URGNT: online music venue/COVID artist relief

The onset of Covid-19 has had extreme consequences for all of us. The arts industry as a whole has taken a serious hit, which requires an immediate response because it is often the arts that help us get through crises with our humanity intact.  Urgent circumstances call for urgent creativity.

That's why we created URGNT: a Toronto-based online venue. What started as livestream series in empty venues created in response to the COVID-19 outbreak has quickly adapted to promote social distancing and create a curated platform to present and support the best of the city's musicians. Our goals are:

1. to unify the arts industry in Toronto in a safe and creative way; 
2. to raise money to pay a nominal fee to all involved parties to help with lost gigs and wages as a result of the quarantine; 
3. to document and catalogue this unique period in history; and
4. to make compelling content available to audiences when they need it most.

For as long as the quarantine lasts (or until the money runs out), we'll present short black and white sets the living rooms of some of Canada's most revered artists (among them Juno winners/nominees) and some you've never heard of.  Artists whose tours/gigs have been cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

URGNT is an online venue. Think of this as your cover charge. Everyone is welcome (the videos are free to watch) and no one will be asked to leave if they don't throw in. But if you are able, support the economy of culture. Without it, our quality of living would be just as empty as our world's venues currently are.

Each video costs about $1000 to produce. We need your support to make this happen.