The second round of recipients to receive funding under the ACT Government’s Amp it Up! Program have been announced with 15 venues across the territory to share in over $500,000.
The program was set up last year to help small to medium sized live music venues in their recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
The previous round of funding with a total allocation of over $800,000 helped 23 Canberra businesses, including the iconic Old Canberra Inn, alternate music venue The Basement, and home to Canberra’s best German food, the Harmonie German Club.
ACT Minister for the Arts Tara Cheyne congratulated the successful businesses and encouraged locals to go out and spend time soaking up Canberra’s night life, live music and performing arts sectors.
“This second round of Amp It Up! will continue to grow opportunities for local technicians, musicians, and other performance artists, and give Canberrans exciting live entertainment options,” she said.
A few businesses have received funds through both rounds including Gang Gang Café and Bar, Capital Brewing Company, and Transit Bar.
One of the new recipients is The Street, a not-for-profit arts organisation that is committed to bringing a diverse range of music and live performances to the capital.
Artistic Director and CEO Caroline Stacey said the funding will be able to help businesses promote the value of live performance in a post pandemic world, support artists, and bring a wider range of performances to their venues. Ms Stacey said the funding will also be important in supporting people who aren’t on the stage.
“We really need to support our backstage support here in the ACT. We need to look after our technical crews, all the people who do a fantastic job creating quality experiences in sound and visual.”
Like many in the arts industry, the people who work behind the scenes for a performance were hit hard by the pandemic, many of them having to leave the industry for good. Ms Stacey is hoping the funding received by The Street and the other local businesses will be able to go towards the continued support of these skilled workers.
“Basically, holding onto all of the skills that are held in the production area of live performances; many of those people lost work during the pandemic, even having to find other work, many of those people haven’t come back.”
To see a full list of recipients in this round of grants, head to act.gov.au
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