Dear Members and Subscribers,
 
Today, Premier Daniel Andrews announced a return to the Covid Safe Summer Settings which will come into effect from midnight tonight. Music Victoria have summarised the settings here. While this means an increase in capacity for some venues and an easing of mandatory mask use, there is still a range of issues with these restrictions which Music Victoria are continuing to raise with the Department of Health and Human Services, including inconsistencies with allowances made for sporting events.
 
With this in mind, it’s very important for everyone in the live music scene (venues, punters, artists) to continue to demonstrate our ability to be compliant with the Covid restrictions and principles so we can stay open and continue to provide a vital service to the community.
 
Music Victoria are continuing to work with our national colleagues and have signed an open letter to lobby the Federal Government for the continuation of JobKeeper, or an industry-specific wage subsidy program for the music industry. We are also working with the State Government to ensure music is sufficiently represented in their funding as the sector continues to suffer huge losses due to border closures, density quotients and lockdowns.
 
We have recently concluded our Grant Consultancy Program with the Victorian Music Development Office, supporting many people in applying for funds, particularly for Creative Victoria’s recent Music Works round. We are also very excited to announce the recipients of the Regional Music Development Program who are: Mallacoota, Castlemaine and Shepparton! We are excited to work closely with these regions over the next 12 months.

 
Internally, our big news is that from March 8 we will have a new CEO, Simone Schinkel (pictured above)! Simone comes to us from Theatre Network Australia where, as General Manager, she drove the sectors’ COVID 19 response which centred on fundraising efforts and providing essential cash grants to those most impacted. In other staff movements, we say a sad goodbye to Ash Bartlett who has finished up as Memberships and Professional Development Manager and a warm welcome to Danielle Siers as our new accountant.

Stay Safe,
Music Victoria