The Morrison Government is reactivating live music across Australia with $2.5 million in grants to be shared by more than 100 venues across the country, in round two of the $20 million Live Music Australia Program.
The program is designed to bring more live music to communities by funding small-to-medium venues in every state and territory-from pubs in the remote outback, to clubs and theatres in major capital cities.
The Government has also announced its latest support measure for regional arts, with a $3 million grants program to assist arts and cultural organisations in regional areas recover from the impacts of COVID‑19, under the Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program.
The program will be administered by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association during 2021‑22, and will support community arts and cultural organisations-such as museums, galleries, and historical societies-rebuild after the pandemic, with grants of up to $3,000.
Speaking today at the Henry Kendall Historical Museum in West Gosford, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the grant programs would support the immediate needs of the arts sector.
"We are pleased to provide 83 grants under round two of the Live Music Australia Program to support more than 100 venues across the country, which will assist them with re-opening, building and rebuilding their capacity for programming activity," Minister Fletcher said.
"Grants under the CHART program for community arts and cultural organisations will help successful applicants continue to offer appealing cultural tourism experiences in regional communities."
Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks MP, said the funding would provide a lifeline for live music and cultural venues in regional communities across the country.
"These often small institutions are a central part of regional economies and cultural tourism, and exist to maintain, protect and display Australia's heritage and the stories that accompany it," Mrs Wicks said.
"These grants will attract more tourists to regional areas like the Central Coast, increase performance, exhibition and partnership opportunities for Australia artists, and get us all back into the local venues we love."
$2.5 million was awarded under round one of the Live Music Australia program in December 2020 to 103 venues across the country, with 88 grants supporting the immediate recovery of the live music sector. Applications for round three of the program will open later this year, with funding to support venues in 2022 as they resume regular programming of original live Australian music.
Applications for the CHART program will open later this year.
