Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

Dear friends and colleagues in Australian music,

As you may be aware, the Australia Council for the Arts has notified arts organisations around the country about the results of four-year funding applications. These results carry even more significance in light of COVID-19, which is decimating income and opportunities in our community.

The Australian Music Centre was successful in our funding bid. While we are relieved and excited, this news is also bittersweet. We acknowledge with great regret that our welcome news is not necessarily matched for other friends, colleagues and organisations across the country. We understand the responsibility that our good fortune entails, and we pledge to immediately act in support of our community by doing the following:

1. $10,000 commissioning
Under the banner of the annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address, we have resolved to commission 2 addresses in 2020, to be delivered digitally. In addition, we will commission 8 artists, ensembles or organisations to create online content via an EOI process. Each opportunity will come with an honorarium of $1000. More details to follow soon.

2. $25,000 emergency relief
We are donating $25,000 to Support Act to provide emergency hardship relief. This donation is being provided from AMC's reserves, which the organisation holds in order to be able to respond to the unexpected. Please go direct to Support Act to apply, but don't hesitate to be in touch with us if we can assist with this process.

3. Audiences
We are in negotiation with broadcasters, finding ways to grow connections between Australian jazz and classical musicians and their radio and online audiences, in order to boost royalty income and help artists maintain contact with listeners.

4. Support
Our priority is to continue to support our membership and the broader community through this time of uncertainty. From sharing announcements of early live performance payments from APRA AMCOS to promoting our new online learning platform ECHO to educational institutions, we'll be working hard to ensure our members are informed, their works are accessible, and financial and creative opportunities are available to all.

Please stay in touch with news and updates by following the Resonate news feed and the AMC's social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter.

Our funding news and the currently precarious state of our community strengthens our determination to ensure that Australian music, and the diverse people and communities who create it, are valued, visible and viable. We are even more committed to presenting the ever-evolving variety of Australian music to the world, and to supporting a sustainable environment for our nation's musicians.

Don't hesitate to be in touch during these challenging times, and we'll get back to you without delay.

Please stay safe.

AMC Board and Team

> Read also: 'Four-Year Funding for Organisations announced by Australia Council' - news article on Resonate (4 April 2020)