Six grant recipients will receive a share of $90,000 in funding from the NSW Government to stage free live music events throughout the state as part of the annual global event, Make Music Day.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes congratulated the successful funding recipients who will each receive $15,000 which can be used to help fund live music events.
"On June 20 and 21, public spaces across the state will come alive, showcasing great local talent with live performances," Mr Stokes said.
"We know that the live music industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic and we're keen to support them by using our public spaces for this series of free performances."
The successful applicants are:
- City of Parramatta Council and Sydney Olympic Park Authority - events in multiple public spaces including Parramatta Square, Cathy Freeman Park, Jacaranda Square, The Abattoir Heritage Precinct, Epping Railway Station and more, featuring 30 acts from Western Sydney's live music scene;
- Yours and Owls Event - Wollongong's Globe Lane will be transformed to present Full Set Fest, to showcase grassroots and promising artists in the Illawarra;
- Lisa Farrawell - in a First Nations-led initiative, local musicians will perform live on an outdoor stage for the Crescent Head community;
- Blacklight Collective - for a one-day pop-up program in Coffs Harbour featuring dozens of local artists performing electronica, contemporary, Indian classical, percussion, jazz and more;
- Leeton Shire Council - for two acts including a soul, afrobeat and electronic artists to the Leeton Skate Park; and
- Northern Beaches Council - 50 musicians performing 45-minute sets across four locations including the Manly Corso, Berry Markets at Narrabeen Lagoon and Mona Vale Village Park and Dee Why Town Centre.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said the funding was a fantastic opportunity to support local artists after the music sector was hit hard by COVID-19.
"Make Music Day recognises the joy that music brings to our lives," Mr Harwin said.
"We are proud to invest in this initiative which celebrates our local musicians and enables them to showcase their talents and share their sounds as part of this free world-wide music extravaganza."
Make Music Day is part of the NSW Government's annual Festival of Place, which is a rolling program that highlights the importance and beauty of great public spaces and was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
