In response to the announcement that the Jade Monkey (a National SLAM day Venue)  is facing imminent closure;

“Whilst we recognise that as a property owner it is fair and reasonable to be able to utilise your asset in whatever way you see fit (subject to planning approvals).What this situation does highlight is the very precarious state of the live music scene in South Australia, where the closure of one venue is so pivotal, and as we have seen from the huge social networking response, the large groundswell of support for the live music sector in SA.”

There has been a severe lack of support from government for the live music scene and sector development in SA. Funding for contemporary music represents less than 0.5% of the Arts budget, having been held at $500,000 PA since 2002. (To put that into context, the ASO receives over $1.8million per year, and theatre funding is over $4 million per year in SA). 

The $500,000 amount itself was put in place by an amendment to the SA Gaming Machines Act (1992) which established the Community Development fund – the entire section being as follows:

73C—Community Development Fund

(1) The Community Development Fund is established.

(2) The Fund will be kept at Treasury.

(3) The money paid into the Fund under this Part will from time to time be applied by the Treasurer, in accordance with the directions of the Governor, towards—

(a) financial assistance for community development; and

(b) the provision of government health, welfare or education services.

(4) Despite subsection (3), at least $500 000 must be applied from the Fund in each financial year towards programs that will be of benefit to the live music industry.

The key phrase here is “AT LEAST”, and in spite of this provision the funding to this sector has not changed in the subsequent ten years. Unlike WA and QLD, South Australia has no Contemporary Music Strategy and it is interesting to note that even the 2010 Arts Policy document (State Of The Arts) makes no mention of contemporary music.

The State Government will be announcing in the next few days a full review of the current funding program, however it is essential to note that the review does not include scope to look at the actual amount needed to support the sector, only how to spend the current $500,000. This is very much a top down approach that does not look at what the needs and opportunities are for Live Music in SA.