Nine more Queensland venues get $1m in survival funding
The Queensland Government has allocated almost $1 million in lifeline funding for nine music venues in Round 2 of its Live Music Support program.
It was set up to relieve short-term cost pressures brought about by operating at reduced capacity, as well as maintaining jobs for venue and tech staff and ensuring they can return to 100% when restrictions are lifted.
The nine recipients are:
- Elsewhere Pty Ltd, Surfers Paradise – $99,155
- Brooklyn Standard, Brisbane – $100,000
- The Triffid, Newstead – $100,000
- Woolly Mammoth, Fortitude Valley – $60,000
- Slackers Pty Ltd, Fortitude Valley – $67,226
- The Brightside, Fortitude Valley – $180,000
- NightQuarter, Sunshine Coast – $300,000
- The Met Hotel, Toowoomba – $32,300
- Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy, Woolloongabba – $40,467
Daniel Rodriguez, director of Mrs J Rabbits Speakeasy called the funding “a lifeline”.
“We still have a few challenges ahead of us, but we are staying positive and hoping to start live jazz and events when we can open again,” he said.
In April, the Triffid launched a petition calling out the State Government for slashing music venue capacities while allowing sporting events to run free. Up to 26,807 have signed.
Minister for the arts, Leeanne Enoch, told a parliamentary committee the latest funding was part of the $7 million the Palaszczuk Government is investing in live music venues in 2021-2022.
She said Round 1, as well as the earlier Live Music Venue Support program, had allocated $1.8 million for 30 venues.
“Our Government has worked closely with the live music sector and through Queensland’s music industry peak body, QMusic, to best support the sector and respond to future challenges,” she said.
Enoch also revealed that Round 4 of the Arts Showcase Program will spend $1.35 million on 33 projects, and the Touring Queensland Fund and Touring Queensland Quick Response Fund supported 31 tours to the tune of $1 million.
One of these was King Stingray who used their grant for the launch of new singe ‘Milkumana’ and a regional tour.
Band member Roy Kellaway said: “It really means so much to us as young artists and we are absolutely frothing to rock out.”
He said it was difficult for emerging acts to get to rural areas.
“We are incredibly grateful and excited to continue our journey as a young band playing our own version of Yolŋu surf rock.”
The arts, cultural and creative sectors inject $8.5 billion a year into the state’s economy and support more than 92,000 jobs.