The Australian Government’s Revive Live Program Now Open To Live Music Venues & Festivals
The federal government has pledged $8.6 million in funding to help secure the future of Australia’s live music scene.
Image by Rocco Dipoppa
The federal government’s much discussed Revive Live Program is officially up and running.
Introduced as part of the 2024/2025 federal budget, Revive Live will offer $8.6 million in grants to venues and festivals across the nation. The program aims to “provide essential support to established live music venues and music festivals” during the current cost of living crisis while stimulating long-term sustainability in the music industry.
The Revive Live program also focuses on ways to improve accessibility for punters and aims to offer more career pathways for musicians and those with disabilities who want to work in the music industry.
The program is one of several initiatives the Albanese Labour Government has had a hand in after establishing Music Australia under the Creative Australia banner. More than $69 million is being contributed to help support and promote the Australian music industry.
The creation of Music Australia and the current government’s commitment to the arts comes as the live music scene struggles with venue closures and festival cancellations. The last 12 months have seen a slew of venues shut up shop, with Adelaide hit especially hard, losing the likes of Engima Bar, Station Arcade and Fat Controller. On the festivals front we’ve lost some of the nation’s biggest events, with Splendour in the Grass, Groovin’ the Moo and Spilt Milk all being canned in 2024.
The hope is these grants will alleviate the credit crunch many Aussie venues and festivals are feeling and help rejuvenate the live music scene for years to come.
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The grants are open to live music venues and festival organisers anywhere in Australia, although they must be majority Australian-owned.
Applications are open now and close on August 23, 2024, so get in quick if you want to apply. For more details on the program and how to apply click here.
In a press release about Revive Live, Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, believes the program is essential to the survival of the Australian live music industry.
“Gigs have always been a huge part of my life and I’ve seen firsthand the vital role live music venues and festivals play in giving Australian artists a platform to perform and launch their careers.
“This funding will help to address the challenges contributing to cancellations and closures among the live music scene.
“Revive Live will provide local artists with the chance to perform, develop and grow audiences - creating a more resilient and sustainable live music scene for everyone to enjoy.”
Applications are open now via Revive Live and close on August 23, 2024.
