Federal Government announces $27M in targeted relief funding for arts
Australia’s Art and Music sector was one of the first to be hit by restrictions from the result of COVID19. Australia- wide we have seen venues close, various performances and shows cancelled and an unbelievable number of performers and support crews out of work.
On the same night the $130billion JobKeeper legislation was passed, the Federal Government also made the announcement of $27 million in targeted support for Indigenous Arts, Regional Arts and arts charity Support Act.
The targeted support will be distributed as follows:
•$10 million to help regional artists and organisations develop new work and explore new delivery models. The funding will be delivered through Regional Arts Australia’s Regional Arts Fund, which had already been struggling following this year’s bushfire crisis.
•To support Indigenous artists and arts centres, the Government is providing $7 million in additional funding. The funding will be delivered under the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.
•The Government is providing $10 million to Support Act, the national music sector charity, which helps the most vulnerable music industry workers. The funding will allow Support Act to recruit new counsellors and expand counselling services, and provide critical resources to music and performing arts artists and workers.
Australia’s live performance industry is estimated to be worth over $4 million. Live Performance Australia (LPA) firmly believe the Federal Government has not grasped the scale of devastation that has shaken the industry. While the additional funds are a relief to some, much more is needed, especially if the industry is to have any prospect of surviving after COVID-19.
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Author: Natasha Woodvine
Email: natasha@faj.com.au
