Federal Government announces $135 million in funding for live entertainment

Following on from arts and entertainment industry representatives lobbying the Federal Government in Canberra this week, new support for the cultural and creative sector has been unveiled.

The Federal Government has today announced a $125 million extension of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, available until 31st December 2021, which comes on top of $75 million already allocated to the Fund to date.

The Federal Government has also announced a further $10 million to Support Act to allow them to respond quickly and effectively to the continuing needs of artists, crew and music workers including sound and lighting technicians, managers, booking agents, promoters, venue workers and roadies still affected by COVID-19.

This is in addition to the $10 million provided to Support Act announced in April last year.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher, who, along with Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with cultural and entertainment industry representatives on Monday, said the latest stimulus funding plan would support for festivals, concerts, tours, productions and live events in the wake of the pandemic.

Advising that the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand fund (RISE) was designed to drive a resurgence in the creative economy, helping ensure venues can reopen and performances are booked in, Minister Fletcher stated “our focus has turned to stimulating activity so the work opportunities can flow.

“This new funding comes at an important stage in the resurgence of Australia’s arts and entertainment sector. The purpose of the RISE program is to get shows put on, bringing employment to performers, crews and front-of-house staff.”

The program’s guidelines will be changed to make it easier for businesses to get funding for staging shows, including pre-production support funding to help artists, managers, specialist technicians and other aspects of planning for concerts and tours.

Projects requiring funding from as low as $25,000 will have access.

Minister Fletcher said the latest funding injections to the RISE program builds on spending of almost $800 million for arts and entertainment hit during the coronavirus pandemic. About $750 million in annual arts funding and $730 million in JobKeeper funding for creative and performing arts has already been delivered.

The Federal Government has also committed about $120 million in cash flow payments to creative and performing arts organisations around the country.

Among already announced funding is $33 million for Screen Australia, to support the continued development and production of Australian content, including $30 million for Australian film and television drama, children’s and documentary productions.

About $3 million will go towards cultivating new quality Australian screen-writing and script developments.

Australia’s national collecting institutions, including the National Library of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia, are receiving shares of $31.2 million for capital works, storage and digitisation projects.

Commenting on the support on social media, Richard Evans, President of Live Performance Australia and Managing Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, wrote "off the back of our Canberra trip last week, a significant announcement for the industry this morning to assist with getting through the next two critical COVID-recovery quarters."

For more information go to www.arts.gov.au.

Image: Frozen at Sydney's Capitol Theatre is among productions to have been supported by the Federal Government’s assistance packages.