Local Government and industry stakeholders within key New South Wales sectors including music, entertainment and hospitality came together last night to discuss the implementation of a new 24-hour economy strategy.
Figures including the NSW Government's inaugural 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, Michael Rodrigues, Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Scully and Music NSW Managing Director Emily Collins attended the closing event for the Global Cities After Dark program on Sunday to flesh out the plan.
Some of the key takeaways from the discussion specifically for Sydney's music scene included:
Much more choice at night, of music and also other activities e.g. food
Cultivating a culture of musical discovery
24-hour transport and safe spaces
Ability to utilise all kinds of buildings and public spaces for cultural activations
Greater number and variety of event spaces
Money diverted away from pokies into music
Better access to and amplification of multicultural music scenes.
Financially stable career pathways for musicians and music workers
"Because of the way NSW, in particular, has managed the pandemic, we are going to be the focus of the world," Rodrigues said.
"This wasn’t the case before the pandemic. It is now.
"We’re so used to looking overseas for solutions - looking to what’s happening in London or New York. Now it’s like, ‘Well, you’re the first ones out of this pandemic; you tell us how to do it.’ It represents a big opportunity.
"Now is the time to grab that opportunity and think, what does ‘local’ mean, and is a focus on local going to be a core part of how economies come out of the pandemic?"
Scully added, "Celebrate local can’t just be a slogan. We as government and enablers have to genuinely invest in local.
"We have to resist investing in the glamorous imports, and celebrate and fund the local."
The news comes after the Federal Government announced that the arts and entertainment sectors will receive $135 million in funding following the end of JobKeeper on Sunday, while NSW Government has also announced a $24 million support package for live music venues around the state.
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