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4 June 2016

Labor vows to restore Australia Council funding, boost AMC & Sounds Australia by $5.4M


Labor vows to restore Australia Council funding, boost AMC & Sounds Australia by $5.4M

Labor goes to the election promising to restore and significantly increase arts funding, according to their policy announcement this morning. Labor's policy includes measures in several areas within the arts, such as returning and adding funding to the Australia Council for the Arts, and boosting the live music industry. The Australian Music Centre, export initiative Sounds Australia and the Live Music Office are singled out in the funding announcement for a special $5.4 million investment.

'Labor Government will invest $5.4 million to strengthen Australia's contemporary live music industry by bringing the Live Music Office and the Australian Music Centre under the umbrella of an expanded Sounds Australia to support the development of Australia's live music expert industry', Labor states.

The AMC's CEO John Davis commented on the news:

'The AMC is proud of the work that we do supporting and promoting Australian art music. We create opportunities and revenue for composers and their work, through many partnerships and collaborations, including with APRA AMCOS, Sounds Australia, the Live Music Office, and many others. We welcome any investment that enables us to continue this important work, reaching larger audiences for Australian music, both nationally and internationally.'

If elected, Labor intends to close the Catalyst fund and return remaining money to the Australia Council, with an added $20 million per year over four years from 2017. Other areas to receive more funding by Labor include school music programs ($2 million per year, through programs such as Music: Count us In, Musica Viva in Schools and the Song Room), Regional Arts Fund ($8 million over four years), and the ABC ($60 million to produce local drama).

> See: Labor's policy announcement (4 June 2016)



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