State government earmarks $500,000 for Music Victoria

04 May 2011

by Jason Treuen and Christie Eliezer

In a win for the Victorian live scene, the Liberal state government has announced it’ll give $500,000 to Music Victoria over two years as part of its state Budget revealed yesterday by Treasurer Kim Wells.

The new funds will support Music Victoria’s operations and assist the industry organisation in becoming financially self-sustaining by the end of 2012-13.

The news will come as a welcome relief for the live music body, with initial doubts about whether the new Liberal government, under Premier Mr Baillieu, would continue the support and law-making reforms initiated by Labor before they lost last November’s election. Thankfully, after numerous meetings, those doubts have been allayed.

"Music Victoria is thrilled with the core funding commitment which will help us capitalise on the inroads we have made in the last year," said Music Victoria CEO, Patrick Donovan. "We appreciate that the Premier has taken on the arts portfolio and when we met with him recently he spoke passionately about Victoria’s thriving arts scene. Music Victoria echoes the Premier’s comments that arts and culture are integral to our identity and we will continue to deliver tangible outcomes for our talented musicians and the supporting industry."

The cash injection allows Music Victoria to continue with projects including the upcoming On the Road with Music Victoria regional workshops and hosting music-specific business skills workshops with Small Business Victoria. It'll also fund the ongoing Live at the ‘G project with the AFL which gives emerging artists the opportunity to play before big games at the MCG and partnering with The Push to host the 'Face The Music' conference in November.

Music Victoria has also finalised nominations for its Victorian Music Council, a poll of 80 figures from the live music scene, which will be launched next month.

The Victorian government allocated $73 million for the arts. It includes $4.2 million over four years for more tours to regional areas, $15 million for a new home for Circus Oz, $480,000 over four years for Multicultural Arts, an extra $4.8 million over four years to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and $600,000 for the local screen industry to cement ties with India’s Bollywood film industry which would expand opportunities for musicians.