Political candidates for the upcoming election in Victoria are falling over themselves to be associated with the music industry following Labor’s lead in pledging $22.2m in funding and a further $2m for music education.
At the Face The Music conference in Melbourne members of the Australian Greens, the Australian Sex Party, and the Liberal Party are now all attempting to follow Labor Shadow Minister For The Arts Martin Foley’s leadership and foresight for the music industry and jump on the music bandwagon.
The Liberal Party has pledged to fund $1m for Music Victoria’s regional music action plan to stimulate the regional touring circuit and provide $400,000 operational funding over the next four years. That figure falls well below Labor’s plans.
Martin Foley, the Shadow Minister for the Arts and Dan Andrews, the Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria, outlined their $22.2m plan for the music industry in Victoria two weeks ago. The plan was endorsed by industry heavyweights Michael Gudinski and Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum.
The Liberal Party promise comes after four years of slashing Arts funding for musicians, including removal of the separate and dedicated stream of funding for contemporary musicians and music initiatives.
This week Dan Andrews also unveiled Labor’s $2m plan for music education in schools. “Exposure to music education means better grades, better results and better attendance – it’s a proven link,” Dan Andrews said. “Kids love music and I want them to enjoy it at school too.”
Labor’s contemporary music industry policy includes funding for mentoring, training and grant funding for artists.
Victoria will go to the polls on November 29.
