❓ The Minister for Culture and the Arts highlights the success of the Contemporary Music Fund, citing Voyager's Eurovision selection and other initiatives supporting WA artists and the music industry.
AnsweredQoN 78Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FUND
78. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's support for Western Australian artists through initiatives
such as the contemporary music fund.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how this fund is successfully supporting Western Australian
artists?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house what other
initiatives the McGowan Labor government is undertaking to support
contemporary music?
78. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's support for Western Australian artists through initiatives
such as the contemporary music fund.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how this fund is successfully supporting Western Australian
artists?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house what other
initiatives the McGowan Labor government is undertaking to support
contemporary music?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2) Members,
remember the name of this band: Voyager. The reason I want members to remember
the name ''Voyager'' is that Voyager is a Western Australian
band. It was formed over 15 years ago and has pure Western Australian content
in terms of the musicians. In their third attempt to secure the nomination as
Australia's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, they have succeeded.
They were announced today, by SBS, as the Australian representative for
Eurovision 2023. Remember that this is a very important international music
event that attracts billions of eyes and ears when it is staged. This year it
will be staged in Birmingham, and our Western Australian band, Voyager, will be
there.
The success of Voyager builds on the
success of our contemporary music fund policy, which, of course, was a 2017 initiative. Over $6 million has been
contributed to supporting the contemporary music industry in Western Australia,
and Voyager is one very good example of that investment. Be under no illusion
of how important the music industry is to Australia in terms of commitment and
contribution to the economy. It is a huge
contributor to the economy. I also want to highlight, in the member's
question, further successes.
One
of the things that demonstrates success when we invest money in the
contemporary music fund are outcomes like these. We all know that we
proudly hosted the AFL grand final in 2021. There was Western Australian talent
at the half-time show, who got huge coverage and huge applause for their
efforts, and they were supported by the contemporary music fund. The Girls
Rock! program, delivered by West Australian Music, received $70 000 over three years.
Girls Rock! is another very positive support program
with a focus on young women in the music industry. Safer Venues WA is a grassroots
organisation that seeks to improve the standards of inclusivity and
safety in Perth's live music spaces and is supported by the
contemporary music fund. The Regional Sessions received $250 000 for a series
of workshops and events in regional Western Australia, including Busselton,
Albany, Bunbury, Broome, Karratha and Kalgoorlie.
The Stomping Ground Festival, which I know the member for Kimberley was very,
very excited about and was held late last year, received funds.
Speaking
of Western Australian successes in contemporary music, the member for Kingsley
also reminded me that three of the 12 Australian Idol finalists
are from Western Australia. So we send our best wishes to Phoebe Stewart,
Angelina Curtis and Sash Seabourne. Where was I? I did not try out this year,
but you never know!
Voyager will appear on stage in
Birmingham in May 2023 with great support from Tourism WA and the Minister for Tourism, of course. He and I were
like absolute groupies down there at Kings Park as we were surrounded by
the band members of Voyager. Tourism WA will film their music pitch, which will
include iconic Western Australian sites and
backdrops like the pink lake and Nature's Window at Kalbarri National Park. All this means that, in May, when we have the Eurovision Song Contest,
our Western Australian band is our entry and
that is a magnificent support and entree and promotion of Western Australia,
more broadly. Therefore, we will keep on supporting contemporary music
in Western Australia. This morning, the
bandleader of Voyager highlighted the importance of the industry and the health
and wellbeing of the industry. He acknowledged the strong support of the
government, particularly through the contemporary music fund. We will all be
behind Voyager in May this year as they take on the world in the Eurovision Song Contest, and may they bring it
home for Western Australia and for Australia for the third time, I think.
(1)–(2) Members,
remember the name of this band: Voyager. The reason I want members to remember
the name ''Voyager'' is that Voyager is a Western Australian
band. It was formed over 15 years ago and has pure Western Australian content
in terms of the musicians. In their third attempt to secure the nomination as
Australia's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, they have succeeded.
They were announced today, by SBS, as the Australian representative for
Eurovision 2023. Remember that this is a very important international music
event that attracts billions of eyes and ears when it is staged. This year it
will be staged in Birmingham, and our Western Australian band, Voyager, will be
there.
The success of Voyager builds on the
success of our contemporary music fund policy, which, of course, was a 2017 initiative. Over $6 million has been
contributed to supporting the contemporary music industry in Western Australia,
and Voyager is one very good example of that investment. Be under no illusion
of how important the music industry is to Australia in terms of commitment and
contribution to the economy. It is a huge
contributor to the economy. I also want to highlight, in the member's
question, further successes.
One
of the things that demonstrates success when we invest money in the
contemporary music fund are outcomes like these. We all know that we
proudly hosted the AFL grand final in 2021. There was Western Australian talent
at the half-time show, who got huge coverage and huge applause for their
efforts, and they were supported by the contemporary music fund. The Girls
Rock! program, delivered by West Australian Music, received $70 000 over three years.
Girls Rock! is another very positive support program
with a focus on young women in the music industry. Safer Venues WA is a grassroots
organisation that seeks to improve the standards of inclusivity and
safety in Perth's live music spaces and is supported by the
contemporary music fund. The Regional Sessions received $250 000 for a series
of workshops and events in regional Western Australia, including Busselton,
Albany, Bunbury, Broome, Karratha and Kalgoorlie.
The Stomping Ground Festival, which I know the member for Kimberley was very,
very excited about and was held late last year, received funds.
Speaking
of Western Australian successes in contemporary music, the member for Kingsley
also reminded me that three of the 12 Australian Idol finalists
are from Western Australia. So we send our best wishes to Phoebe Stewart,
Angelina Curtis and Sash Seabourne. Where was I? I did not try out this year,
but you never know!
Voyager will appear on stage in
Birmingham in May 2023 with great support from Tourism WA and the Minister for Tourism, of course. He and I were
like absolute groupies down there at Kings Park as we were surrounded by
the band members of Voyager. Tourism WA will film their music pitch, which will
include iconic Western Australian sites and
backdrops like the pink lake and Nature's Window at Kalbarri National Park. All this means that, in May, when we have the Eurovision Song Contest,
our Western Australian band is our entry and
that is a magnificent support and entree and promotion of Western Australia,
more broadly. Therefore, we will keep on supporting contemporary music
in Western Australia. This morning, the
bandleader of Voyager highlighted the importance of the industry and the health
and wellbeing of the industry. He acknowledged the strong support of the
government, particularly through the contemporary music fund. We will all be
behind Voyager in May this year as they take on the world in the Eurovision Song Contest, and may they bring it
home for Western Australia and for Australia for the third time, I think.
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