It’s been a rollercoaster week for Sounds Australia, who were dealt the blow of losing out on crucial funding through The Ministry of Arts Catalyst Program for next year. Its effect on the organisation’s export initiative is severe, meaning that the international programs Sounds Australia has successfully run in previous years will no longer be able to operate at the full capacity they need to.
However today, there’s been a little glimmer of hope shot their way, with Sounds Australia learning that they have been able to secure funding for the next four years from The Australia Council for the Arts. With the bulk of Sounds Australia’s funding still stemming from the Catalyst Program, the international program as it stands for 2017 still will not be able to run as normal, if the situation remains as it is.
The Sounds Australia crew released the news via Facebook this morning:
We can’t thank you all enough for the incredible support you’ve shown SOUNDS AUSTRALIA over the last few days. The outpouring of offers to help and the thousands of individuals and organisations that have lent their voice with words and actions has been overwhelming. More than anything it speaks volumes relative to the belief, need and value of the export of Australian music.
Partner organisations, international conference events, Australian and worldwide industry colleagues and most importantly the incredible Australian artists and their global fans have all gotten behind us as we learnt of our funding future in recent days.
We are extremely pleased to announce today that SOUNDS AUSTRALIA has received funding from The Australia Council for the Arts for the next four years. However, the lion’s share of SOUNDS AUSTRALIA funding comes from the Ministry for the Arts. Without a funding solution we will still be left with a considerable shortfall going in to 2017 and will not be able to maintain the international program at its current level.
Once again thank you all so much. Every single post, tweet, share and like has been seen and has bought multiple smiles to our faces and tears to our eyes (that might also be just jet lag). More than anything though, the rallying of support and unifying as a global community bound by our passion and belief in the power of music has been the most rewarding to witness.
Please keep signing and sharing the petition as we seek a Ministerial commitment to invest in music export with secure, ongoing support.
If you are at The Great Escape Festival, Liverpool Sound City, Classical:NEXT, PrimaveraPro, Midem or A2IM Indie Week over the next couple of months, come and say hi and find out about your next favourite Australian band.
Millie, Esti and Glenn
SOUNDS AUSTRALIA
The Change.org petition that was launched this week, to be submitted to Senator Mitch Fifield, Minister for the Arts, has already secured over 40 thousand signatures and needs 23 more to reach its 5,000 target. If you haven’t already gotten behind this one and want to show your support, head on over HERE.
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