Tourism operator to share in state funding

QUEENSCLIFF’S Blues Train will share in the first $9m Victorian Live Music Venues grants allocation announced at the weekend by the Victorian State Government.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley said the latest round of initiatives, including grants of more than $13 million were targeted to help prepare Victoria’s $1.7 billion music industry for a vibrant, COVID normal future.

Some 106 live music venues across the state, including The Blues Train and The Wool Exchange in Geelong will share in the allocation.

Blues Train operator Hugo Armstrong this week said the announcement would help his and other live music venues maintain their businesses at a level so they can restart them when COVID-19 restrictions allow.

“We don’t know how much we will be receiving, but what I can say – our losses to date at the moment are about $100,000 – so whatever comes our way will help maintain the hibernation with the business,” he said.

“In 26 years running The Blues Train we have never received one dollar of government funding, so this is wonderful acknowledgement given we’ve been self-supporting for so long.”

Mr Armstrong said the uniqueness of the Blues Train, which he said has “a foot in tourism, events, live music and hospitality” meant that it had often been hard to pigeonhole when it came to seeking, and receiving assistance.

“The government announcement … to see our name up there with some of the biggest and best live music venues in Victoria, has been a very overwhelming validation for us.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said the funding was vital in ensuring the state’s live music industry survived.

“In ordinary times, Victorian music venues host tens of thousands of gigs each year – reaching millions. We don’t want to lose Victoria’s music scene,” he said.

“We’ll continue to support our venues, our musicians, and the many workers who bring this $1.7 billion industry to life are able to reopen stronger than ever and welcome us back for a COVID normal summer.”

The Victorian Music Industry Recovery initiative will offer grants of between $4000 and $50,000 to support artists, managers, promoters, bookers, road crew and other workers to keep creating music, undertake professional and business training and develop COVID safe ways of working.

Recognising that summer is usually a bumper period for the music industry, the program will focus on activities taking place from December onwards.

Mr Armstrong said the greatest challenge facing the tourism and hospitality industry would be the scaling back of JobSeeker.

“Some of the hardest-hit businesses in Victoria are hospitality and tourism… any reduction to JobKeeper before they can reopen fully and get back on their feet is going to push businesses to the brink.”