Live music venues to benefit industry from $13 million Victorian Government support package

September 20, 2020

Arts / Environment / Finance / Government / Venues /

The Victorian Government has today announced a $13 million package to help the state's live music industry reopen with COVIDSafe plans in place once Coronavirus restrictions ease.

Advising that the funding will help support help the state’s $1.7 billion live music industry rebound from its enforced closure during the Coronavirus crisis, Victorian Arts Minister Martin Foley said initial grants totalling $9 million would be offered to 106 live music venues to keep their businesses going and cover overhead costs until they could safely reopen.

Minister Foley stated “our music scene is much loved across the state and envied the world over.

“This support will protect our grassroots venues, save jobs and music businesses, and keep local music playing well beyond this pandemic.”

With Victoria’s live music industry forced to shut down in March and under the state's Coronavirus easing roadmap, not able to reopen until there are no new coronavirus cases for a fortnight, Minister Martin Foley acknowledged the sector was "one of the areas first and hardest hit" by the pandemic.

Under Victoria's coronavirus roadmap, outdoor entertainment events will be allowed, with approved COVIDSafe plans, from the Step 3 as of 26^th October.

In the final step of the roadmap, indoor entertainment venues would be able to open subject to density limits and patron caps.

Part of a commitment to ensuring the sector’s survival, the package includes a $3 million fund that will offer grants of between $4,000 and $50,000 to help artists, managers, promoters, bookers, road crews and other industry workers find COVID-safe ways of working.

The final part of the package is a $1.2 million grant to 10 music organisations and peak bodies to deliver business development programs to industry professionals.

Planning amendments to better protect live music venues
Minister Foley also announced that the Victorian Government would amend the state's planning scheme so it better reflected the social, economic and cultural value of live music.

Explaining this, he added “and we will be strongly encouraging all local government areas to move quickly once that amendment has happened, to protect not just iconic local venues but live music precincts wherever they might be across the state.

"We want to make sure that in this COVID shutdown period, that venues are not at risk and that councils are given the tools to make sure that live music venues can keep pumping out rock and roll and keep pumping out music for many years to come."

The proposed new permanent planning controls will allow councils across the state to identify significant live music precincts and consider the social, economic and cultural importance of live music venues as they make decisions on local planning permits.

This will mean that when a site that is home to a live music venue is slated for redevelopment, councils will have strengthened power to protect the music venue as part of any new proposal.

Musicians, music businesses and music industry workers will receive support through a series of new initiatives.

Click here for more information on the Creative Victoria page.

Click here to view Business Victoria’s Arts and Recreation Services sector guidance.

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11th August 2020 - Federal Government announces guidelines on live music restart funding

22nd July 2020 - Live Entertainment Industry Forum applauds Australian Government’s JobKeeper extension

21st July 2020 - One in four audience members have returned to cultural attractions and events

25th June 2020 - Arts and entertainment funding package welcomed by Live performance industry

7th July 2020 - Creative Victoria launches new grant program to help music venues during lockdown

1st July 2020 - Creative Victoria continues to roll out support packages for creative industries

23rd June 2020 - MEAA advocate for multi-level support of arts and entertainment sector

12th June 2020 - Live Entertainment Industry Forum welcomes potential easing of restrictions on outdoor sport and entertainment venues

12th June 2020 - Australian Prime Minister moves forward relaxation of Coronavirus rules to allow crowds to return to sport and entertainment

9th June 2020 - Industry stakeholders unite to restart sport and entertainment

4th June 2020 - Live Performance Australia’s $345 million plan to restart and rebuild the entertainment industry

2nd June 2020 - Reopening of cultural institutions coincides with Australian Government considering support for arts and entertainment sector

25th May 2020 - VMA Digital Series looks at the effects of COVID-19 on the entertainment industry

28th March 2020 - Major entertainment promoters call for Australian Government support through Coronavirus crisis

6th February 2020 - Live music ban lifted for selected NSW venues

8th July 2019 - Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre looks to stage live music events

12th November 2018 - RnB Fridays Live music fans claim ‘worst concert ever’ at Marvel Stadium

12th April 2018 - Study shows Melbourne as live music capital of the world

1st June 2017 - Music Victoria releases 10 Point Plan for live music

5th August 2016 - Live Music Office creates mapping tool to support artists and industry

13th August 2015 - Live Music worth over $15 billion to Australia in 2014

16th March 2015 - Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena emerges as a new venue for live music

14th February 2015 - Campaign group reveals rebuffed attempts to save Melbourne’s Palace Theatre for live music

14th December 2014 - New minister aims for a more creative Victoria

6th August 2014 - Victorian Government to deliver live music reforms

2nd June 2014 - Live Music Strategy to make Melbourne the ‘music capital of Australia’

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