The Federal Government is supporting live music festivals in the latest round of targeted funding. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A total of 37 live music festivals across the country, including two in the ACT, will receive funding in the latest Live Music Australia program round, which is channelling $2.5 million to keep music festivals viable in 2024.
Following the tough pandemic lockdown years for the music industry, the funding could not come at a better time to help musicians and festival organisers stay in business or start new initiatives.
The funding will support 37 live music festivals at 105 venues across Australia, covering all states and territories and reflecting a wide range of genres, organisations and audiences.
In Canberra, the GG Fest, an all-ages, fully accessible, inclusive festival at Gang Gang and adjacent facilities, will get $48,745 to help it celebrate leading contemporary Australian music and develop local audiences.
Also in the ACT, $48,685 is being allocated to support production costs to amplify Canberra’s Digi 2024 festival.
Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke said the grants would support the live music sector and that the government was keen to “turn up the volume” on music festivals.
“Music festivals are the lifeblood of the live music sector in this country. That’s why this government is backing them in,” Mr Burke said.
“We know the live music sector continues to face challenges, which is why we’re determined to support it.
“This program will help artists and musicians do what they do best – sharing Australian music and stories with audiences right across the country.”
As well as supporting established festivals, these grants will assist up-and-coming, grassroots-level events – creating opportunities for original Australian live music to reach audiences across Australia.
The grants come from round seven of the Live Music Australia program, which the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts administers.
It is a competitive grant for live music venues, festivals and organisations that support quality original Australian live music.
Round seven provides targeted funding for music festivals, recognising their important role in the Australian music ecology.
Grants provide funding for infrastructure upgrades, purchase of equipment, programming and promotional expenses and artist fees.
Or they are provided for initiatives that deliver to festivals and build capacity, such as professional development programs, expanded regional touring circuits, and partnerships across jurisdictions.
Applications for the next round of funding through the program open next month (February 2024) and will target small to medium live music venues.
Other live music festivals to receive grants in this round include NSW events NelliJam, Girrakool Blues, Groovin the Moo, Splendour in the Grass, Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival, and Pride in the Parkland among others.
Innovative festivals from other parts of the country to receive funding include the Red Country Music Festival, which brings live music to Western Australia’s Pilbara region; the Desert Harmony Festival, bringing musical acts and audiences from across the vast Australian landscape together in a celebration of music, language and culture in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory; and GreazeFest, a three-day event showcasing original Australian rock’n’roll and rockabilly performers at Redland Showgrounds in Queensland.
A full list of live music festival grant recipients from the latest round of funding can be found on the program’s website.
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