Creative State 2020+ - Let's get Jazz at the table
Help put Jazz at the table
This is an urgent call to action for you to help place jazz firmly in the Victorian Government’s next Creative Industries policy via their current consultation process for Creative State 2020+.
We have till the end of the week to make some noise about jazz - please help spread this through your personal and professional networks
Together we can make a difference - submissions due Friday 30th August.
What follows has been informed by:
Victoria’s Jazz Industry Strategic Action Plan - initiated by Port Fairy Jazz Festival
public Jazz Forum held on Wed 21 Aug in Northcote
conversations with a number of key jazz organisations and individuals.
This activity has been undertaken voluntarily by me (Adam Simmons) as part of laying groundwork for the role I have been endorsed for by Port Fairy Jazz Festival to develop a model for a state-wide jazz industry platform.
Jazz Influence in Victoria
"They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But man, there's no boundary line to art"
- Charlie Parker
What is jazz?
More than a style, it is a collaborative process that connects all participants, that lives and breathes, inspiring conversation that invites all to participate equally and respectfully in creative endeavour. Jazz as a form has many variations, but jazz as a process stays relevant and contemporary, inviting new ideas and influences to build upon the tradition. The spirit of of expressive freedom and collaboration are at the core of dixieland jazz, big band jazz, be-bop jazz, mainstream and the the latest cutting edge contemporary jazz.
In Australia, this spirit takes on a unique form and deep significance due to the First People's connection, respect and listening to country and subsequently the improvisational skills required of the early European settlers. Australian jazz has developed its own voice upon the foundation of these collective experiences, but it also has something to offer in contributing to the way we we want to move forward as a nation.
Jazz musicians permeate across the Victorian music sector - just a few examples are:
The Cat Empire, Hiatus Kaiyote, Laneous, The Bamboos - all with strong jazz roots
Kate Ceberano, Megan Washington, Chelsea Wilson - jazz artists cross into mainstream
The Black Sorrows, Kutcha Edwards, Ian Moss - acts utilising jazz trained musicians
Ben Northey, conductor of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - studied saxophone & jazz
Paul Grabowsky - currently recording projects with Archie Roach & Paul Kelly
The Others - James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky and Kram from Spiderbait - a true Australian supergroup that breaks the mould
Jazz trained musicians populate the musical pits and bands for touring arena shows.
Contemporary music educational institutions are often taught and coordinated by jazz musicians
Creative Victoria do support jazz through some of their programs, but there is not equal access. I would like to acknowledge their very active supportive partnership with Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues during my time there, which demonstrated clearly their appreciation of the value of supporting jazz.
But despite jazz being a feeder for all music and a contributor to our national culture, in recent years jazz as a genre has been excluded from Creative Victoria’s definition of what contemporary music is, reducing visibility of Victoria’s jazz industry, restricting avenues of support and stifling its development.
Why Creative State 2020+ is important
The Creative State strategy is an outline of priorities for all of Victoria's creative industries for the next 4 years which guides the distribution of funding. Victoria’s next creative industries strategy is underpinned by four guiding principles:
First Peoples first
Whole of state
Whole of ecosystem
All voices welcome
Even if you haven't directly received funds through grants it is likely that you have benefited from Government investment. Many festivals rely on government funding to operate. Arts bodies and co-ops often receive funding through grants to put on shows. Large installations and events may also have received some government funding. In all likelihood at some point a show you've performed in was made possible because of these funding arrangements.
I would like to see the importance of jazz and its integral role within and across the whole Victorian music sector recognised and have equal access to resources and support for developing jazz as part of the contemporary music industry. Creative State 2020+ is our opportunity to join the conversation and be heard.
Scroll down further for a list of issues, strengths and an outline of how these can be addressed and/or built upon. These have come up through the consultation process so far and will form the basis of the submission I am writing. This is a beginning, not an end point.
Recognition, equality of access, a voice - its not too much to ask.
Your Voice is needed
Choose one or more of the options below - it can be as short or long as you like.
1. Post a quickie online - an idea, insight or provocation on the Creative State online ideas wall - 140 characters
2. Written submission - address any of the jazz talking points in this document - see below
3. Video submission (max 3min) - as a suggestion, this could be as simple as
name
age
location
jazz connection - performer, organiser, promoter, audience, educator
name at least initiative that you feel should be supported
sign off with “Please support Victorian Jazz"
4. Share this email - spread this message through your organisation, band, audience
5. Support my submission - co-sign the submission I am preparing
All submissions can be made online here - https://engage.vic.gov.au/creative-strategy
The deadline for submissions is 5pm, Friday 30 August 2019
For further advice and background info:
Adam Simmons
adam@tuoa.com.au
0407 703 801
Issues to acknowledge and address
Visibility/invisibility
Lack of organisational support and infrastructure
Lack of mainstream media support
Image - what is it? Too old, too new?
Gender diversity
Further engagement with First Peoples communities
Lack of accessibility for lower socio-economic communities
Lack of cooperation/coordination across the jazz community
Lack of skilled professionals in broader aspects of jazz industry
Strengths to highlight & develop
Jazz musicians are active throughout the entire music ecology
Jazz demographic crosses all generations
Coming together of different parties in united cause - Port Fairy Jazz Fest initiating Victoria’s Jazz Industry Strategic Action Plan, Stonnington Jazz Industry Summit
Image: shift thinking from what jazz is, to what jazz does…
ABC Jazz is Australia’s #1 digital radio service (Dec 2018) and Victoria’s community radio stations, which have had growing audiences.
2017 Melbourne Live Music Census shows approx 10% increase in jazz audiences since 2012
Jazz brings together generations and can be a leading example of how to embrace diversity without losing one’s personal voice
The next generation are already coming - embracing all styles of jazz there are young musicians performing at high calibre
Victoria is the lead state for music, including jazz - with many musicians drawn to Melbourne due to the performance and career opportunities available
What we need
Equality of access - Jazz to be acknowledged and included as integral part and feeder for contemporary music
Organisational infrastructure - peak body to connect, support, research and advocate
Develop education curriculum - to increase accessibility and participation, especially to address issues of gender imbalance and diversity
Engage with First Peoples with meaningful dialogues
Showcase Victorian Jazz Industry - annual international symposium presenting whole of state activity and connecting internationally
Support, promote and value career pathways into the wider jazz industry
Acknowledgement and visibility of Victoria’s jazz heritage - support Australian Jazz Museum to contribute to the complete story of Australian music at the Australian Music Vault
Wellbeing support for organisations and artists that are often voluntary and/or working under high pressure
Support for youth - establishment of a national youth jazz orchestra based in Victoria
Creative meeting places - repurpose underutilised spaces for easy community access for rehearsals, meetings, working space - these could be multi-artform spaces
Further resources
Creative State Policy 2016-2020
Victoria’s Jazz Industry Strategic Action Plan
Melbourne Live Music Census 2017
For further advice and background info:
Adam Simmons
adam@tuoa.com.au
0407 703 801
