Victorian Government announces new funding for live music industry

The Victorian Government has announced a $3.9 million boost for the state’s live music industry with music festivals, musicians and live music venues able to share in the funding, alongside programs for emerging regional musicians, culturally and linguistically diverse artists, event producers and young performers.

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 - giving venues a leg up and emerging artists the chance to perform live.

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

Live music venues awarded grants include 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.

The Victorian Government’s Live Music Festivals Fund will see 22 festivals in Victoria receiving grants of up to $50,000 to help them stage new or existing events.

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.

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.

Victoria's live music industry is one of the state's most vital creative sectors, and this boost will support the jobs of event organisers, artists, venue owners, staff, and crews. This investment ensures that Victoria remains Australia's music heartland, with festivals that not only entertain but also sustain our creative workforce.

The first rounds of the Live Music Festivals Fund and Victorian Gig Fund are being delivered by Music Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government. These latest grants are part of a $35.4 million package delivered in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 to support Victoria’s live music industry at all levels and in all parts of the state.

Advising that the funding will support Victoria remaining as the live music capital of Australia, Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks stated “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.

“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 Chief Executive, Simone Schinkel added “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.

“It will be hard to be in Victoria and not experience the direct benefits of such an investment.”

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