Queensland’s live music industry to receive an extra $7 million in funding
The Palaszczuk Government has handed down an extra $7 million to Queensland’s live music industry in the State’s 2021-22 Budget.
In a statement, outgoing QMusic CEO Angela Samut thanked “our Premier, Treasurer and Arts Minster Leeanne Enoch for their support of our live music sector via today’s budget.”
“We have been working closely with the state government in the lead-up to today’s announcement and we are grateful for all the hard work that Arts Minister Enoch, Arts Queensland and the Assistant Minister to the Premier Bart Mellish has given to our industry in devising this Live Music Support Program,” said Samut.
“The Queensland Premier announced the $7 million in the first few minutes of her opening address during today’s budget lockdown which highlighted to me her government’s nod to venues doing it tough with ongoing capacity restrictions.”
She continued: “Our venues have been working in partnership with the state and Queensland Health to help keep Queenslanders safe and QMusic will continue these conversations.”
“Most venues are down 70 per cent of their normal trade and therefore this funding will help them continue to support thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Queensland’s live music economy with a highly skilled industry network that will also ensure a pipeline of emerging talent.”
The $7 million is in addition to the $1.3 million in live music venue support grants that were announced by Enoch at last month’s Queensland Music Awards. On top of that, it also follows on from the stART grants and live music funding announced back in 2020.
“Thanks to the government and our outgoing CEO Angela Samut and Committee Member John Collins for their enduring and ongoing commitment to fighting for our local industry,” QMusic Committee President Natalie Strijland said in a statement.
“This funding will help keep our live music economy alive and which can help support our entire music industry.”
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.