The Black Wreath, a venue, rehearsal space, recording studio and record label at Ciccone on the edge of Alice Springs, has released a film to push its Save The Black Wreath campaign along. The Pozible campaign is chasing a million dollars and has passed $354,000 in pledges in a matter of weeks.

The place exists because nothing else did. It was built in direct response to the lack of venues, rehearsal rooms and studios in Central Australia. Last year it hosted more than 400 artists from ten countries and ran Blacken Open Air, Australia’s first heavy metal camping festival.

Southeast Desert Metal and Mulga Bore Hard Rock are among the acts whose careers have run through the room.

A venue delivering that much cultural and economic value in a region with no alternative is passing the hat to stay open. Crowdfunding is a great way to prove community support. It is a poor substitute for capital funding, and it is not something a venue can do twice.

Worth a look, and worth a pledge if you have one in you.