Tbilisi’s Left Bank venue launches GoFundMe to ensure survival amid political unrest

Tbilisi venue Left Bank is fundraising to ensure its survival amid ongoing political unrest in Georgia. 

Tens of thousands of Georgians have taken part in protests over the past two weeks in the response to the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union. Parliamentary elections took place in October, but widespread allegations of vote rigging have marred the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Protesters are now calling for new elections as well as the reopening of talks to join the EU.

In a collective statement shared last week, key venues such as Bassiani, KHIDI and Left Bank said: “Georgia’s illegitimate government openly and declaratively rejected the will of the Georgian people to join the European family. The outcome of years of societal work, hardship and struggle – to become a democratic state rooted in freedom and equality – has been temporarily stalled.”

Now, in the midst of a mass strike amongst cultural spaces, businesses and teachers, Left Bank has launched a GoFundMe to support its team financially and secure its future as it faces possible closure. “Standing united with protesters, we’ve stopped our operations once again,” the team wrote. “This necessary decision risks our survival – our team lives paycheck to paycheck while expenses and rent keep mounting. Like others in Georgia’s cultural sector, we’re sacrificing our livelihood to oppose this injustice, even as each day brings us closer to financial collapse.”

“Asking for help during this collective struggle feels especially difficult,” they added. “We know everyone is sacrificing so much. Yet, with our resources depleted and survival at stake, reaching out to our community has become our only option.

“Supporting Left Bank isn’t just about saving one cultural space – it’s about preserving a vital platform for free expression and cultural resistance in Georgia. During these challenging times, spaces like ours become more crucial than ever.”

Left Bank has pledged full transparency with how it uses donated funds. Surplus money raised will support others affected by the protests. You can donate to the GoFundMe here, or donate via Paypal. 

In DJ Mag’s 2023 interview with Left Bank co-founder Gacha Bakradze, he spoke about the importance of the local music scene speaking out on political subjects, and providing a safe space for the community to come together. “Nightclubs have always been voices of justice – places where you can feel like everyone is respected. There are many places here that create that same atmosphere, where people go not just to party, but to stand together.”

Speaking to DJ Mag now, he added: “Today, we stand with Georgia’s fight for democracy, risking everything to uphold free expression and cultural resistance. We need your help to survive these dark times and keep Left Bank alive”

Last year, Left Bank opened a record store, book shop and café and bar, Space One. 

The capital’s underground club scene was also the subject of a BBC Global Dancefloor documentary.