May Book 2021 May 2021 | Page 9

ACCESSING AOTEAROA

ACCESSING AOTEAROA Introducing the Aotearoa Touring Programme

Lost Tribe Aotearoa
The exceptional circumstances of 2020 saw the NZ Music Commission create the Aotearoa Touring Programme - a new scheme to support the touring circuit for original music in New Zealand . The Programme is part of the government ’ s NZ Music COVID Recovery Package , and the wider Arts & Culture COVID Recovery Programme being implemented by Manatū Taonga , the Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Its over-arching goal is more local artists growing sustainable careers ; and increasing the access to live music for New Zealand audiences .
The aim of the Aotearoa Touring Programme is to help rejuvenate the live music sector and support the performance of local music in a time that has been really difficult due to COVID-19 . Emily Crowther is the manager of the Programme and says it is one of the most exciting initiatives she has been involved with , particularly because it is accessible by a wide range of acts - from acts that play in bars through to ones that pack out 2000 + capacity venues .
Crowther says ‘ We wanted to support artists of all levels – new artists and established artists – to get out touring again , with a real focus on getting musicians into the regions and playing all ages shows too . Part of the reason for the Programme was to give artists the confidence to include a town they wouldn ’ t normally visit on their touring schedule and play for audiences who don ’ t have the opportunity see great live music very often .’
The first funding round opened in October 2020 and since then the Programme has supported a diverse range of local acts in their touring efforts . Crowther has been glad to see artists responding by expanding their usual tours and going to more regions than they had previously . Already there have been shows throughout the country , from Whangarei right down to Stewart Island , and in the first four months of the Programme artists have performed in 46 different towns and cities – and even one forest , courtesy of Delaney Davidson .
The Programme had three Tiers of funding , with the short-term Tier 3 grants seeing established acts pushing themselves to play even bigger shows than before . This has helped towards filling the gap left by the lack of overseas touring bands , since many working in the industry rely on these shows for their livelihood , as Crowther explains :
‘ One of the big drivers for the Tier 3 fund was to support production companies through the winter months , so they can hopefully keep hiring the staff that would usually be working at shows by overseas acts . At every Tier , the Aotearoa Touring Programme helps provide work for sound engineers , tour managers , and others who work in the industry .
‘ As part of the Music Commission ’ s COVID-19 response , we introduced the NZ Music Venue Infrastructure Fund , which supported 85 venues across Aotearoa to invest in COVID health and safety measures and venue infrastructure , and now we can help by supporting artists to play in those venues right around the country . The effects of the Programme are widereaching beyond the music industry . It also helps local media because advertising spend is one of the eligible costs . Transport costs are also eligible so that helps vehicle rental companies , who may have less tourists hiring their vans . It has a huge
NZ MUSIC COMMISSION MAY BOOK 2021 • 9