Last updated 18 June 11.00 am AEST
This is a blog post specifically about Australian State, Territory and local government initiatives. It is a sub-post from my blog post which lists international government responses to the impact of COVID-19 on the arts and cultural sectors.
For an analysis of this funding, see Benjamin Eltham’s piece in the Guardian (26 May 2020).
Summary
In brief, total Australian government funding to help the arts deal with COVID-19 is approximately:
Federal: $32 million (including $5 million repurposed)
NSW: $56.34 million (including $6.34 million repurposed)
VIC: $49.1 million new (I think...) I have not included the Rising Festival $2 million as I think this festival is replacing White Night and MIAF
WA: $1.5 million from Art Gallery WA (I think this is new...) and a share of Lotterywest $159 million (repurposed)
QLD: $11 million emergency funding and $22.5 million rescue package (this latter looks like new money)
SA: $3.5 million (at least $0.7 million is repurposed)
TAS: $3.5 million ($2.0 million is repurposed)
ACT: $2.0 million (not sure what is new vs repurposed)
NT: $2.0 million (includes screen, and I think this might be new money)
Victoria
Total State government funding: $49.1 million
(I think most of this is new money.)
On 13 May the Victorian government announced an additional $32.3 million for the arts and cultural sector as part of a $150 million Experience Economy Survival Package. The $32.3 million will support creative agencies and initiatives, including funding for the Geelong Arts Centre, Museums Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Recital Centre.
The funding also includes $6 million to support live music industry workers and bolster the Sustaining Creative Workers initiative.
In total, the new funding will be channeled through three separate streams:
$26.3 million for immediate viability support for five of the state’s iconic arts and cultural institutions: Arts Centre Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria, Museums Victoria, Geelong Arts Centre and Melbourne Recital Centre.
$4 million for a dedicated Music Industry Support Package.
$2 million extra funding for independent creatives and micro-businesses through the Sustaining Creative Workers program.
The Experience Economy Survival Package also includes:
$11 million for the tourism industry
$40 million for community sport and recreation bodies
$16 million for national sporting organisations
$5.3 million for the State Sport Centres Trust and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust
$44 million for the racing industry
On 24 April the Victorian government announced a $16.8 million survival package for the creative and cultural sector. This includes:
$13 million Strategic Investment Fund which will be shared amongst almost 100 non-government arts and cultural organisations including festivals, performing arts companies, museums and galleries
A new $2.2 million “Sustaining Creative Workers” grant round, offering quick response grants for Victorian-based creatives and micro-organisations with at least five years professional experience. Grants of $5,000 are available for individuals and $10,000 for micro-organisations. An additional $2,500 will be available in access funding for artists with a disability and disability-led organisations
$1.6 million will be invested directly through VicArts Grants, Music Works, and Innovation in Marketing programs.
The Victorian government has previously announced:
Payroll tax refunds for the 2019-20 financial year to small and medium businesses with payroll of less than $3 million
Allow these businesses to defer payroll tax for the first thee months of 2020-21
Commercial tenants in government buildings can apply for rent relief
It will pay all outstanding supplier invoices within 5 business days
$500 million Business Support Fund to support the hardest hit sectors, including hospitality, tourism, accommodation, arts and entertainment, and retail.
$500 million Working for Victoria Fund to help workers who have lost their jobs find new opportunities, including cleaning and food delivery, and facilitate job matching for short-term and casual work
The City of Melbourne has announced a local stimulus package of $10 million which will include:
Halving rent for Council building tenants for three months
Opportunities to deploy casual and part-time staff to enhance city cleanliness and amenity
Developing a rates hardship policy
Supporting businesses to develop e-commerce
The City of Melbourne has also announced $2 million quick response arts grant program for artists and creatives to invest in new works and digital presentations.
New South Wales
Total State government funding: $56.34 million
(This includes repurposed State government funding of $6.34 million.)
On 24 May the NSW government announced a $50 million COVID-19 Rescue and Restart Package for NSW arts and cultural organisations. The Rescue and Restart package will be delivered in two stages:
Funding available now to enable NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations to hibernate temporarily.
Funding available in the coming months to enable NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations to restart operations after the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 24 April Create NSW announced new funding initiatives and the repurposing of existing funding totalling $6.34 million to support independent artists and small-to-medium arts, screen and cultural organisations. This includes:
Over $1 million for accommodation assistance – through a six-month rent and outgoings waiver that will immediately support 38 arts organisations housed across the Create NSW arts property portfolio of buildings.
$450,000 for new COVID-19 Support Round – a new arts funding program specifically targeted at those impacted by COVID-19. Funding is available across four program categories (Digitise, Creative Koori Digital, Health and Well-being and Regenerate events) to digitally deliver support for community and audience engagement outcomes in the immediate and long term – including new events that will premiere once restrictions are lifted.
$700,000 for new Screen Slate Development Fund – NSW production companies and producers can apply for a maximum of $100,000 to develop a slate of three or more projects for TV Drama, Factual, Features and Online.
$350,000 funding increase to Small Project Grants – this quick response grant mechanism offers grants from $500 to $5,000 towards projects. Allocated funding has been increased, and the program re-aligned to address those coping with COVID-19 impacts on artistic careers.
$180,000 for new rounds of Creative Leadership – six new fellowship opportunities (each valued at $30,000) will be offered for individual artists and groups to experience digital residency programs, professional virtual placements and professional development provided by leading NSW organisations including the Art Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW, Sydney Youth Orchestra, Hayes Musical Theatre and Byron Writers’ Festival.
Further arts industry support – Over $2 million in funding for Round 2 of Create NSW’s Annual Organisations, Creative Koori Projects and Projects will proceed, plus the Independent Arts and Cultural Organisations (Multi-year) and Local Government Arts and Cultural Programs will also continue.
Further screen industry support – Over $1.5 million delivered over coming months through existing Early and Advanced Development Funding, Production Finance, PDV Rebate, Screen Industry and Audience Development and Strategic Opportunities rounds of screen funding programs.
Webinars, factsheets and how-to videos – to support well-being and facilitate skills development for arts, screen and cultural workers during self-isolation, Create NSW will produce a range of webinars, factsheets and how-to videos to demystify digital platforms for performances, exhibitions and event presentations, and explain digital meeting and information platforms.
The NSW government has previously announced:
$450 million to waive payroll tax for businesses with payrolls up to $10 million for three months
$56 million to bring forward the next round of payroll tax cuts by raising the threshold limit to $1 million in 2020-21
$250 million to employ additional cleaners in public assets
City of Sydney has a AUD $72.5 million in its ‘Business, Arts and Creative Support’ package which includes:
AUD $2.25 million in Cultural sector resilience grants: immediate financial support for non-profit cultural organisations with less than 20 employees and sole traders reliant on grants and project-based funds to keep staff and pay artists. Provides immediate financial support for those who have had to cancel, postpone or reduce operations, programs or events. ($10,000 per sole trader and $20,000 per organisation)
AUD $1 million in Creative fellowships fund: To help keep arts and creative professionals working during a time of reduced opportunities. Projects can be presented during or after the pandemic. Up to $20,000 per grant.
AUD $0.5 million in quick response grants for small scale projects.
AUD $250,000 donated to locally operated online platforms which raise money to offer emergency relief to cultural workers in crisis e.g. Support Act NSW, Artists Benevolent Fund and Actors Benevolent Fund
Western Australia
Total State government funding: $1.5 million from Art Gallery of WA; and a share of $159 million (shared across non-profit community sector).
It looks like all of this is repurposed funding.
On 25 May the WA government approved a $1.5 million support package, developed by the Art Gallery of WA’s Board and the Art Gallery’s Foundation, to help WA artists. Under the initiative, all living Western Australian artists represented in the State Art Collection will receive $2,000 towards creating an online State Art Collection archive.
In addition, independent and art centre-based Aboriginal artists will share up to $525,000 through a targeted acquisition program to purchase existing works from up to 15 independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and from 25 Aboriginal art centres.
In total, more than 400 Western Australian artists will directly benefit from the initiative, injecting up to $1.5 million into the arts sector economy.
WA artists who receive the $2,000 will use the funding to generate archival content focusing on expanding artist bios, artist statements and extended insights into artistic practice.
The purchasing of Aboriginal artworks for the State Art Collection through the Aboriginal Art Centres, will both support the artists involved and their local community.
On 30 March the WA government announced:
Small businesses that pay payroll tax will receive a one-off grant of $17,500
$1 million payroll tax threshold brought forward by six months
$114 million to support small businesses
Freeze on household charges including electricity, motor vehicle charges, emergency services levy, water and public transport
On 30 March, the WA government also announced, in partnership with Lotterywest, the AUD $159 million COVID-19 relief fund for non-profit community organisations, including the arts.
The fund will start with an initial AUD $59 million for crisis and emergency relief support, with an anticipated further $100 million to be allocated from all profits previously assigned to the grants budget
The Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund includes the following programs relevant to the arts:
Event Cancellation Relief for Arts, Sports and Community Groups ($14 million from Lotterywest and the government)
Sector Support for Resilient Organisations ($25 million from Lotterywest) for NFP arts, sports and community organisations to maintain staff, pivot operations, collaborate, develop new ways of working, maintain viability, and build resilience for recovery.
Click here for more info about the WA general response.
Click here to find out about the $159 million emergency fund.
Queensland
Total State government funding: approx. $33.5 million
This includes a rescue package of $22.5 million
On 16 June the Queensland government announced a “Arts and Cultural Recovery Package” of $22.5 million. This includes support for live music events, temporary outdoor venues, funding support to maintain viability, First Nations art, and venues trying to safely reopen with social distancing.
The Queensland government had previously announced emergency support including:
$500 million loan facility for businesses to retain employees and maintain operations, allowing for low-interest loans of up to $250,000
Payroll tax relief for small and medium businesses
Fees and charges relief for hospitality and tourism providers
$27.25 million to support local government, business and industry with ‘resilience and recovery strategies’
$11 million of measures for the arts sector, which includes:
Companies that are current recipients of the 2017-2020 Organisations Fund will be guaranteed a further 12 months’ funding at current levels to December 2021
Arts Queensland is also suspending applications for the next four-year funding round and waiving rental payments for tenants in Queensland government-owned arts facilities for the rest of 2020
its Individuals Fund has been boosted to $500,000, and extended the closing date to 21 April 2020. Expanded criteria includes building digital skill, creative development, small project activities, digital delivery of works.
the Queensland Arts Showcase Program was boosted to $2 million, with funding caps increased
Waived rental payments for Qld-government Brisbane-based arts facility tenants
On 26 May, the Qld government announced a further $0.5 million for a stART grant program for independent artists and arts workers. Applicants can access up to $3,000 for creating work during the COVID recovery phase. Funding will be distributed through the Regional Arts Services Network and other Arts Qld funded s2m organisations, and allocated to each region on a population basis.
South Australia
Total State government funding: $3.2 million
(Includes repurposed State government funding of at least $0.7 million.)
The SA government announced $1.5 million in COVID-19 Arts Grants (and subsequently added a further $1.0 million, taking the total to $2.5 million. I am not sure if this was ‘new’ funding’).
aimed at independent artists and small organisations
will provide employment for independent artists and contribute to the sustainability of s2ms
enable the development of new work in new ways
support cross-sector collaboration
outcomes could be bringing work to audiences in new ways, developing new work ready to go at a later time, and support for immediate needs
The Grants are as follows:
Creative Endeavour: Quick Response Grants for Independent Artists
Innovating Practice: Quick Response Grants for Independent Artists
EOIs for Arts Organisations Collaboration Grants
The SA Music Development Office also announced that it would repurpose its contemporary music program to provide $700,000 in ‘Music Development Office Project Support Grants’:
Creative Development Support Grants - Up to $5,000 per grant to support developing/releasing new work
Music Business Support Grants - Up to $20,000 per grant to support music businesses and artists in recovery
Music Industry Initiatives Support Grants - Up to $20,000 per grant to support new approaches during the restriction period
The Music Development Office also provided $300,000 to venue, “The Gov”
Click here for more info about the Arts SA grants.
Tasmania
Total State government funding: $3.5 million
(including repurposed funding of $2.0 million)
The Tasmanian government has announced:
$20 million in interest free loans to small businesses in the hospitality, tourism, seafood production, and exports sectors. The loans will be available to businesses with a turnover of less than $5 million
to purchase equipment or restructuring business operations and will be interest free, for three years.
Payroll tax liabilities will be waived for hospitality, tourism and seafood industry businesses for the last four months of 2019-20.
Other businesses with payrolls of up to $5 million will be able to apply, based on the impact of virus, to have their payroll tax waived for April to June 2020.
The Tasmanian government has also announced a cultural and creative industries stimulus package of $1.5 million of new funding and new operational measures of over $2 million:
Arts and Screen Digital Production Fund: grants of up to $10,000 for individuals and $50,000 for organisations to enable the arts and screen sectors to work together for digital distribution and promotion.
Tasmanian Contemporary Music Fund: grants of up to $15,000 for musicians whose events have been cancelled, to record music videos
Additional Screen Development Fund: Additional $250,000 for screen industry to undertake new projects and increase development grants
Additional arts organisations funding: Arts organisations currently on single-year funding or in final year of a funding agreement will have contracts extended for another year, and additional competitive funding for arts organisations not already receiving support through these mechanisms.
Thanks to Kath Melbourne for flagging this with me. We’ll wait and see what comes specifically for the arts sector.
Click here for more info about the general Tasmanian measures, and here for info on the cultural stimulus package.
Australian Capital Territory
Total Territory government funding: $2.0 million
(Not sure how much is new/repurposed)
ACT announced:
$500,000 funding for artists: grants of up to $10,000 per artist, including screen artists, under the ‘Homefront funding scheme’
Up to $500,000 in funding to the head-licensees of arts facilities to waive fees for sub-licensees for six months (supporting approx. 65 smaller arts organisations)
The ACT government will not charge any rent for six months to community groups in government owned properties, including arts facilities
$1 million will be provided to Canberra arts organisations (Key Arts and Program organisations)
Northern Territory
Total Territory government funding: $2 million
(I think this might be new money.)
On 24 March the NT government announced a Creative industries Immediate Response and Resilience Package which includes:
Digital Adaptation Program ($200,000) - help arts sector establish online presence
Channel NT ($200,000) - develop online platform to livestream NT content
Territory Arts Projects ($400,000) - grants for artists and arts workers
Screen Industry Support and Content Development Program ($1 million) - content development
Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program ($200,000) to the peak bodies for Aboriginal arts centres, artists and arts workers
Arts NT, Screen Territory and NTMEC have been given discretion to provide reporting and other grant condition relief.
The NT Government is also providing:
a Small Business Survival Fund of $50 million, prioritising hospitality, tourism, restaurants and entertainment businesses
$2 million Tourism Resilience Plan, providing support for event organisers, suppliers and tourism operators
Jobs Rescue and Recovery plan, including a Business Hardship package so that businesses with turnover <$50 million with a 30% downturn in turnover due to COVID-19 can access concessions on payroll tax, utilities, rents and rates
For more info see the following links: