Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks today announced a $3.9 million boost for music festivals, musicians, and live music venues that will share in the funding, alongside programs for emerging regional musicians, culturally and linguistically diverse artists, event producers and young performers.
The first round of 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund will fund 144 venues across the state to stage paid gigs by local artists – giving venues a leg up and emerging artists the chance to perform live.
Also part of the package, $1 million of Music Works grants will support 92 music projects involving 600 music industry professionals – giving both emerging and established artists the opportunity to take the next step in their careers. Over the past 9 years, the program has invested almost $13 million in more than 800 projects.
Live music venues awarded grants include iconic Melbourne venues such as The Tote, The Jazzlab, Mamma Chen’s and Laundry, with regional venues like Ballarat’s Volta, Barwon Heads Hotel and Theatre Royal in Castlemaine all part of the mix, along with suburban venues like District 14 in Narre Warren.
The Labor Government’s Live Music Festivals Fund will see 22 festivals in Victoria receiving grants of up to $50,000 to help them stage new or existing events.
Festival recipients include fan favourites Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival and Riverboats Festival, alongside the return of Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues, and new events including GROUNDED to be held at Dookie Quarry, and Yass Queens Park, a queer-focused festival in Moonee Ponds.
As part of the package, the GRID Series artist development program is back in Geelong for a second year helping local emerging musicians build and establish their careers, while The Push All Ages Grants will support live music venues, booking agents, artists, promoters and community organisations across Victoria to stage eventsfor all ages.
Multicultural Arts Victoria will present its third iteration of its NEWPRINT program, offering professional development opportunities for artists and creative workers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Victoria's live music industry is one of the state's most vital creative sectors, and this boost will support the jobs of event organisers, artists, venue owners, staff, and crews. This investment ensures that Victoria remains Australia's music heartland, with festivals that not only entertain but also sustain our creative workforce.
The first rounds of the Live Music Festivals Fund and Victorian Gig Fund are being delivered by Music Victoria on behalf of the Labor Government. These latest grants are part of a $35.4 million package delivered in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 to support Victoria’s live music industry at all levels and in all parts of the state.
For a full list of recipients visit creative.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks
“We’re continuing to back our state’s live music industry at all levels, with funding for festivals and venues to stage great events and live performances, support for established artists and industry workers, and to help emerging musicians get their start in the industry.”
“While the live music sector continues to face challenges across the country, this investment will help strengthen our local industry – a vital creative sector for our state.”
Quote attributable to Member for Preston Nathan Lambert
“This vital investment is a testament to the incredible musical talent in Preston, ensuring local artists and venues continue to thrive and share their passion for music with audiences across Victoria.”
Quote attributable to Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel
“It’s great to see the Victorian Government continuing to champion local musical talent, showcasing original contemporary music from Victoria in live music venues across the state, alongside international acts at festivals, and supporting Victorian artists as they tour nationally and internationally. It will be hard to be in Victoria and not experience the direct benefits of such an investment.”
Victoria’s live music scene will get a $10 million boost over four years with the launch of two programs that will support music festivals and venues while providing more paid gigs for local musicians.
Let’s be real… COVID sucks. But we wanted to give you the chance to reach out and ask us questions. Can you rehearse? When can you tour? Do you need to get vaccinated? When is our freedom day?
Watch the video of our Where To From Here Information Session below where we answer all your questions around the roadmap.
The session covers eligibility, the process and how mediation can work for tenants and landlords.
The Scheme was introduced by the Victorian Government to ease the pressure on Victoria’s small and medium-sized businesses (with an annual turnover of less than $50 million) that have experienced a fall in turnover of more than 30 per cent during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Eligible business owners can obtain relief in the form of a proportionate reduction in rent. For example, a business with a turnover of 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels can only be charged 40 per cent of its rent. Of the balance, at least half must be waived, with the remainder deferred.
Under the Scheme, the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) is supporting tenants and landlords by providing information to assist with negotiating a rent relief agreement and access to free and impartial mediation if a fair agreement can’t be reached.
Tenants can also apply to the VSBC for a binding order for rent relief if their landlord fails to respond or sufficiently respond to the VSBC or doesn’t engage in mediation in good faith.
The Scheme applies retrospectively from 28 July 2021 and will run until 15 January 2022.
Today at 3pm Music Victoria and the Victorian Small Business Commission will jointly host an information session on the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme.
This is a last chance opportunity to get your questions answered on eligibility, the process and how mediation can work for tenants and landlords.
If you’re thinking about applying for the program then, this free online information session is for you!
The Scheme was introduced by the Victorian Government to ease the pressure on Victoria’s small and medium-sized businesses (with an annual turnover of less than $50 million) that have experienced a fall in turnover of more than 30 per cent during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Eligible business owners can obtain relief in the form of a proportionate reduction in rent. For example, a business with a turnover of 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels can only be charged 40 per cent of its rent. Of the balance, at least half must be waived, with the remainder deferred.
Under the Scheme, the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) is supporting tenants and landlords by providing information to assist with negotiating a rent relief agreement and access to free and impartial mediation if a fair agreement can’t be reached.
Tenants can also apply to the VSBC for a binding order for rent relief if their landlord fails to respond or sufficiently respond to the VSBC or doesn’t engage in mediation in good faith.
The Scheme applies retrospectively from 28 July 2021 and will run until 15 January 2022.
We hope you can join us.
Business Victoria has opened round two of the Live Performance Support Program for suppliers and presenters. If you were contracted to work on a live performance event that has been postponed or cancelled, we encourage you to apply for this funding.
If you’re thinking about applying for Business Victoria's Live Performance Support Program Round Two, register for one of our free online information sessions! We'll cover changes from the last round of funding, program guidelines (including eligibility and how to apply) and answer all your questions.
Click the links below for more info and to register.
REGISTER FOR THE SUPPLIER STREAM
Session 1: 20 August at 2pm
Session 2 : 3 September at 2pm
REGISTER FOR THE PRESENTER STREAM
Session 1: 20 August at 4pm
Session 2: 3 September at 4pm
We received great feedback from our last round of info sessions and we hope these next sessions help many more of you submit funding applications!
The Victorian Government is providing more support for live performance events that have been cancelled due to the recent coronavirus restrictions.
The Victorian government updated this program in response to industry feedback and to assist a wider range of affected event businesses and workers.
For eligibility details and to apply, visit business.vic.gov.au. Applications close on Wednesday, 8 September 2021.
If you’re thinking about applying for Business Victoria's Live Performance Support Program Round Two, register for one of our free online information sessions! We'll cover changes from the last round of funding, program guidelines (including eligibility and how to apply) and answer all your questions.
REGISTER FOR THE SUPPLIER STREAM
Session 1: 20 August at 2pm
Session 2 : 3 September at 2pm
REGISTER FOR THE PRESENTER STREAM
Session 1: 20 August at 4pm
Session 2: 3 September at 4pm
On Tuesday, June 15, the Victorian Government announced details of the $20 million dedicated Victorian Events Support Package dedicated to supporting event organisers, hosts and suppliers as they manage the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and current restrictions.
It is part of more than $500 million in business support offered in response to restrictions announced on Thursday 27 May 2021 that includes the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Licensed Venue Hospitality Fund 2021, which are already open for applications.
The Victorian Events Support Package delivers five streams of support:
Information on how to apply and when applications open will be published soon. For more information on each program, please visit business.vic.gov.au/events-support
Yesterday the Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino announced a new $250 million business support package, for small-medium size businesses including sole traders and events industry operators. Full details are still to come, but you can register to be notified here: https://business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/circuit-breaker-business-support-package
While any support is greatly appreciated, Music Victoria are worried that many in our industry may still miss out due to anticipated eligibility requirements.
As such, we invite you to share with us the impact that this most recent Victorian Lockdown has had on your work in the Music Industry - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhAyOPchF84rZojR60YWeTEfOSajJgcN7_1fBFy7_moJWXRg/viewform
And if you need urgent financial assistance or just someone to talk too, please reach out to Support Act - https://supportact.org.au/