Further funding of $32.3 million was announced today by the Victorian Government as part of its continuing efforts to ensure the state’s creative and cultural sector survives the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Focused on safeguarding Victoria’s iconic arts and cultural institutions, and its vibrant music industry, the funding forms part of a broader Experience Economy Survival Package, which is also providing a lifeline to sectors including sports and tourism.
The creative component of the package includes:
- $26.3 million in immediate viability support for five of the state’s iconic arts and cultural institutions – Arts Centre Melbourne, NGV, Museums Victoria, Melbourne Recital Centre and Geelong Arts Centre
- $4 million for a dedicated Music Industry Support Package
- $2 million extra funding for independent creatives and micro-businesses through the Sustaining Creative Workers initiative.
This is in addition to the $16.8 million Creative Industries Survival Package already announced, which was targeted at the small to medium and independent creative sector.
The funding will enable these Victorian icons to survive the current shutdown. It will help sustain their operations over the coming months, keep ongoing staff employed, and core functions running.
It will also enable them to deliver alternative forms of programming and activities that build community engagement and connection, and develop longer term projects that will assist Victoria’s recovery.
The Victorian Government’s recently announced Industrial Relations Framework for the coronavirus pandemic also provides financial support and certainty for the many casual workers employed at these and other public sector agencies.
The new $4 million Music Industry Support Package includes:
- $2.5 million for the development of new work which can be released now or be ready to launch or tour when restrictions are lifted. This includes support for new recording, distribution and marketing avenues, partnerships and regional touring opportunities – including to bushfire affected communities to stimulate those economies.
- $1.5 million for training, professional and business development, and mentoring for music industry workers, including the many who work behind the scenes and have been heavily impacted by venue closures and event cancellations.
More details on these programs will follow in the weeks ahead. Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels.
In less than two weeks, there have been almost a thousand applications submitted to the Sustaining Creative Workers program - with hundreds more in the process.
This includes applications from First Peoples creatives, Deaf or Disabled creatives and from many regionally based practitioners and businesses – across all creative disciplines.
The additional $2 million funding will enable more individuals and micro-businesses in the creative industries to continue to work through this crisis – from musicians and performers, to fashion designers, filmmakers, writers and many more who have lost jobs and income as a result of coronavirus.