The New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka Aotearoa is pleased to announce the Aotearoa Touring Programme, which opens for applications today.
One of the initiatives in the Government’s New Zealand Music Recovery Fund, the Aotearoa Touring Programme is part of the Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture & Heritage led Arts & Culture COVID Recovery Programme, which is focused on the recovery, regeneration and revitalisation of the cultural sector.
Through the Aotearoa Touring Programme, the Music Commission will support both emerging and established artists to undertake tours of New Zealand, with a focus on projects which will take original, live local music to regions and audiences across Aotearoa.
The Aotearoa Touring Programme is intended to help reinvigorate the live music sector and assist in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 in the domestic touring market. This Programme will invest in national touring costs, to enable more New Zealand artists to grow sustainable careers and increase the access to live music for local audiences.
The Programme is a matched investment scheme, where artists (or their representatives) can apply for 50% of eligible costs for a New Zealand tour.
Music Commission Chair Victoria Blood said “Live music is a hugely important part of the cultural landscape in New Zealand and our biggest employer of music workers. But in the COVID environment, people who rely on live music to make a living were the first to have to close their doors, and will probably be the last to fully re-open. Music makes everything better, and we’re hoping this fund will help make things better not just for our artists and the people and businesses that support them, but for all New Zealanders to get out and enjoy a wide variety of amazing live New Zealand music.”
Anna Butler, Deputy Chief Executive Policy and Sector Performance | Pou Mataaho o Te Aka, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage says funding New Zealand artists to perform live music on tour will allow certainty in planning and contribute to Aotearoa’s recovery from the impact of COVID-19.
“We acknowledge the challenges Aotearoa’s music sector has encountered due to COVID-19. This funding will help get musicians back out on the road again, performing original live music to appreciative audiences.
As well as supporting artists, it will also benefit those involved with bringing tours to life – from venues to supporting musicians, security to sound and lighting providers.”
Click here for more information about the Music Commission’s Aotearoa Touring Programme. The first round of applications will close on Tuesday 27 October 2020.