Port Macquarie-Hastings Council encourages musicians and venues to support local live music program

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council are encouraging musicians and venues to get involved in the Live and Local music development program to bring vibrancy and activity back to the region.

The Live and Local project is a joint initiative, delivered by Council in partnership with the Live Music Office and APRA AMCOS.

By unifying local businesses and creatives, the Live and Local program aims to build the capacity of local music communities by providing paid performance opportunities through micro-festival events, professional development programs, and local industry forums.

Following the appointment of the program’s curator, Lisa Willows, Council has opened a census to identify musicians interested in performing locally, and venues interested in hosting live music.

Information collected through the census will be used to create a freely accessible database for local promoters, businesses, and venues to connect with musicians and host events, and it will also help inform local policy to better support live music

Lisea Davies, Group Manager of Economic and Cultural Development said the program would help our creative and business communities recover from the ongoing effects of COVID-19.

Davies notes "many musicians are out of work due to the cancellation of events, closed venues and limited paid performance opportunities.

"The program looks to stimulate employment opportunities for musicians, particularly young and emerging artists, while supporting economic and cultural activity by activating venues around the region.”

Live and Local Program curator, Lisa Willows adds “this is a great opportunity businesses and venues who perhaps haven’t hosted live music before to get involved and broaden their scope of prospects.

“New legislation announced now makes it super easy for all types of business to host live music. And if you are a local musician we would love to hear from you so we can work together to grow a thriving live music scene.”

The Census is open until 15th September, for more information, visit haveyoursay/port-macquarie-hastings-live-and-local.