LOCAL music festivals will share a funding package of almost $500,000 through the Australian Government’s Revive Live program as announced by the Federal Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker.

A Day on the Green, Nightjar Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, and Beyond the Valley all received a major funding boost with grants aimed at revitalising the live music industry, which continues to face tough conditions.

Ms Coker said the funding would help ensure performers and audiences across the region could continue to play and enjoy live music.

“Live music venues and festivals are the lifeblood of our local music scene, and I want to ensure they remain a place for homegrown artists to perform,” Ms Coker said.

“Revive Live is alleviating some of the additional costs facing our industry right now and will help them to be more sustainable into the future.”

She said the funding was a win for locals and for the industry.

“Live music venues and festivals make a large contribution to our local economies, with many tourism and hospitality industries leveraging off the success of the live music scene.

“This funding will benefit four local festivals and help grow Australia’s ecosystem of live music for the future.”

Through Revive Live, the Australian Government is providing grants of $7.7 million in total to 110 organisations, including 61 festival-based activities and 49 live music venues.

Established in the 2024-25 Budget, Revive Live aligns with the Government’s National Cultural Policy, Revive, which recognises the Australian music sector as a vibrant part of our arts and cultural landscape.

The program is providing critical support to the sector, with grants helping recipients to adapt to market pressures and improve the sustainability of their operations as well as improving accessibility at live music venues or festivals so that more people with disabilities can participate as a performer, arts worker, or audience member.