Victoria launches gig fund and festivals grants to support challenging live music sector

By Ian Rogers

As live music venues and festival organisers adapt to rising costs and lower spending on alcohol than previous generations, the Victorian Government has announced a $3.9 million funding package to support the sector and musicians who rely on playing gigs to hone their craft and build fan followings.

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, while the Live Music Festivals Fund will see 22 festivals receive grants of up to $50,000 to help them stage new or existing events.

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.

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.

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 nine years, the program has invested almost $13 million in more than 800 projects.

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 events for 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.

“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,” says Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks.

“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.”

Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel says it would be “hard to be in Victoria and not experience the direct benefits of such an investment”.

“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,” Schinkel says.

Everyone is invited to the CONVERGE Open Day

Step into the heart of Lismore’s creative scene at the CONVERGE Open Day on Saturday, 28 September 2024, and meet the artists bringing this vibrant residency space to life!

CONVERGE is a temporary artist-in-residence and professional development program, transforming a prominent vacant space in the CBD into a thriving hub of creativity, community connection, and cultural revival. As part of Lismore’s disaster recovery initiative, CONVERGE aims to reignite the city as a cultural hub, highlighting its unique character and supporting its world-class creative industry.

For the past three months, CONVERGE has breathed new life into the CBD with its burst of colour, textures, and artistic exploration. Now, you’re invited to immerse yourself in this energetic space and connect with local creators during the CONVERGE Studio Open Day.

What to Expect

• Time: 10am to 3pm
• Date: Saturday, 28 September 2024
• Location: 123 Woodlark St, Lismore

Join 11 talented local artists as they open their studios for a behind-the-scenes experience. Meet the makers, explore the creative process, and enjoy live performances, installations, and art in action.

Featured activities include:

• Paul Walker performing Dance and Draw
• Adrienne Kenafake presenting her latest performance piece, fresh from the Cementa Festival
• Chris Lego showcasing his screen-printing skills while spinning tunes
• Matt O’Brien offering a hands-on experience with mud mixing
• Antoinette O’Brien leading a clay play session
• Michelle Gilroy celebrating subtle textures in her work
• Karenza Ebejer sharing her digital dreaming as a filmmaker
• Stefanie Mirkilis creating vibrant mosaics

This Open Day is part of a broader weekend of cultural events, including the much-anticipated reopening of the Lismore Regional Gallery on Friday, 26 September 2024.

About CONVERGE

Located between Woodlark Street and Larkin Lane, CONVERGE sits at the core of Lismore’s “arts block,” nestled alongside the Lismore Regional Gallery, The Quad, Northern Rivers Conservatorium, Elevator ARI, and the brand-new Tinnie Army Mural on Larkin Lane.

This initiative is led by Lismore City Council and funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to support the arts sector in its recovery following the devastating floods of 2022.

Support and Celebrate Lismore’s Artistic Community

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin praised the program, saying, “It’s exciting to see the results of CONVERGE. It’s important to support the artistic community in their flood recovery and watch them flourish again.”

Don’t Miss Out!

Come and be part of this celebration of art, creativity, and community at CONVERGE.

CONVERGE Studio Open Day

• Date: Saturday, 28 September 2024
• Time: 10am to 3pm
• Location: 123 Woodlark St, Lismore

See you there!

NSW Government Introduces Support Package for Music Festivals

By Robert Heyward

The NSW Government has announced a comprehensive relief package to support struggling music festivals, aimed at addressing rising costs and improving the sustainability of the sector. The package follows the government’s commitment to review the Music Festivals Act, which identified the need for a stronger focus on harm reduction, industry sustainability, and more balanced costs for festivals in NSW compared to other states.

As part of the reforms, the government has allocated an initial $3 million for emergency funding assistance to help music festivals navigate financial pressures. Over the next two years, music festivals will benefit from financial aid and broader sector reforms designed to ease the challenges that have contributed to numerous event cancellations in recent years.

In addition, the government will introduce amendments to the Music Festivals Act aimed at improving the regulatory framework for festivals, with changes set to be in place before the upcoming summer festival season. These amendments will prioritise the health and safety of festival-goers while also focusing on the economic sustainability of NSW’s festival scene.

Key Amendments to the Music Festivals Act

• Explicit objectives focused on government support for the festival sector.
• Removal of the ‘subject’ festival designation from the Act.
• Requirement for all festivals to have a Health and Medical Plan, with festivals that have had previous incidents needing to agree on their plan with NSW Health.
• Liquor & Gaming NSW will become the main decision-maker, with advice from NSW Health and NSW Police. The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority will remain involved in appeals regarding health and medical plans.
• Appeal rights for festivals on costs and conditions, with a cross-government panel established to handle appeals if a festival’s economic viability is under threat.
• NSW Police will continue to have a role in recommending safety and enforcement measures for festivals where necessary.

The government has also introduced a two-year Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund to enhance the short-term viability of major contemporary music festivals. The fund, established by Sound NSW, will offer up to $500,000 per festival for large-scale events with a capacity of 15,000 or more. This fund will address financial pressures brought on by factors like rising costs, inflation, and currency exchange rates. Applications will be open from September 2024 to June 2026 on a needs basis.

Statements from Key Ministers

John Graham, Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, acknowledged the struggles facing the festival sector, stating:
“NSW has had a strong music festival sector, but it has been under intense pressure. We have seen the chickens come home to roost after years of pressure, with major festivals failing. Festivals are an important place for music fans to experience the music they love together and form connections with artists and their community.”

He added, “We made a commitment to review the Music Festivals Act, and now that review is complete, we are introducing these reforms to strengthen our support for these vital live music events.”

Ryan Park, Minister for Health, emphasised the importance of safety, saying:

“We want people to be able to enjoy festivals safely. These reforms will ensure that health and safety become even more of a central focus in event planning. NSW Health continues to work closely with music festivals to implement harm reduction measures, including deploying NSW Ambulance personnel, peer-based harm reduction service providers, private medical providers onsite, as well as running awareness campaigns.”

The NSW Government’s reforms aim to revitalize the music festival sector, making it safer and more economically viable while promoting a thriving live music culture across the state.