The South Australian Government has dedicated A$10m (£5.7m/€6.6m/$7m) to live music support through the See It LIVE Package.
Support will be made available for live music, hospitality venues, promoters and more during 2022 and 2023. The package aims to support a whole calendar of live gigs and festivals, to make sure audiences can enjoy live music.
The South Australian Government also hopes that events will “enrich our state and attract visitors” which will in turn offer a boost to local business, and bolster the live entertainment industry for the future.
Three initiatives are now available through the See It LIVE package including e-vouchers, which will help music acts get back into pubs, clubs, small bars, restaurants, cafes and other smaller venues.
Grants for events are available to South Australia-based promoters, organisations and businesses. This is to help meet costs including engaging musicians and technicians, marketing and promotional costs and also to ensure the event is COVID-19 safe.
The third initiative is a venue improvement grant, which will allow eligible venues to upgrade so they can better cater for live music events.
Further support programs will be announced in the future, including Support Act funding for mental health and wellbeing services. Support Act is a music industry charity and will support South Australian crew and music industry professionals with access to its wellbeing helpline.
South Australian music workers will also have access to a range of training programs.
Financial assistance will also be available through the Live Music and Event Cancellation Fund, should an event or live music performance be cancelled or rescheduled due to any COVID-19 restrictions.
There is also the plan to reintroduce live music to the Royal Adelaide Show’s entertainment program for the first time in 20 years.
The Premier’s Live Music Advisory Council will be established to leverage industry connections to help invigorate and revitalise live music in South Australia.
image: Nikola Đuza on Unsplash