The City of Fremantle has welcomed Labor’s commitment to establish a $1 million Music Hub at Fremantle Arts Centre should they win the coming federal election.
Shadow Minister for the Arts Tony Burke announced the commitment at an event at the centre last night.
The proposed Music Hub would provide a state-of-the-art practice and recording space for young and emerging artists, along with ongoing funding for tuition that will connect new talent with some of Australia’s best songwriters and producers.
Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said establishing a Music Hub at the centre would enhance the city’s reputation as an incubator for contemporary Australian music.
“Fremantle is known around the world as a great place for enjoying and supporting live music,” Mayor Pettitt said.
“Not only do we have legendary venues like Mojos and now Freo.Social in the Old Drill Hall, we’re also famous for nurturing great talent, from rock legend Bon Scott to John Butler, Eskimo Joe, San Cisco and Tame Impala.
“Fremantle Arts Centre already has a live music program that runs alongside its exhibition and visual art residency program.
“The addition of a Music Hub would allow us to actively nurture the talent that drives the live music industry – a sector that annually contributes almost $6 billion to the Australian economy.”
Fremantle Arts Centre has established itself as one of Perth’s most popular live music venues.
In addition to the hugely popular free Sunday Courtyard Music series over summer the centre has also hosted some of the biggest names in Australian music on the south lawn, including Midnight Oil, Nick Cave, Paul Kelly, Angus and Julia Stone and Vance Joy.
Coming up next month the centre will host two shows from the reigning queen of Australian music Amy Shark on May 3 and 4, followed by global pop phenomenon Billie Eilish on May 10.
