Page 1160 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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The government committed to supporting the establishment of a music association and providing advice on program support to that association. MusicACT was established about two years ago but, despite applying for a number of grants, it has never received any government funding and it looks like closing in the near future.
The government said that, together with the Cultural Council, it would invite a number of young people to participate in the assessment of applications for funding for music projects through the arts funding program. The last I heard on this was that it has not occurred but that an adult person with extensive experience in working with young people was on the panel. I do not think this qualifies as youth participation.
The government said that it would develop an event planning guide that would provide detailed and accessible information to event organisers and provide practical guidance for people organising all-age events and events for younger people. I do not think the government ever did this. If it did, it has hidden it well. Then there was the assistance to venue operators with managing noise. There have been no new initiatives here by the government.
There was also the 2004 review of the Environment Protection Act, including issues such as noise and zoning. I understand that, although the review was finished and made publicly available on 1 June 2004, and although it contained 51 proposals for reform of the act, the ACT government is yet to respond. But what is new about that? The only action the government seems to have undertaken since it made these promises in 2004 is to produce a two-page fact sheet relating to noise emanating from entertainment venues. Internationally acclaimed saxophonist Dale Barlow recently said:
The best advice the older musicians can give to young musicians is to buy an air ticket.
That is a sad and sorry state of affairs. We have a great homegrown talent pool here that is not being utilised. It is a bit like the Australian Olympic swimming team not having its own pool to practise in.
The WA government has recognised the importance of supporting local artists and their dependence on local music venues to gain exposure to audiences and develop a following. Without these venues, many talented careers would not be nurtured. The Department of Culture and Arts has been working directly with live music venues through its sound attenuation support program. The program provides funding to venues on a dollar-for-dollar basis to undertake sound attenuation and improvement work and reduce the effect on surrounding residents. The government is also establishing a special cultural and live music entertainment precinct within Northbridge. That is a good idea.
In Brisbane, Fortitude Valley has become a declared entertainment precinct in which live music venues are protected. There has been talk of doing the same in Newtown-Enmore in Sydney. It is interesting to note that live music in Melbourne has never suffered a downturn. The South Australian government has given money to Adelaide venues to improve comfort and sound quality. It has also legislated for a caveat which
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