New funding to assist Queensland’s live music venues

Queensland live music venues can now apply to access additional funding support with the opening of the next round of the Palaszczuk Government’s Live Music Support Program today.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said this funding opportunity builds on the Palaszczuk Government’s earlier grant programs supporting local live music venues as they continue to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. 

“We know how hard the live music sector has been hit due to COVID-19, so today we’re announcing that live music venues will be able to apply to the next round of Live Music Support program funding, following the Palaszczuk Government’s additional commitment of $7 million announced in the 2021-22 State Budget to help sustain the sector,” Minister Enoch said.   

“The Live Music Support Program is an extension of support offered to live music venues in 2020-21 and will help offset operational costs for eligible venues, as well as programming and artist fees.

“With this new investment the dedicated two-year Arts and Cultural Recovery Package, announced last year to sustain the sector during these uncertain times, will now deliver almost $30 million in critical support across Queensland’s arts and cultural sector.”

The live music industry was one of the hardest hit by the impacts of COVID-19, challenging the viability of live music venues and the important role they play in creating jobs and opportunities for new talent, musicians, technicians and other creatives. 

“Queensland’s contemporary music industry relies on the live music economy for its survival and sustainability, with Brisbane’s music industry alone worth an estimated $428 million to the Queensland economy,” Ms Enoch said.

“The arts, cultural and creative sectors are key to delivering our plan for economic recovery from COVID-19, each year injecting $8.5 billion into the state’s economy and supporting more than 92,000 jobs for Queenslanders.”

Kris Stewart, CEO, QMusic said, “The previous 15 months have been absolutely devastating for the live music industry - from our venues functioning with severely reduced capacities to our local musicians seeing considerably less work than pre-COVID.

“We congratulate the State Government for making this immediate funding injection into the sustainability of the live music sector, and we look forward to working with them on getting the money to where it's most needed,” he said.

Applications for the Live Music Support Program are open now.    

For more information, go to:  https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding/live-music-support-program

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:  Debbie Turner 0437 859 987