Following Gotye scooping three major categories at the 2013 Grammys last week, for his second album Making Mirrors taking Best Alternative Music Album, while the notorious track “Somebody That I Used To Know” won him the Record Of The Year and Pop Duo/Group Performance category; the Victorian government has decided to capitalise on the situation providing grants to local music-makers.
The Victorian Government have boasted that “Victorian musician and now triple Grammy winner Gotye focused the eyes of the world on Victorian music” and an announcement from Arts Victoria title “Finding the next Gotye” highlights that they’ve provided grants to 37 local bands, musicians, music industry organisations, which will aim to provide more opportunities to promote their music.
Ted Baillieu, the Premier and Minister for the Arts in Victoria, and the State Government are promoting the notion that the next Gotye could potentially be found in these funded music programs, which seems very conveniently timed by the government to take full advantage of Gotye’s international success.
“Artists who have previously received support through the program include Paul Dempsey, Claire Bowditch and this week’s big winner Gotye, who received a music touring grant in 2008 to support a European tour to promote his second album.”
“That tour helped him get in front of international audiences and it has been fantastic to see his career skyrocket since then,” added The Premier.
Mr. Baillieu and the Government believes that music-making is a key cultural aspect of Victorian life. “Whether you’re a metal maven, a pop pundit or a country connoisseur, there’s a place, and a space, for you in Victoria.”
“The Victorian Government is proud of our contemporary music sector and we are committed to investing in its future.” Ted Baillieu, Victorian Premier“The Victorian Government is proud of our contemporary music sector and we are committed to investing in its future,” said the Premier.
The grants were made through Art Victoria’s Contemporary and Live Music Development Program, which has supported a wide range of genres and musicians in Victoria since its inception in 2007. Ultimately, the grants are set to provide more opportunities to create, perform, and promote young musicians.
“This program aims to support the creative growth and viability of the Victorian music industry, to help musicians find a voice and to be heard by audiences across the state, the country and the globe,” Mr Baillieu said.
The Vic Government are arguably abusing their claim-to-fame by using Gotye’s success as a backboard to their new initiative. However there is no doubt that extra funding from the government to adapt our ever-growing music culture in Victoria will go a long way to our upcoming musicians.
Some lucky grant winners include Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes, who have received $15,000 to record their second album. $12,500 has gone to Jordie Lane to help record his new album Upside Down. $7,512 has gone to indie rock outfit I, A Man to mix and master a debut full-length recording, $8,702 towards jazz outfit Nat Bartsch Trio, to send them to Japan in support of their third album release. And $9,500 goes to the Victorian Art Centre Melbourne to present ‘Five by Five by Five’, a new mentor-ship initiative for five emerging composers, with many more grants announced (which you can view below).
This is not the first time that the Government has taken notice of the need for music funding in Australia, with the Federal Government handing out $200K to the Australian music scene to help support local musicians on tour, first announced by Federal Arts Minister Simon Creane last November.
“This program aims to support the creative growth and viability of the Victorian music industry.” – Ted Baillieu, Victorian Premier“The Contemporary Music Touring Program will see regional areas such as Goolwa, Castlemaine, Wollongong and Geraldton treated to performances by some of Australia’s top musical talent,” Mr Crean said, noting that the program would include 309 performances and 141 workshops in 281 venues across Australia.
“Australia’s music, art and culture belongs to us all and the Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Australians, no matter where they live, have equal opportunity to access and engage with it,” he added. “The tours not only involve performances, but also workshops and other additional activities with local communities, creating a richer shared experience, and demonstrating the real career pathways available to professional musicians.”
This was closely followed by the Victorian Government handing out $2.4 million to be injected into the local grass roots music scene, gifting Victorian youth music program FReeZA with a boost in funding by the Victorian Coalition Government, which will be used to fund live music events across the state throughout 2013.
“I’m delighted to announce that 80 organisations Victoria-wide will benefit from this latest round of FReeZA funding,” said Victoria’s Youth Affairs Minister Ryan Smit. “FReeZA is an innovative and exciting program that gives young people the chance to plan, organize and stage local music events in a fully supervised drug, alcohol and smoke free environment.”
The Greens have recently joined the bandwagon by pushing for the government to make room in the federal budget to help develop young musicians attempting to make a living from their artistic endeavors, with Greens leader Christine Milne announcing three new funding initiatives, worth approx. $10 million, to support the arts.
The new packages would help ensure artists were paid for their work at exhibitions, performances, and live shows, said Senator Milne. “I think that in Australia it’s the usual story where so many artists struggle to make a living and they’re trying to work two or three jobs in order to be able to keep a roof over their heads, while they pursue the love that they have for their art.”
You can view Arts Victoria’s full list of Contemporary and Live Music Development grants below, and closing dates for the next round of applications closes on March 12th 2013.
CAREER BUILDING
Michael Antoniou MALVERN $976
Support for rock musician Michael Antoniou to develop a new demo recording ahead of a debut single release.
Anthony Atkinson on behalf of Anthony Atkinson and the Running Mates COBURG $6,600
Support for folk-pop outfit Anthony Atkinson and the Running Mates to produce a new album.
Thomas Battersby, on behalf of Baptism of Uzi EAST GEELONG $6,228
Support for heavy rock outfit Baptism of Uzi to recording, produce and promote a debut album.
Cult Classics on behalf of Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes FITZROY $15,000
Support for soul ensemble Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes to record a second album.
Dancing Heals CARLTON $15,000
Support for rock band Dancing Heals for the recording and promotional campaign for a second album.
Adam Eaton MELBOURNE $5,865
Support for a publicity and promotional campaign for singer-songwriter Adam Eaton’s debut full-length recording.
Giuliano Ferla on behalf of the Toot Toot Toots RICHMOND $13,600
Support for country pop outfit the Toot Toot Toots to record and promote their sophomore album ‘Inferno’.
Daniel Flynn on behalf of Major Chord PRESTON $12,949
Support for folk group Major Chord to record and present a new album titled ‘Transition.’
Joseph Grimes BORONIA $7,000
Support for not-for-profit independent record label The Sound of Melbourne to promote 15 emerging artists through its CD compilation concept.
Susy Blue BRUNSWICK WEST $12,700
Support to mix, master and promote a sophomore album.
Laura Imbruglia BRUNSWICK $11,000
Support for the production and promotion of her third full-length indie pop album.
Julia Gurry, on behalf of Belle Roscoe GLEN IRIS $6,000
Support for pop/rock group Belle Roscoe to develop a promotional video clip to support the launch of a second album.
Jordie Lane THORNBURY $12,500
Support for roots musician Jordie Lane to record his new album ‘Upside Down’.
Amaya Laucirica EAST MELBOURNE $10,083
Support for the mastering, manufacture and promotion of singer-songwriter Amaya Laucirica’s third album.
Daniel Marsh on behalf of Human Face HOPPERS CROSSING $5,200
Support for pop and dub group Human Face to record a debut album.
Mark Monnone, on behalf of Monnone Alone BRUNSWICK $2,600
Support for indie pop group Monnone Alone to manufacture its debut album ‘Together at Last’ on vinyl.
Daniel Moss, on behalf of I, A Man ST KILDA EAST $7,512
Support for indie folk outfit I, A Man to mix and master a debut full-length recording.
Playwrite COBURG $9,191
Support for indie folk outfit Playwrite to record and release its debut album ‘Fickle Limbs’.
Fred Porter, on behalf of The Blow Waves ROXBURGH PARK $2,400
Support for The Blow Waves to recording and release a debut album.
Lisa Salvo THORNBURY $5,000
Support for folk and pop artist Lisa Salvo to produce a debut full-length recording titled ‘Year of the Rabbit’.
Lehmann B Smith PARKVILLE $1,500
Support for singer-songwriter Lehmann B Smith to develop new demo recordings ahead of a full album release.
Anna Smyrk and the Appetites BRUNSWICK WEST $2,675
Support for Anna Smyrk and the Appetites to record two singles for a future album release.
Willow FITZROY $8,576.00
Support for folk and pop multi-instrumentalist Willow to record and release a debut album titled ‘Unravelling’.
Jarrah Thompson, on behalf of Jarrah Thompson Band ALBERT PARK $4,200
Support for roots outfit Jarrah Thompson Band to record and master a third album.
Samantha Wass on behalf of Jack on Fire BRUNSWICK EAST $9,645
Support for indie folk outfit Jack on Fire to record, manufacture and promote a new album.
Chelsea Wilson BALWYN NORTH $6,000
Support for soul musician Chelsea Wilson to launch and promote a self-titled debut album.
MUSIC TOURING
Natalie Bartsch, on behalf of Nat Bartsch Trio THORNBURY $8,702
Support for jazz outfit the Nat Bartsch Trio to Japan to promote the release of their third album.
Nicholas Carver, on behalf of The Morrisons RICHMOND $2,200
Support for punk outfit The Morrisons’ 7-date national tour with performances in metro and regional locations.
Andrew Hinterreiter, on behalf of 4Arm CAROLINE SPRINGS $12,579
Support for heavy rock band 4Arm’s 30-date US tour with heavy weight US metal acts Testament, Overkill, and Flotsam and Jetsam.
Mark Lockett COLLINGWOOD $3,135
Support for jazz drummer Mark Lockett’s national tour with his trio, in support and promotion of the release of a new album ‘Sneaking Out After Midnight’.
Todd Mayhew, on behalf of The April Maze BRUNSWICK $4,850
Support for alternative folk duo The April Maze’s three-month, 35-show national tour focusing on intimate venues and house concerts.
SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
From The Apple Tree BALLARAT $5,000
Support for Ballarat-based music manager and promoter Shaun Adams to attend the South by South West music conference in Austin, Texas, as well as other professional development opportunities in the US.
Auspicious Arts Projects, on behalf of Emily Williams SOUTHBANK $4,180
Support for cellist Emily Williams to participate in a 34-day intensive high level skills development program in Canada and the USA.
Mountain District Radio Inc EMERALD $6,000
Support for 3MDR Mountain District Radio to present their ‘Live Sessions 2013’ programming.
Resonance String Orchestra Inc MACEDON $6,000
Support for regional Victorian-based community orchestra The Resonance String Orchestra’s Visiting Artists Program.
Gemma Turvey CAULFIELD NORTH $4,393
Support for pianist Gemma Turvey to participate in the 2013 Winter Creative Music Festival at the Banff Centre in Calgary, Canada.
Victorian Arts Centre Trust MELBOURNE $9,500
Support for the Arts Centre Melbourne to present ‘Five by Five by Five’, a new mentorship initiative for five emerging composers.
