'We Are Bleeding Talent': Calls Continue For Greater Financial Support Of Vic Artists & Industry

Calls are continuing for greater financial support for Victorian venues and artists amid the state's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. 

With an announcement yesterday that the Victorian State Government has announced a further $282.5 million in support to businesses, with an additional $4,200 available for eligible Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund recipients. A new round of Live Performance Support programs have also been confirmed, with funding of up to $7,000 for presenters and up to $2,000 for suppliers available.

"We are grateful for the support that was announced yesterday, particularly that the Federal Government has this time joined with the Victorian Government, however the scale of support does not yet match the scale of the impact," Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel told The Music today. 

"Before these two most recent lockdowns in Victoria, APRA AMCOS’s live performances reports showed that we were still only trading at 12% of pre-COVID levels."

"If this funding has the same guidelines as it had previously, then in order to access more than $2,000, you need to be registered for GST. However for every week of lockdown, the average musician loses $5000. Then add to this the fact that you don’t need to be registered for unless you are earning over $75k, and the average musician wage pre-COVID was approx $48k – I really hope that the guidelines and criteria have been adjusted for this round.

"The support announced also only addresses the lockdowns themselves, but the challenge for our industry is the long-lasting impact of reduced capacities, and the flow on effects to industry planning and consumer confidence."

With it unclear whether the state's current lockdown will end next week, it's important to keep in mind that the state's live music scene is still in recovery following the fourth lockdown in late May and increased capacity restrictions. 

"Some gigs have now been rescheduled nine times over, and now we are running out of dates to which we can reschedule," continued Schinkel. 

"Others events scheduled for after the lockdown has lifted, will need to immediately halve their capacity (due to the density quotient restrictions) - which results in yet another reschedule, or twice the amount of work (putting on 2 shows a night) for the same income."

"It’s really hard out there, and we are bleeding talent and skills as a result.

"We’d love to be able to return immediately to 100% capacities with the removal of all travel restrictions but knowing that the reality of that won’t happen until we are all vaccinated - we desperately need further financial support."

Find out more about Music Victoria and their work here.