New program turns live music up to 11

Penrith is set to witness a transformative boost in its hospitality sector, thanks to the NSW Government's Live Performance Venue Program.

The program aims to increase the number of fit-for-purpose live performance venues across Greater Sydney by connecting existing hospitality venues with subject-matter experts, facilitating networking between venues, artists, agents and media, building industry capacity to diversify existing hospitality venues to offer live performance, increasing sector knowledge and expertise, and providing funding for live performance equipment purchase and install, and start-up programming and marketing costs.

The Live Performance Venue Program presents an incredible opportunity for our local hospitality venues to build their knowledge and skills so they can make informed decisions when developing a vision for staging live performance and aligning this with their existing business model. This program also offers financial support to assist with purchasing equipment and sound management for the creation of a fit-for-purpose performance space.

The first stage in the two-phase Program is the Live Performance Venue Accelerator, a six-week series of workshops covering the above topics and more. Applications are now open (until 13 December), with the workshops starting in February. The second phase is a grant program, with successful applicants receiving up to $80,000 to get their live performance programming off the ground (via essential equipment and promotion). Admission guidelines and grant applications open February 2024.

Penrith City Council recognises the pivotal role hospitality plays in our local economy, with the sector contributing over $535M gross revenue for our local economy in 2022, and generating 5,136 jobs. With the Live Performance Venue Program, our local establishments have the opportunity to host a diverse range of performances, attracting a broader audience and creating memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Council is committed to fostering a thriving cultural economy. The recently adopted Penrith Economic Development Strategy 2023-2031 aims to deliver 1,000 additional jobs in the creative and cultural industries by 2031. Council’s Draft Cultural Strategy Action Plan 2024-2028 which is currently on public exhibition outlines a number of proposed actions that will embed cultural outcomes in Council’s planning and delivery, including developing and implementing a 24-hours Economy Strategy and Visitor Economy Strategy that will enliven our centres through arts and cultural experiences.

The Live Performance Venue Program is part of the NSW Government’s Venues Unlocked initiative. Venues Unlocked is being jointly delivered by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner and the newly formed Sound NSW, which is currently offering soundproofing grants for live music venues.

Click the link to find out more about the Live Performance Venue Program. https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/venues-unlocked/live-performance-venue-program

Image: Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade