City of Mount Gambier will begin recruitment for a Regional Live Music Coordinator following a funding announcement of $25,000 from Minister for Innovation and Skills Hon David Pisoni MP. The State Government grant was awarded as part of the Regional Accelerator Music Program (RAMP) which encompasses a series of activities designed to support regional musicians and live music opportunities across South Australia.
The once-off funding opportunity from the Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment will assist in the part time engagement of a designated Live Music Coordinator. The role will involve coordination of a range of opportunities for the growth and stimulation of the industry.
City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM welcomed the news saying she expects the new position will increase the number of live music events on offer locally and boost the presence of performing musicians in the area.
“The inaugural RAMP roundtable highlighted that Mount Gambier has all the ingredients to become one of the best regional centres for live music in Australia but is currently hindered by a lack of communication, collaboration and the sharing of skills, knowledge and resources within the industry,” Mayor Martin said.
“The City already hosts major annual events such as Generations in Jazz, Red Hot Summer Tour and the Mount Gambier Fringe Festival, in addition to a number of annual arts and cultural festivals and bands and individuals who regularly perform in the region."
The success of events in Mount Gambier demonstrates the growing capacity of the region to embrace the arts, but also highlights the requirement of leadership and coordinated collaboration in this space for the industry to grow.- City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM
Council’s Strategic Plan ‘The Futures Paper 2016-2020’ identifies a number of objectives that initiate activity to deliver outcomes that benefit arts, culture and heritage in the City. These objectives are further supported by several recommendations presented in Council’s Culture and Heritage Plan, Public Art Strategy and Youth Engagement Strategy.
Recruitment for the part time Regional Live Music Coordinator is expected to begin later this month.
RAMP is one of several State Government programs supporting live music and the growth of creative industries in South Australia.
Media contact: Communications Officer Ashlea Watson on (08) 8721 2577 or awatson@mountgambier.sa.gov.au