First Italian live club atlas launched by Arci, KeepOn LIVE, and Assomusica

Arci, KeepOn LIVE, and Assomusica have launched a questionnaire called 'Spazi che suonano' to create the first atlas of live music clubs in Italy. The initiative aims to map all active live clubs nationwide to give them institutional representation and a common voice at local, national, and European levels. Marco Trulli, responsible for 'Cultura e Giovani' at Arci Nazionale, stated that the mapping will provide data to understand the sector's numbers and critical issues, with the goal of strengthening requests for support policies. The questionnaire covers five areas: general information about managing entities and facilities; functions beyond live music programming; number of events, musical projects, and spectators; workers and collaborators; and indicative budgets. Eligible clubs must have a permanent stage and sound system, at least 50% live music programming (with 70% original projects), and be dedicated to promoting local cultural heritage. Data will be anonymized, accessible only to staff of the three networks. Results will feed into an aggregated report and also into the annual report of Live DMA, the European live club network. Davide Fabbri, president of KeepOn LIVE, noted that similar data-driven work in the UK by Music Venue Trust has influenced cultural policies. Carlo Parodi, president of Assomusica, emphasized that greater participation will enhance credibility and impact on support policies. The deadline to complete the questionnaire is March 1.