The Victorian state government has put its hand in its collective pocket to support new music and arts projects. In the latest round of the VicArts Grants, 62 recipients were given funding totalling over $1.5 million. This will create employment opportunities for 1,500 Victorian artists and associated professionals. They cover new exhibitions, theatre and dance works, comedy, poetry & literature, AI technology, podcasts and events – including two new music works that combine percussion and computers, the presentation of Australian Art Orchestra’s next season, a large format picture book celebrating PBS FM’s 40 years, and a new dance work based on the music of the Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree album. There’s also money for a new online publication titled Djed Press to showcase creative works by people of colour.
Renew Geelong is set to begin discussions with owners of vacant properties with makers, creators, artists, community groups and local enterprises to reinvigorate empty spaces in central Geelong – rent free but with a nominal fee or public and product liability insurance.
Six Victorian organisations have shared in $100,000 as part of the 2018 Innovation in Marketing Fund, to assist them in reaching new audiences and diversifying their revenue streams. These include initiatives such as the Melbourne Fringe’s online dating game ‘Fringr’ which will encourage customers to book tickets for emerging artists, a set of visual listening guides by Melbourne Youth Music for younger audiences to enhance their enjoyment of four well-known symphonies, and an interactive digital installation to accompany the release of the Sony Playstation virtual reality game, Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown.
Rockin’ The Laneways has confirmed $122,450 of funding for six music history projects. These include an exploration of Melbourne’s punk history in a team-up with documentary filmmaker Tim Stone, digital artist Aya Hatano and Bakehouse Studios; a feminist music festival, a bronze statue of Molly Meldrum to be unveiled in a public park located behind the Corner Hotel in Richmond and a mural to showcase the suburb’s music history; a Geelong-based program featuring Mark Wilson (Jet), Mick Thomas (Weddings Parties Anything) and Sarah Carroll (Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine) who will mentor three unsigned musicians to produce three original songs about Geelong; and the Melbourne Music Guide to tell the city’s music story, from the pioneers to the artists, record stores, radio stations and venues of today.
