Image via The 8×10’s GoFundMe page.

The 8×10, an independent venue in Baltimore, Md., has announced a GoFundMe page aimed at supporting the struggling venue.

“8×10 family, it has come to this,” wrote the venue on their Facebook page when sharing the GoFundMe link. Please spread this link as far and wide as you can. We really need to get the word out there. The more people that see this, the better chance The 8×10 won’t become a casualty to 2020.”

On the GoFundMe page itself, The 8×10’s co-owner Brian Shupe provided a bit more context and history.

“For those that don’t know about The 8×10, we are a live music venue in Baltimore, Md. Under various owners, the location in Federal Hill neighborhood has been providing a home for live music since 1983. My wife Abigail Janssens and myself, Brian Shupe have owned and operated it since 2005,” wrote Shupe.

“The 8×10 shut its doors on March 13th 2020 and has been dark ever since,” he continued. “Being an entertainment venue, we are going to be the last industry to recover. While bars and restaurants have been open for several months, we just have been permitted to open at 25% capacity.”

Shupe then explained some of the reasons why the venue is asking for support, before making a call for donations. “We hate the fact that we are asking for charity, but if comes down to begging or letting The 8×10 disappear due to some pandemic…We have no pride. We will do whatever it takes to keep The 8×10 alive for our community of music lovers. There is no shame in that. If there was another way, believe me we would be doing it.”

Donate to The 8×10’s GoFundMe here.