National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and its associated foundation, started at the outset of the pandemic to support and advocate for aid for independent venues, is searching for its next executive director.

NIVA and its fundraising branch, the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF), have been led by cofounder Rev. Moose since mid-2020, when the organizations were created to help independent venues stay afloat during lockdowns and to apply and receive federal recovery aid. The goal is to have the new leadership in place by the end of 2022, according to a NIVA release.

Moose will continue leading the organizations until then, which includes hosting NIVA’s first national conference July 11 and 12 in Cleveland.

“When the world turned upside down, Moose dropped everything and selflessly set aside his own needs in order to help save our industry,” said Dayna Frank, NIVA Board President and CEO of First Avenue Productions in Minneapolis, in a news release. “His ability to bring people together to achieve the unimaginable got us where we are. As we search for the next executive director, we’re incredibly grateful to have his continued stewardship as we approach NIVA 2.0.”

The managing partner of music marketing firm Marauder, which runs Independent Venue Week in the U.S., stepped up to serve as executive director of NIVA with a two-year commitment to navigate the immediate needs of the pandemic and build out the organization. During his tenure the fledgling organization secured the $16-billion Save Our Stages Act (now known as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant). The money went to independent clubs (not including national corporations like Live Nation) and kept many of them running through the pandemic.

Moose built a staff, NIVA’s chapter system, oversaw the launch of the association’s healthcare program for members and an emergency relief fund that distributed more than $3 million in grants to independent businesses in the live music industry so they could hold on until federal relief arrived.

NIVA’s mission is currently shifting from survival mode during lockdowns to a longer-term vision of success, Frank said.

“Over the last two years Moose’s fearless support of the indie community has been incredible,” said Boris Patronoff, CEO of See Tickets and Chairman of the NIVA and NIVF Advisory Board. “His ability to assemble a group of competing businesses to drive toward a common goal was crucial to the survival of our entire sector.”