The Health of Clubs: What Future for Venues and Concert Halls?

Name: The Health of Clubs: What Future for Venues and Concert Halls?
Start: 2025-05-28 14:00:00
Location: Espace K

Facing economic challenges and new post-pandemic realities, how can we ensure the sustainability of live music venues?

Only for Pro pass

Wed 28 May 2025

Strasbourg • Espace K, Espace K

1h30

Production : Diffusion Prod

Recently clubs, venues and concert halls have faced major difficulties: soaring operational costs, reduced subsidies, shifting audience habits, and a shortage of skilled workers.
These challenges raise crucial questions about the resilience and adaptability of the sector.

How are clubs doing today? What are the economic and social realities for music venues in 2025?
What strategies can improve their financial health? Subsidies, revenue diversification, and new business models.
How can we attract and retain audiences? Understanding post-pandemic behavior shifts and strategies to reconnect with spectators.
What solutions can address the labor shortage? Training, industry appeal, and developing new skills.
What roles do cultural stakeholders, local authorities, and institutions play? Cooperation, local and European initiatives.

Objective: Identify concrete solutions and share best practices to strengthen the resilience of clubs, venues and concert halls.

Laure Togola (FR)

Programmer (la Boule Noire- Paris)

Laure Togola is the artistic director and programmer at La Boule Noire in Paris.
With a rich and diverse background, she contributed to the programming of the Philharmonie de Paris in 2023 and co-curated the multidisciplinary project B93 Prequel (Mondes nouveaux / Salon de Montrouge).
Previously, she spent two years designing the Hip-hop 360 exhibition (Musée de la Musique / Philharmonie de Paris).
Committed to transforming the cultural sector, she co-founded the research collective Au-delà du club in 2021, dedicated to the evolution of club cultures, and joined the Réinventer la nuit initiative in 2023 as an active member.

La Boule Noire, a 200-capacity concert venue nestled in the heart of Pigalle, has been a key space for musical discovery since the 1990s. Since its inception, La Boule Noire has supported the artistic scene and worked alongside entertainment professionals, securing a unique place in the Parisian cultural landscape. Year-round, the venue showcases projects spanning diverse musical aesthetics, integrating into an avant-garde and eclectic program featuring festivals, talks, concerts, and club nights.
La Boule Noire is a symbolic milestone for emerging artists, standing out for its distinctive 70s-inspired decor, high-quality technical installations, and intimate atmosphere.

Pierre Dugelay

Périscope

Pierre Dugelay is behind a number of cultural projects. In 2002, he founded the Summertime festival, which combined music, space and images for 5 years.
In 2004, he took part in the creation of Grolektif, a collective of musicians of which he is the coordinator and administrator. As well as accompanying new creations and tours, he has developed this project, which has been an important organisation on the French jazz scene until 2018.
In 2007, he was one of the founders of Le Périscope, before taking over its management and programming a few years after its creation. His work has led him to participate in various national and international networks and federations. Le Périscope is currently involved in several European cooperation projects