Funding boost for live performances

MORE support is being poured into the region’s live performances and local venues with the latest round of Small Regional Presenters program grants awarded.

Announced by Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks, the recipients include the Geelong Chamber Music Society Inc, which received $8,000.

Geelong Chamber Music Society Inc committee member Judith Trimble said the funding would be used to support the fees from the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.

“The most difficult thing is to bring the Melbourne Chamber Music Orchestra to Geelong, which we like to do every year, they’re very popular here, but they’re expensive because they’re a larger group.

“It enables the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and then fulfils some of their mission to go to other regional centres.”

Each year the society holds five concerts, hoping to bring the best musicians they can find and afford in the area.

The society applied for the funding because things are becoming increasingly expensive and they need to be able to cover the costs of proper fees for musicians and venue costs.

“I applied for funds to support their fees, to pay their fees for at least part of the concert for that night,” Ms Trimble said.

“It’s a big help because it costs us a lot of money and if we didn’t have that we’d be making a loss and because we’re all volunteers, that’s a bit hard to take.”

If they didn’t receive the funding, the society would need to dip into their “depleting reserves” and looking into the future they would need to consider how to move forward.

The Small Regional Presenters Program is a Victorian government program delivered by Regional Arts Victoria to support presenters in bringing live shows, a series of events or an annual program to the community.

“We already have a vibrant creative scene across regional Victoria and Small Regional Presenters adds to the creative calendar, bring more events to small communities while also building the skills of community presenters and boosting job opportunities for artists,” Mr Brooks said.

“We’re proud to support programs like this which ensure that all Victorians can experience the benefits of our creative scene no matter where they live.”

For more information and the full list of Small Regiional Presenters recipients, head to creative.vic.gov.au