We are venues, promoters, festivals, and performing arts centers.
Our stages are the center of live performance in every community, including music, comedy, theater, spoken word, and dance.
The National Independent Venue Association is the national trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters, and more. NIVA works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment. NIVA empowers members and their teams with member benefits and advocacy on the state and federal level, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
“We are small club owners, we produce festivals, we run performing arts centers, we are promoters, we are comedy people, we are music heads, we are multidisciplinary performing arts workers, we run for profits—big, medium, and small—and we run nonprofits at a range of sizes, we are government affiliated or part of universities and colleges, or we are part of nothing–committed, brilliant loners who just do what we do for the good of the cause.”
— Andre Perry, NIVA Board President and Executive Director of the University of Iowa Hancher Auditorium
Our Mission
As the nation’s live entertainment association, NIVA’s mission is to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent performance venues, promoters, and festivals throughout the United States.
NIVA’s 2023 Impact
In 2023, NIVA's Board focused our organization on the priorities needed to become a stable, strong, and sustainable association that can go the distance for our members. Because of their leadership, NIVA has been building member value, doubling down on our advocacy, and ensuring our conferences and events create community for our industry and grow our membership.
This infographic details how NIVA propelled our industry forward, how we are continuing to build out our state and local policy and advocacy, and how we have shown value to our members through a deeper focus on services.
We still have more to do, but 2023's progress can take us to new heights in 2024 and beyond.
History
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) was founded in March of 2020, at the onset of global pandemic closures that jeopardized the future of independent venues, promoters, festivals, and performing arts centers. NIVA’s initial, singular goal was to secure Congressional passage of relief for the independent live entertainment sector. Their efforts resulted in the introduction of the Save Our Stages Act. Due to the tireless advocacy of thousands of NIVA members, the Save Our Stages Act became the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and passed Congress nine months after NIVA’s formation, in December of 2020. SVOG resulted in $16.25 billion of relief for the independent live entertainment sector, the largest arts investment in U.S. history. To learn more about NIVA’s history and the Save Our Stages movement, visit our archive.
In 2023, NIVA expanded its focus from preserving and protecting the industry to cultivating and elevating the sector through national advocacy, marketing, and collective action to advance the entire independent live entertainment industry.
Awards
Billboard’s 2023 40 Under 40 List: NIVA's Stephen Parker
2022 Reed Award Winner for Trade Association of the Year – Fewer than 50 Employees
2021 Gold Pollie Award Winner for the Best Use of Social Media for #SaveOurStages
2021 APAP Awards Winners - The Sidney R. Yates Award For Outstanding Advocacy On Behalf Of The Performing Arts: Dayna Frank & Rev. Moose
2021 Clio Music Impact Award Winner
2021 The Webby Awards Winner for People's Voice Award for Best Festival or Conference - Virtual & Remote