(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- The New Jersey Independent Venue Association (NJIVA) continues to champion relief funding for NJ’s venues and promoters after learning the first round of State funding, the Community Stage Relief Grant, went largely ungranted and the industry, according to NJIVA’s recent survey, is still struggling. 

Last month, NJIVA sent out a survey to New Jersey venues and promoters to determine the financial state of the industry in 2021, after reopening to the public. The survey asked questions regarding ticket and non-ticket income, labor costs, and demographics. Every respondent - which included nonprofit and for-profit organizations - reported an average 67% decrease in overall ticket sales in 2021 vs. 2019 (pre-pandemic), despite the average ticket sale price remaining comparable. Around 90% of respondents also reported an average 72% decrease in overall non-ticket revenue and an increase in their no-show rates. This occurred alongside an increase in overall labor costs for venues this past year.

80% of the survey’s respondents received relief funds from the federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and 45% of them received the NJ Community Stage Grant to offset losses in 2020 when they were forced to close. But despite reopening in 2021, these venues’ losses continued.

“This data clearly shows our industry is still suffering the financial impacts of the pandemic,” says Sara Scully, NJIVA Associate and Hopewell Theater CEO.

NJIVA also received a report of which venues or promoters received the 2021 NJ Community Stage Grant for 2020. The organization did a deep dive to research who received the grant in order to determine how effective it was in providing relief to those hardest hit.

The good news was that data shows that recipients of this grant were diverse. 36% of grant recipients were women/minority-owned businesses and 36% were located in opportunity zones, as intended when the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) allocated an additional $10 million to the initial $7.5 million passed last year to aid for-profit venues.

The disappointing news was that a very small percentage of the State’s venues and promoters got the grant. 39 venues or promoters received the grant, when there are at least 130 for-profit venues or promoters in the state. Of the total $17.5 million allocated for this grant program, for for-profit venues and promoters, only $5,246,021 million was granted.

Given the extent to which venues and promoters are still struggling financially, NJIVA is currently looking to find out if the remaining nearly $12 million Community Stage Grant funding may be available with the NJEDA for a second round of much-needed funding.

NJIVA’s mission is to unify NJ’s diverse and proudly independent venue owners, operators, and presenters to foster mutual support and resource sharing, and advocate as a unified group for our shared priorities in order to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent venues, large and small.

Venues have played a crucial role in the development of NJ’s performing artists for over half a century by nurturing local, national, and international talent, and providing a platform for these artists to build their careers and develop.

NJ’s independent venues - both nonprofit and privately owned - provide thousands of jobs, as well as millions of dollars in salaries, revenues, charitable donations, and taxes. Therefore, it is critical to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of NJ independent venues.

Over twenty-five of NJ’s valued performing arts venues, presenters, and promoters are Associates of NJIVA: 1867 Sanctuary Arts and Culture Center, AM Productions, Anchor Rock Club, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, Bananas Comedy Club, Bergen Performing Arts Center, Bird and Betty's, Boardwalk Showroom, The Clubhouse of Toms River, Count Basie Center for the Arts, Crossroads, Debonair Music Hall, Hopewell Theater, House of Independents, Hunterdon Media Partnership, K Street Group, Ledge Entertainment, Mayo Performing Arts Center, McCarter Theatre Center, Newark Symphony Hall, The Newton Theatre, Outpost in the Burbs, Palladin Tour & Travel, Roy's Hall, State Theatre New Jersey, and Wellmont Theater.