The Victorian Government Has Just Launched an Online Hub of Comedy, Live Music and Adorable Animals
Kicking off with live-stream performances from Birds of Tokyo, Diesel and G Flip.
It's no secret that the arts have suffered greatly in Australia's fight against COVID-19. With a ban on mass gatherings one of the first restrictions to come into place, festivals and live gigs were some of the first things to go. Dark Mofo was one of the first Australian festivals to cancel and, since then, events across the country have been cancelled and postponed. So, in order to keep a sense of connection going — between artist and audience, venue and punter — many have made the transition to digital platforms, including institutions such as the NGV and a group of housemates who created Sydney's first online nightclub. Now, the Victorian Government is jumping on the bandwagon.
Yesterday, Friday, May 1, Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley launched online portal Victoria Together. Designed to help support local creatives and keep Victorians connected, the platform hosts everything from cute animal videos from Melbourne Zoo to comedy sketches, ACMI's film screenings, wellbeing resources, workout routines, recipes, digital art exhibitions, theatre shows — you get the idea. It's a one-stop-shop for the state's already exisiting online content. Best of all, it's completely free.
In terms of new content, the state government has partnered up with independent music and entertainment company Mushroom Group to launch The State of Music: a weekly live-stream music series showcasing local artists. According to Aussie website I Lost My Gig, the loss of income in the music industry alone has equated to about $330 million and counting. This initiative hopes to help creators to digitise their content, supported by a grants and partnerships program of $2.35 million, as well as provide an A-class source of at-home entertainment. So, it's a win-win.
"We're proudly the cultural capital of Australia and we'll do everything we can to support our creative industries through this pandemic, so they're in the best position to support the many thousands of jobs that rely on this sector," Premier Andrews publicly announced this morning. "It's a very, very important part of our city and state."
The State of Music will run for six weeks, kicking off this Sunday, May 3 at 7.30pm AEST with some big names in the music industry. You'll catch performances by Diesel, Birds of Tokyo, G Flip and Michael Gudinski; an interview with James Reyne; and have Triple J's Rosie Beaton hosting the entire affair. Then, expect new content to be released every Sunday after.
Victoria Together is now live and can be accessed here for free. The State of Music will kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Sunday, May 3 and will run every Sunday for six weeks.
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