Live music fans raise $1m to save beloved Alice Springs venue after landlord flags sale
Community members and music fans have raised $1 million to purchase and preserve The Black Wreath, a remote live music venue in Alice Springs. The venue will be transitioned into a foundation to continue supporting local artists and providing rehearsal spaces.
Why it matters
This highlights the role of grassroots community action in preserving cultural infrastructure in remote regions against commercial real estate pressures.
Chris Wallace says The Black Wreath was the place that "made us who we are". ( ABC News: Xavier Martin )
Link copied Share Share article Tell us about your experience.
It might seem unlikely that a volunteer-run venue in one of the country's most remote towns could inspire people from across Australia and the world to help raise $1 million to save it.
Over the past month, the founders of popular Alice Springs live music venue The Black Wreath have been fundraising to buy the building and turn the whole block into a creative hub after their landlord put the property up for sale.
Artists and music industry figures came on board, including Amyl and the Sniffers, who played at The Black Wreath's Blacken Open Air festival in 2022, as well as donors who matched pledges dollar for dollar.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in