Music Victoria receives $150K boost from State Government

After the disastrous $87.1m funding cut to the arts in the federal budget, Music Victoria received some good news, with the Victorian Coalition Government providing a funding boost of $150,000 to the independent advocacy group.

Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan said that the funding will allow the group to continue to fund their 20 professional development workshops, awards ceremonies and projects, as well as providing funds to build on the success of the recent Live Music Roundtable, which resulted in the agent of change principle, the live music best practice guide, the deregulation of all ages gigs, and an upcoming review of noise standards.

“It makes sense that we are funded through different government portfolios, as we don’t just contribute to the arts portfolio, but through liquor licensing to help venues”, Donovan told TMN this afternoon. “Our next step is to work with other portfolios including Employment and Trade, Higher Education and Skills, Innovation, Services and Small Business, Regional and Rural Development, Tourism and Major Events to deliver the 19 recommendations in our Positions and Priorities paper.”

Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Edward O’Donohue, announced the funding boost, stating: “The Coalition Government is committed to supporting Victoria’s live music industry, so that we can continue to build on our enviable reputation as a terrific place for both musicians and music lovers alike.

“Live music generated an estimated $301 million in gross state product for the Victorian economy in 2009-10 and supported around 15,000 full-time jobs. The previous Labor Government tried to fix the street violence problem by effectively regulating live music venues out of existence. It was an approach that was both unfair and ineffective, and the Coalition Government is proud to be supporting live music and the outstanding work of Music Victoria.”