The Victorian Government is supporting Victoria’s hard-hit music sector with funding to celebrate and share local music and keep musicians and music businesses working. Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley recently announced $857,000 in grants for Victorian musicians, music businesses and virtual and live events. “Victoria’s $1.7 billion music industry is globally renowned but the pandemic has had a devastating effect. These latest grants are part of our ongoing work to protect music jobs and help local music businesses survive.” Minster Foley commented “We’re proud to back our music industry to keep working behind the scenes now, and to plan for the future.”
Minister Foley explained that the latest tranche of grants through the Sustaining Creative Workers program has provided $607,000 to 103 projects that will help Victorian musicians and music businesses produce new music, upgrade equipment, undertake skills development, livestream performances and more. The Minister added that Artists including Adalita, The Merindas, Jess Ribeiro and Amos Roach have been supported to record, release and develop new music, while labels Good Manners Music, Bad Apples Music and Milk! Records are among businesses to secure funding for projects that will help to build audiences and opportunities for their artists.
Minister Foley said that Victoria’s weekly online music festival Isol-Aid has received $200,000 to support its program in the coming months, including employing six behind-the-scenes staff and covering performance fees for artists. The Minister explained that Isol-Aid was launched in March after a group of music industry workers banded together to find a way to keep sharing local music following the closure of venues and the cancellation of festivals and gigs. The Melbourne-made festival now features a weekly line-up of artists from across the globe and attracts thousands of viewers. The digital festival also raises funds for music industry crisis support service Support Act. Minister Foley explained that OK Motels, which runs music events in regional towns, has received $50,000 to plan three Victorian events in 2021. The support follows popular events held in Charlton in 2018 and 2019 which each attracted 1,500 music lovers to the region, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars for local businesses. OK Motels collaborates with regional communities on each event to offer visitors and locals the chance to see big name acts and to experience the best the region has to offer – from local attractions to food. Attendees also receive road trip tips which add further benefits to surrounding towns.
Minister Foley said that the funding will support the OK Motels team to start working with regional communities and music leaders to plan for 2021 and to engage Victorian writers and photographers to create content for a new website which will help visitors to plan future road trips and stays. These latest announcements follow the launch of the $15 million Victorian Live Music Venues program which aims to support venues to survive the devastating impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
