The NSW Government has released a rescue package worth 24 million to encourage music venues to stay open despite pandemic restrictions.
On Saturday Jobs, Investment and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres revealed the lucky funding recipients, stating that the funding for more than 150 gig venues will “allow them to keep the doors open and get back to work putting on gigs.”
Live music venue Crowbar in Leichhardt (previously named the Bald Faced Stag) will receive $600, 000, as the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Owner Tyla Dombroski said was “a huge lifeline for us.”
“It’s going to help with clearing our debts that we accrued through COVID, employing more people, putting on more events and upgrades to the venue if possible,” she said. Crowbar recently launched a crowdfunder to reach out for support in the community after devastating COVID-19 lockdown ramifications.
The venue joins 162 live music venues in the state, including 85 in Sydney and 77 in regional NSW, that get a piece of the $24 million funding package. For further context, the City of Sydney Council area has over 40 venues alone that received funding, including Opera Bar, State Theatre, Justin Hemmes venue Ivy, The Lansdowne Hotel, Metro Theatre and Home nightclub.
The program specifically caters for venues impacted by COVID-19 restrictions over the past 12 months. They can receive up to $750,000 in finding, varying on their size and whether live music forms a significant part of their operations.
Such operational costs for the music venues can be spent on employing musicians and support crew. There remains one problem, however.
Love Hip Hop?
Get the latest Hip Hop news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
Ms Dombroski flagged that her venue, which has capacity for up to 500 guests, was running at about 40 per cent because of the enforced one person per two square metres rule that applies to standing venues.
Stuart Ayres pointed to the capacity restrictions as based on NSW Health guidelines.“I’d love to see [the restrictions] removed but that won’t happen until the health advice changes,” he said.
It’s also not the first time that a government has been questioned on the capacity restrictions, with Amy Shark calling out the Queensland premier for the double standard between sports matches and live music venues.
Emily Collins of Music NSW said the funding from the state government was a “lifeline” for live music.
“It’ll help venues recover from the huge financial impacts incurred over the last 12 months, and support them as they continue to operate in an uncertain market and one person per two square metres restrictions,” she said.
While praising the lifeline, she still took aim at the quick response COVID-19 measures, saying that they wreak “havoc on the viability of the live performance industry.”
You can read more about this topic over at The Industry Observer and Live Music Observer.
