Victorian Budget 2023/24 invests $478 million in arts, activity programs, events, sport and tourism

In Victoria, the arts and sport industries deliver events attracting millions of visitors to the state, support hundreds of thousands of local jobs while making Victoria a vibrant, exciting place to live and work.

The Victorian Budget 2023/24 sees the government investing $478 million to support the state’s creative industries, secure the biggest events for Victoria, upgrade community sporting clubs across the state, boost regional economies and create jobs in the tourism sector.

More than 100 local sporting clubs will benefit from more than $200 million to improve their facilities, including $15 million for the Frankston Basketball Stadium redevelopment and $15 million to upgrade the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre.

The state’s major events calendar will be boosted with an extra $23 million to help the Major Events Fund attract some of the biggest events, shows and live sports to Victoria –21,000 workers will be supported by these major events.

A $20 million investment will be made in Victoria’s music industry alongside a $2.5 million boost to Victoria’s renowned music festival scene. The Budget backs the state as the home of live music in Australia, with $2 million for the Victorian Music Development Office and the Music Market.

A $7.5 million Live Music Performers Fund will be delivered to support thousands of Victorian musicians and artists to pack venues across the state and perform 10,000 gigs over the next four years.

Bendigo Art Gallery, one of Australia’s leading regional galleries, will see a $21 million investment to help it continue to present world-class exhibitions, like last year’s record-smashing Elvis exhibition which attracted more than 219,000 visitors.

Victoria’s position as a global leader in gaming and screen production will be strengthened with a digital games and visual effects rebate to attract more businesses and jobs to Victoria and maintain our position as the leading state in this fast-growing sector.

The $405,000 Creative Experiences Package will be shared across the Castlemaine State Festival (above), Dandenong Ranges’ Burrinja Cultural Centre, Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum, Yarra Valley Arts and McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery in Langwarrin.

Meredith Fannin, Founder and Director of music and entertainment-focused accounting firm Darkwave shared “it was made clear from this budget that the Victorian State Government values the music and creative industry, with various funding commitments to enable artists to commercialise their artistic endeavours.

“There was good news for the music and arts sectors, with the Government committing to funding the Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) and music market for the 2024 and 2025 financial years. $10million was set aside for digital games and visual effects - to attract more of these businesses to be based in Victoria, as well as funding for live performances and events.

To encourage more visitors to flock to Victoria from across the country and around the world, an investment of $32.5 million in Visit Victoria aims to ensure its work strengthens the visitor economy.

The Victorian Government is also investing in the future of the state’s arts sector, with $2 million to teach song writing in high schools across the state, and a new planning overlay to protect our iconic live music venues for decades to come.

$2 million is being invested to back the mental health and wellbeing of the creative industries workforce through Support Act, establish a Victorian Music Industry Advisory Council and provide grants to keep community TV and radio stations afloat across the state.

The Budget backs the state as the home of live music in Australia, with $2 million for the Victorian Music Development Office and the Music Market.

More than $11 million is being invested in programs like Get Active Kids Vouchers, VICSWIM and Together More Active (pictured above), alongside funding for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation for programs that unite communities in Melbourne’s West through sport.

Vic Minister for Community Sport and Suburban Development Ros Spence added “we’re backing sporting clubs across Victoria with more than $200 million in investment, ensuring players, coaches, volunteers and community members have modern facilities – and supporting growing suburbs to thrive.”

$1.6 million is being allocated to make professional boxing and combat sports safer for athletes, improving registration and injury management systems, boosting concussion education and reviewing the operations of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board.

The state government is also launching a $10 million Tiny Towns Fund for regional and outer suburban communities of up to 5,000 people, backing projects that drive community pride and tourism like new hiking trails.

Image top. Bendigo Art Gallery, one of Australia’s leading regional galleries, will see a $21 million investment to help it continue to present world-class exhibitions, like last year’s record-smashing Elvis exhibition which attracted more than 219,000 visitors. Credit: Bendigo Art Gallery; Image centre: Castlemaine State Festival will share in the $405,000 Creative Experiences Package; Image above: More than $11 million is being invested in programs including Together More Active