South Australian Govt. commits over $3m for creative hub

The South Australian Government has committed $3.09 million over the next four years to set up a creative precinct in Adelaide.

Announced as part of the 2013 budget, the St.Paul’s Creative Centre and a Music Development Office will be set up at St Paul’s complex on Pulteney St.

The 24/7 hub will house organisations, musicians and entrepreneurs, among them the state’s peak music association Music SA.

The Government expects up to 200 people to use its facilities each day. The Centre will provide business skills and mentoring to the arts and creative industries, and links to the Australian and global markets. This includes managing an international group of mentors, many of whom started out in the SA music industry.

Premier Jay Weatherill (who told us last year that he used to sneak into music venues underage) said the Music Development Office is set up as a response to the 49 recommendations made by UK festival promoter Martin Elbourne, who served as SA’s Live Music Thinker in Residence. The Government has so far adopted all 49 of Elbourne’s recommendations, delivered last October.

Weatherill explained: “The Music Development Office will sit within a broader Creative Centre and would combine the expertise and programs of Arts SA and DMITRE [Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy] to provide targeted strategic support to the contemporary music industry.

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“Adelaide has always produced talented musicians and entrepreneurs, the Martin Elbourne residency brought renewed attention to our industry and has identified real potential for growth, and we intend to support this growth through targeted investment and support.”

Music SA’s General Manager, David Grice, called the move “a fantastic step forward for music in South Australia and we look forward to working closely with the Music Development Office to build value and sustainability for the SA music industry.” He added, “The music industry is crying out for a new way of thinking and this announcement will bring new life to our industry.”

Director of Wonderlick Entertainment, Stu MacQueen, will be among those providing advice to managers and music professionals to help them succeed.

“It is a notoriously difficult industry to get a start in, so I look forward to helping SA’s artists and entrepreneurs gain national and international industry exposure for the artists they represent,” he said.