it is a feat of incredible devotion and luck for underground venues to survive, and we have miraculously made it through this pandemic, but just barely.
The dream of keeping this space open for artists, dancers, theater makers, organizers and outsiders to congregate, experiment, thrive and celebrate life, was joyfully alive for a year prior to the pandemic, we were learning the ropes as we threw ourselves into the business of running a venue. In November 2019, Sarah was able to buy the assets of the venue, take over the lease and financial obligations, and start a formal LLC for 10 Forward, (formerly The Root Cellar) having run the space collaboratively with many others in the community for a year prior. Less than four months later, the doors closed due to the pandemic.
10 Forward is categorized as a stage 4 business under Gov. Baker's orders as it is a nightclub with a dance floor and a bar that has no safe way to conduct business before the vaccine is proven effective at stopping the spread entirely. Devastatingly, because the 10 Forward LLC was started so soon before the pandemic, we haven't qualified for any of the funding from government loans or private grants which we would normally qualify for. There were even grants prioritizing women owned businesses and community performing arts spaces we didn't qualify for because of this timing!
The past year of paying monthly bills, insurance, liquor license fees, and incidentals, has drained what funds the bar had left to operate on, and in order to reopen, we will have to raise money by asking the community that we so dearly miss. We are hoping to raise $15,000 in order to create a sustainable post pandemic future for the venue. If we reach our goal, you can look forward to post-covid nightlife in Western Mass with live music (through the best PA in the valley), Astrology Raves, Star Show Episodes (PussyVision), Bad Behavior Parties, Contemporary Dance, Electronic Music Open Mic Nights, Anachestra Residency, Fireside Chats, FutureFolk DJ night (DJ Quills), Temperature Parties (DJ Trends, J-SKI, and SnackAttack), 16mm Film Screenings, Drag Nights, Spontaneous Composition Improvisation Nights, Jazz and Chess Nights, and many more events, performances and parties that will keep underground culture alive and thriving in our community.
Organizer
Sarah Lanzillotta
Organizer
Greenfield, MA