NSW Government announces $85 million funding to support performing arts and live music

Aiming to provide artists and performers with increased confidence to schedule live events, the NSW Government has today announced an $85 million funding package to support venues, promoters and producers in relaunching performing arts and live musicactivities

Announcing the package, NSW Minister for the Arts, Ben Franklin said the funding package included an extension for the Performing Arts Relaunch package and a grant to music charitable organisation, Support Act, to assist individual performing artists.

Minister Franklin announced “as we continue to work through this current phase of the pandemic, the $80 million extension of the Performing Arts Relaunch package will support our wonderful performing arts and live music sector to continue to confidently return to the stage and deliver the vibrant, diverse and inspiring works we have missed so much.

“The additional $5 million grant that we are providing to Support Act as part of this package will help to bridge the gap for assistance for those not eligible under other Government funds and ensure our state’s artists are not left behind as a result of disruptions caused by the pandemic.”

“The arts are crucial to helping communities across NSW heal, unite, and inspire as well as being essential to our state’s economic recovery.”

Noting that the funding will offer critical relief to support the health and welfare of people working in the music industry, Support Act Chief Executive, Clive Miller commented “the funds announced today will ensure that those hardest hit will be able to access crisis relief through Support Act to help pay the rent, put food on the table, pay urgent medical bills and stay connected with family and community.”

Live Performance Australia Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson added her organisation’s support saying that the package will benefit the economy and increase the confidence of the sector.

Richardson explained “the arts and entertainment industry are a critical part of rebooting the economy which has once again been acknowledged by the NSW Government.

“This package will enable companies to keep shows on stage and people in work and provide much needed business confidence to continue investing.

“Live entertainment events drive visitation across regions and cities, pumping billions of dollars of spending into the economy. Our industry contributed $36.5 billion to Australia’s economy in 2019 and is a key driver of many other sectors, notably hospitality, travel and cultural tourism.

“The pandemic is not over and we still need to get through winter which may bring new challenges. The impacts of Omicron are being felt across the country. Now more than ever government support is needed to ensure the live entertainment industry can continue to play its part in the nation’s economic, social and cultural recovery.”

How the funding package is distributed and which businesses and organisations are eligible will be viewed with interest across the sector.

On Friday, Full Tilt festival organiser, Chris O’Brien said promoters have "zero confidence" in state governments after live industry’s "disgraceful". O'Brien made his comments ’\on the day he was forced to cancel Full Tilt's Sydney edition, slamming Australia’s state governments as well as the Federal Government for a collective failure to support the industry through the COVID pandemic and related restrictions and lockdowns.

The $85 million package announced today is on top of $125 million in funding announced in 2021 to support the performing arts and live music sector.

Applications for the Performing Arts Relaunch package are open to eligible businesses and organisations in the NSW performing arts and live music industry including venues, promoters and producers to relaunch performing arts activities.

For more information, including guidelines and to apply for funding, please visit the Create NSW website at www.create.nsw.gov.au

Image credit: EMC Dance and Live Music.