Glasgow queer co-op venue, Bonjour, launches fundraiser to safeguard future

Glasgow queer co-op venue and community space, Bonjour, has launched an online fundraiser to help safeguard its future. 

In an Instagram post shared earlier this week, the team behind the space, which prioritises underrepresented groups in the LBGTQ+ community, explained that a range of factors have contributed to the need for emergency fundraising measures. These include fallout from the pandemic and backdated rent arrears, rocketing energy and security costs, and unplanned closure due to plumbing issues. 

The club’s statement read: “This week we reached a point where we can no longer manage these costs without taking action. Our co-op  members are assessing all options to save the business. At present, we’re unsure about Bonjour’s future, and we’re facing the reality that we may have to close.” You can read the full statement below. 

The venue will host a special fundraising event on Friday 14th October, with Bonzai Bonner, Miss Cabbage, bogan.bitch, poog1rl, Joey Mousepads, DJ Ryanair, KMS, and Talk2Fran.k among the artists and DJs confirmed to play. Money can also be given through a GoFundMe page. A number of membership options — from £5 to £25 per month — have also been created by the Saltmarket space. 

An appeal has also been made for residents of Glasgow — the UK’s vinyl collecting capital — to lobby their local Member of Scottish Parliament to raise awareness about the need for venues like Bonjour. Licensed door staff interested in working with the community space are also invited to make contact.  

“We believe in working collaboratively rather than hierarchically,” the team wrote. “We aren’t driven by profits, we’re driven by the urgent need to provide this space to our city. We are constantly looking for ways in which we can be more accessible and provide a safer space for our community. We aim to create a space where Queer people are not just accepted but also celebrated,” a spokesperson for the club said. 

More information on tickets, donations and membership can be found here, and via the space’s posts below.