Arts Vic abandons Great Australian Wave
Australians have been left for dead by Arts Victoria, but don’t worry the Great Australian Wave showcase of Australian musical talent in Europe will go on!!! The Aussie battling spirit will definitely prevail.
The biggest risk of failure right now to the showcase is that Arts Victoria has withdrawn its funding of the showcase after granting funding of the project only 2 weeks earlier. The letter written for funding approval dated on June 10th and signed by the Minister for the Arts Lynne Kosky MP was sent to Stephen and Renate Iorio. They have just received word today, June 24th at 5pm from Arts Victoria that they have withdrawn the funding for the Great Australian Wave.
Stephen and Renate Iorio have worked tirelessly to promote Australian musicians here in Australia and worldwide. They have run showcases, and helped blossoming talent with vital information, personal tuition, logistics, strategic planning, flights, grants for others, rental gear, and have done something very few others are willing to do; give out their valuable time, knowledge and contacts for free to aspiring musician in their quest to succeed in a very tough industry.
Arts Victoria have pulled funding because a German company call Popkomm has unfortunately decided not to run their annual music industry conference. Arts Victoria now think that there is too much RISK of failure in organising this event in Germany, but the board haven’t even spoken to Steve or Renate as to why they know this event is still viable. RISK? Because the bands are already committed to going, reneging on the funding promise means creating a bigger risk for everyone to fail.
The 12 Australian bands on the Great Australian Wave were to showcase there, as well as tour Germany and other countries in Europe. Stephen and Renate have been independently organizing tours and showcases with the band they play in, The Vagrants for 5 years and know the European market well. They have not received any funding from the federal government or the state government for any of their tours, or the tours and showcases they have arranged for other bands. It is appalling that they have never previously received help, but even without outside funding they have put on events to help other Aussie acts often at great personal expense of time and money. This touring and showcasing that Stephen and Renate call the Great Australian Wave in Europe has been the catalyst for many Aussie bands to get management, booking agents, record companies, distribution, publishing deals, promoters, and the all important contacts in Europe.
One very successful showcase organized in Germany was not at Popkomm. Although Popkomm is a great event, it is NOT the only show in Germany. When Steve and Renate found out that Popkomm was cancelled they spent days on the phone to assure bands they would not be left without an event to showcase at. They also spent days on the phone to contact venues, bookers, publicists and other music industry heavyweights to get their support of an Australian Showcase that would tour Germany in lieu of Popkomm. The reaction was astounding!!! Everyone would help, everyone would love to see the Aussie talent, and in true Australian spirit and determination, the Aussie bands still want to go and make the most of any opportunities that are available.
Since many people and bands have already put out money for flight tickets, rental, publicity and so much time and energy on the planning and logistics there was really no turning back. The only problem is now Arts Victoria (Vic Rocks) is pulling the funding that was promised to help all the Aussie acts!!! This doesn’t mean we will quit, NO WAY. The show definitely will go on. This does mean that we will have a much, much harder time of publicizing the tour and getting the professional equipment and personnel to make the event as successful as it might be.
I personally think that the risk to bands, and their futures are at stake here. I also believe that since private individuals like Stephen, Renate and all the Aussie bands that have started spending money that was promised in the grant approval letter from the office from the Minister for the Arts, Lynne Kosky MP dated on June 10th, that the Minister should live up to the promise, and signature, and help with what may seem like not much money to a government, $10,000, but is a serious lifeline for a battling musician who has already committed money to promote be at an event.
This needs to be turned over immediately!!! PLEASE help us, and pass this on to anyone and everyone you feel may be interested or can help. Make sure for continuity that the subject of the e-mail reads:
Arts Vic abandons Great Australian Wave
and of course send it on with your thoughts to the
Minister for the Arts, Lynne Kosky
lynne.kosky@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 9655 3300
The Office at Central Square Shopping Centre has now closed. Our new office is located in Suite 603 Level 1, 2 Main Street, Point Cook Town Centre, Point Cook 3030.
and
Arts Victoria
artsvic@dpc.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 8683 3100
Freecall: 1800 134 894 (toll free country Victoria only)
Fax: 03 9686 6186
Or go to the top (sixth) floor of The Australian Ballet Centre near the Arts Centre
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