CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As North Carolina works to reopen amidst the coronavirus pandemic, bars and live music venues continue to stay closed.

The Charlotte Independent Venue Alliance, or CIVA, was created in March to help independent music venues create safe ways to reopen. The biggest problems owners are facing is a lack of financial help.

CIVA created a “Save Charlotte Stages” petition to urge city leaders to allocate funds from the CARES Act to help keep venues open.

Joe Kuhlmann is one of the owners of The Evening Muse, and Greg McCraw is the talent buyer for The Neighborhood Theatre. Both men say if independent venues don’t get help, some of the most iconic venues in Charlotte are at risk of closing for good.

“We’re told now we’re not going to be able to even entertain the idea of opening until October,” Kuhlmann says. “They tell you to prepare for six months of savings. Well that’s gone."

“We don’t have months to wait. Most of the independent venues in Charlotte are literally working on weeks to stay alive right now,” McCraw says.

For more details on the petition or to add your signature, click here.