Congratulations to Labor on its election victory on Saturday. We look forward to working with the new Arts Minister and with Creative Victoria, which will be replacing Arts Victoria. There’s something for everyone in the ‘Music Works’ package, from preparing the next generations of musicians through primary school music lessons and mentoring, all the way to celebrating our heritage in laneways and in a Hall of Fame. (If you haven’t read it, have a look at ALP Arts Minister Martin Foley’s letter here: musicvictoria.au/assets/Martin%20Foley%20ALP%20Letter%20to%20Music%20Victoria%20Final.pdf) ‘Music Works’ includes $8million in grants (including Quick Response Grants) for Victorian artists to tour and record and build their careers, as well as for festivals, showcases, all ages gigs, and community radio. There is matched funding for venues to improve attenuation and PA’s, funding to celebrate music tourism and heritage in our laneways, mentoring for young artists and export strategies. There is money to help restore St Kilda’s Palais Theatre, and to train teachers to teach primary school students how to play contemporary music. There is also support to set up a music hub which will house the Victorian Music Development Office, which will hopefully house peak bodies such as Music Victoria and The Push, as well as an Australian Music Hall of Fame or museum. These are exciting times, and we will release more information as it comes to hand. But we need to also acknowledge the work done over the last four years, particularly through the Government’s Live Music Roundtable to fix the regulatory landscape. A big thanks to everyone who worked on it to deliver the reforms, and in particular former Liquor Licensing Minister Ed O’Donohue for pushing the music cause in Government; former Planning Minister Matthew Guy for delivering on his promise to implement the Agent of Change Principle; and to the former Nationals member for Western Victoria David O’Brien for being the music industry’s biggest supporter in Government. Hopefully Dave can resume his career in ska punk band Loin Groin and we can see him on the stage sometime soon.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 02:50:23 +0000
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