Young people from the Mildura area will soon be geared up to make a noise, thanks to a $10,000 Music Equipment Grant from the Brumby Labor Government.
Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad said the grant had been provided to Mildura Rural City Council to provide opportunities for young people across the region to get involved in music.
The grant of $10,000 will be used to purchase musical equipment ranging from microphones to drum kits, guitars to keyboards, and mixing desks to production software as part of the Victoria Rocks initiative.
Ms Broad said local young people had been singing out for improved equipment, and the grant would be used to purchase orchestral and percussion instruments such as a cello, clarinet, flute and 2 timpani (percussion).
The equipment will be used for rehearsals, performances and training.
The Mildura Council will auspice the Mildura District Youth and Community Orchestra to establish a musical instrument lending library in partnership with Mildura District Brass Band and Mildura String Ensemble for disadvantaged young people in the Mildura region.
“Our young people are very creative and often use their music as a way to make new friends and express themselves,” Ms Broad said.
“The music they make, community events they support and valuable skills they develop will benefit a large section of our community.
Mildura Rural City Council is one of 28 councils across Victoria to receive a grant in 2008/09 so to help our local young people make some music,” Ms Broad said.
Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino, said $1.3 million in funding would be provided over four years to help local governments purchase musical equipment for young people to use.
“Along with improved music production skills, by managing and maintaining the equipment in the ‘bank’ themselves, young people will learn a range of other skills,” Mr Merlino said.
“The grants help young people to learn all aspects of the music industry in a way that is hands-on and very practical, and has benefits that will filter-through to other areas of their lives.
“It will also provide them with the skills and facilities to put on better quality music events that other people in their community can enjoy.”
Successful grant applicants have also identified appropriate venues for the equipment to be put to good use through rehearsal and performance spaces as part of the Victoria Rocks – A Place to Rock initiative.
First established in 2007/08, Victoria Rocks is a four year $7.1 million Brumby labor Government Government initiative administered through a partnership between Arts Victoria, Office for Youth and Tourism Victoria that aims to assist budding musicians to unleash their creativity and learn new skills. For more information, please go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au