Ventnor Exchange Updated COVID-19 Statement (Tues 31st March)
Following our previous statements regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, and its effect on our activities, we wanted to update all of our artists and audiences on the current situation.
Firstly, we hope you are all keeping safe and well, these are unprecedented times but as a community we will make it through.
Ventnor Exchange remains closed to the public for the foreseeable future, until the Government and Public Health England remove restrictions on cultural venues and bars to be allowed to reopen. All performances and events in April have now been cancelled or postponed. If you have purchased tickets for any show or workshops we will be in contact with you to organise ticket replacements or refunds. During this time we will develop new digital experiences and online content, all made available for free and promoted on our website, social media and newsletters.
Planning for this summer’s Ventnor Fringe Festival continues, but clearly this is under constant review and will be reassessed at the end of April. We cannot guarantee the event will go ahead at this time. Again, in the event of cancellation all ticket holders will be offered replacement tickets or a refund.
As a small organisation the enforced closure of our venue and cancelation of events has an enormous effect on us. If you would like to support us in these difficult times, please do consider becoming a Fringe Friend or making a donation. It really will make a difference and help ensure our survival. So far, you have raised nearly £2,000 in 10 days which is truly incredible! You can support us by clicking here
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Government providing support for business which have been forced to close?
Yes, we have been advised we will be eligible for a £10K grant from the Government, but this will only cover around 5 weeks of lost earnings. In addition, the cancelation of various projects and events brings additional losses of income which is why we are working hard to raise funds from a variety of other sources.
When will you make a decision about this year’s Ventnor Fringe?
With circumstances changing so rapidly it is difficult to plan very far into the future. At the present time planning for the festival continues but this will be reassessed at the end of April.
Why don’t you wait until June/July to decide if the Ventnor Fringe can take place?
Ventnor Fringe now takes an entire year of planning to bring together. It involves more than 400 performers across 15 venues and is an expensive project to pull together. As the event draws closer there are significant costs to be paid out, as deposits for infrastructure, equipment and staff costs add up. If the situation remains as unpredictable as it is at present, it may be too high a risk to continue planning the event, without endangering the future viability of the festival. We want to make sure we can bounce back in 2021 better than ever!
If I buy a ticket for an event at Ventnor Exchange or Ventnor Fringe now and it gets cancelled, will I get my money back?
Yes, If we are forced to cancel or postpone any event or performance, all ticket holders will be offered the option of alternative tickets or a full refund. We do not charge any booking fees anyway, so you can book events as normal without any worry about loosing money.
I have an idea for something Ventnor Exchange could do to help.
Great, please do get in touch with your ideas and suggestions. Our office is not always in use at the moment so please email us hello@ventnorexchange.co.uk
We are fortunate to be part of a fantastic local community and together we can make it through this very difficult period.
Thank you for all your support and understanding, you are all truly amazing!
