COPENHAGEN (vip-booking) – Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen’s legendary jazz club, is once again fighting for survival after being denied funding from the Danish Arts Foundation.
The club, located in the same venue where iconic musicians like Ben Webster, Stan Getz, and Dexter Gordon performed in the 1960s, has a rich history as Copenhagen’s premier jazz hotspot since its opening in Store Regnegade in 1959. Despite a relocation to Nørregade from 1976 to 1995, the club reopened in May 2010 at its original address as a nonprofit venue.
In a recent press release, Jazzhus Montmartre announced that the Danish Arts Council’s decision to withhold funding for the next four years has forced the club to cancel its planned autumn concerts while it explores all possible avenues to prevent closure.
“We had hoped and invested heavily in achieving this recognition. Now, we are, unfortunately, fighting for our lives again. The situation looks bleak, but we owe it to this legendary place to leave no stone unturned,” said Board Chairman Michael Christiansen.
The financial situation is so dire that Jazzhus Montmartre has had to lay off its two employees, terminate hourly staff, and send home about 50 volunteers. At the same time, it exhausts all options for a solution.
“We have to put the club into a dormant state while we investigate whether a new path forward can be found. This is not easy for either employees or volunteers, who have been our backbone for years, but this is the unfortunate reality,” Christiansen added.
The club has faced closure before and miraculously survived. However, Christiansen noted, “There are limits to how much pressure can be continually applied to passionate individuals, foundations, and donors.”
Four years ago, Jazzhus Montmartre was in a similar predicament, having laid off its staff. However, an anonymous donor’s generous gift at the last minute allowed the historic club to continue for another four years. The club has been a cornerstone of the jazz scene since 1959, nurturing generations of renowned jazz musicians.
“We are working tirelessly. I cannot say when we will conclude. Still, I want to extend my gratitude to our loyal supporters, especially the City of Copenhagen, which has just decided to increase its support by 0.5 million kroner. Unfortunately, it is not enough to cover our deficit, but it is a strong boost to our rescue efforts,” said Christiansen.
