Last Sunday was a historic day for the Victorian Music Sector. After the Premier announced that new COVID-19 cases had fallen below 20, he was joined by the Minister for Creative Industries to announce $13 million in funding support for the contemporary music sector, and world-first planning protection for live music.

Over 100 venues were informed that they would be receiving significant cash grants to help pay off debt and support staged openings when restrictions allow. Another $3 million was announced in grants of up to $50,000 to fund projects that will support contemporary music industry artists, workers and businesses who have lost work as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to:

• start working on activities that can be delivered while maintaining physical distancing and COVIDSafe measures,
• develop new works that can be commercialised,
• identify new ways of working, and new delivery pathways to connect with audiences, and
• upskill through professional/business development and mentoring opportunities.

We encourage you to think outside the square and conceptualise new innovative ideas that can help develop your creativity and brand, generate income and help kick-start the music economy.

Creative Victoria also announced a series of strategic partnership grants to support youth, First Nations, CALD and regional communities. Music Victoria is thrilled to work with Regional Arts Victoria on a Regional Victoria Music Recovery program. We will release more details soon. We will be running information sessions with the VMDO over the next fortnight with the Creative Victoria grants team and grant writers so keep an eye out on our website and socials for details. This state-wide program encourages applications from First Peoples, Deaf and Disabled people, LGBTQI+ and applicants from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Click here to hear Arts Access Victoria CEO Caroline Bowditch explain the deaf and disabled applicant’s stream. Thank you to the Victorian State Government for listening and caring about the industry’s needs and making us feel so valued during this bleak time.

As COVID numbers drop, the next priority is advocating for recording and rehearsal studios to open up soon as permitted industries, and to work with the government on a clear roadmap to re-opening, and permits and approval processes to be fast-tracked and aligned to allow shows to resume smoothly. The recently announced grants will hopefully help most artists and businesses see the crisis through, and the planning reform will ensure music is a centrepiece in the recovery of our great city and state.

It was a great honour for Music Victoria to be nominated for the Best Global Music Office at the inaugural Music Cities Awards this week. Congratulations to Big Heavy World from Vermont, US, and all of the other category winners for taking out the award. You can check out how they have supported their music community for over 25 years here.
 
Thanks to everyone who applied to join our COVID Recovery Advisory Group. We wish we could have included all of the 100 applicants who applied to join the group, but we had to settle on a mix of 16 that represented a strong cross-section of the industry. The group, listed here, will meet for the first time on Monday night, and we look forward to sharing some of the best ideas with you.

Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan will be finishing up with the organisation towards the end of the year. If you are interested in applying for the role, you can find information on how to do so here.

- The Music Victoria team