Offering up some much-needed relief, the Ontario provincial government has announced plans to invest $2.5 million into the Unison Benevolent Fund's COVID-19 Relief Program and the Canadian Live Music Association.
The details arrived today via Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
She revealed the Unison Benevolent Fund will receive a one-time grant of up to $2 million to provide immediate support to individual musicians and industry workers, the vast majority of which have been out of work for over a year due to the ongoing pandemic.
Another $500,000 will be given to the Canadian Live Music Association to help foster the local music communities in a post-COVID-19 economy.
"Ontario's music industry provides thousands of jobs for musicians, stage and touring technicians, venue staff, agents and many others working behind the scenes," said MacLeod in a statement. "That's why it's important to support individual musicians and local communities, so they can continue to meet their financial obligations, obtain and create sustainable opportunities, and plan for their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."
Back in May 2020, the Ontario government invested $7 million to support Ontario's music sector through the Ontario Music Investment Fund.
However, it should be noted that in 2019 Ontario's Progressive Conservative government cut the Ontario Music Fund by nearly in half, reducing it from $15 million to $7 million.
The details arrived today via Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
She revealed the Unison Benevolent Fund will receive a one-time grant of up to $2 million to provide immediate support to individual musicians and industry workers, the vast majority of which have been out of work for over a year due to the ongoing pandemic.
Another $500,000 will be given to the Canadian Live Music Association to help foster the local music communities in a post-COVID-19 economy.
"Ontario's music industry provides thousands of jobs for musicians, stage and touring technicians, venue staff, agents and many others working behind the scenes," said MacLeod in a statement. "That's why it's important to support individual musicians and local communities, so they can continue to meet their financial obligations, obtain and create sustainable opportunities, and plan for their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."
Back in May 2020, the Ontario government invested $7 million to support Ontario's music sector through the Ontario Music Investment Fund.
However, it should be noted that in 2019 Ontario's Progressive Conservative government cut the Ontario Music Fund by nearly in half, reducing it from $15 million to $7 million.
