The election pledge, totalling $34 million, is also specifically targeting the problems with mental health in the industry.
With the 2022 Victorian state election imminent, Labor have pledged a total of $34 million towards the ongoing support of the live music sector as one of their latest policy announcements.
This package includes funding for music mental health charity Support Act, to promote better physical and mental wellbeing among all the facets of the live music industry.
What you need to know
- $34 million being pledged into the music industry by the Victorian Government
- Support Act one of the key funding pillars, providing support for at-risk musicians and workers
- Specialising in personalised support for First Nations and LBGTQ artists and industry workers
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Pre-Covid, Melbourne had the most live music venues per-capita in the world, just one of the reasons why support for the live music sector has become a hot-button issue in the forthcoming election.
For a city defined by its music in so many ways, keeping the industry alive is considered an imperative by large swathes of the Victorian population, given its ongoing struggles to recover after the Daniel Andrews government oversaw the world’s longest series of lockdowns.
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The Victorian government’s latest announcement guarantees extra funding for the music industry and 10,000 gigs across the state, in addition to specific funding for a support system for musicians. Support Act is a crisis support organisation that specifically targets the struggles of musicians and other workers in the demanding entertainment industry. They provide services for musicians who can’t work due to injury, poor health, and mental health problems. They also run a wellbeing hotline, with confidential counselling 24/7 for artists, supplying specifically tailored support towards the at-risk in the industry with their LGBTQ+ Support Line and First Nations Support Line. Labor’s recent pledge is for $2 million in state government funding.
Andrews remains confident this funding will garner in a future of continual musical talent for Victoria, stating: “Live music is a vital part of the Victorian economy – we are proud of our vibrant creative scene, and we’ll continue to back the artists and venues who entertain us all.”
For more information about Support Act, visit their website here.
