The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.
The Committee will be speaking with Mr Robbie Bundle, CEO of Victorian-based Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation about the organisation's live music initiatives designed to promote contemporary Aboriginal music and to develop cultural and community links, particularly with and for youth. The organisation has been operating a successful model of promoting indigenous music artists since 1994—working collaboratively with municipalities across Victoria.
The Chair, Mr Brian Mitchell MP, said 'the Committee looks forward to discussing Songlines Music's long-running youth-oriented music programs which include school workshops, school holiday programs and music tutoring.'
'The Committee is eager to hear about how the two biggest annual events which Songlines stages—the Share the Spirit Festival (an all-ages event) and the Koorie Pride Youth Festival—are faring in the current Australian live music environment which many in the industry have told the Committee is extremely challenging.'
Mr Bundle has performed as a musician for over 35 years with a focus on telling Aboriginal Australian stories through his songwriting and performing. Australia's Cultural Policy 'Revive' is structured around five interconnected pillars: First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience.
The Committee will explore the Songlines model of engagement between artists, audiences and communities and the way it conveys and maintains Australian stories, through First Nations music and artist promotion.
Details of the public hearing are below, with the full program and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage.
