'Music Venues Are So Much More Than Bricks & Mortar': Minister Foley On Vic Venues Program

Applications for the State Government's Victorian Live Music Venues Program are now open and the Minister in charge is urging venues to take part. 

The program was announced in early July and is offering $15 million in support to Victorian music venues with a 50 to 1200 person capacity to help support them in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The funding will help alleviate “immediate business costs caused by the shutdowns” and will also “help businesses reopen in a COVID-safe way, providing employment opportunities for music industry workers ranging from musicians and crew to bookers, promoters and more”.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley has told The Music that “the Victorian Live Music Venues program was developed to support our grassroots music venues and complements other Victorian Government support programs on offer".

"Our music venues are so much more than bricks and mortar, they are important cultural and social spaces highly valued by many Victorians," said Foley. 

READ MORE: Vic Government Announces $15 Million Package To Support Live Music Venues

"They also underpin an industry that is worth $1.7 billion to the state each year and create employment opportunities for artists, managers, promoters, crew and many other workers and businesses."

"Our live music venues have been hit hard by the pandemic and a loss of our venues would mean long-term damage to the industry, surrounding businesses and many jobs. It would take years to recover - if ever."

"We will continue to work with the music industry, and right across our creative sector, to support Victoria’s creative industries through this pandemic."

Victorian venues can apply for the program here - with guidelines now available - and will be notified of the outcome within eight weeks of the closing date.

Creative Victoria and the Victorian Music Development Office will be hosting an online information session about the program this Thursday 23 July from 12pm-1pm, head here for more information.