The likes of CBD venues the Exeter Hotel, Lion Arts Factory and Ancient World are among 20 South Australian live music venues to receive state government funding via the extension of its See It LIVE Music Activation Fund.

Revealed today by InDaily, the venues will share in $850,000 of grants, which were announced in January amid a series of high-profile nightclub closures in the city’s West End.

Of the venues successful in securing funding, 11 are based in the CBD, six in the Adelaide metropolitan area and three in regional areas.

Recipients will also receive free business advisory services as part of a new collaboration between the Music Development Office and the Office for Small and Family Business.

The state government said the free tailored workshops will focus on business fundamentals for live music venues. One-on-one consultations to assess business owners’ individual needs will also be made available.

Ancient World co-owner Hugh Scobie told InDaily the venue successfully applied for and will receive $60,000, and welcomed the grant funding for the venue.

“It’s an absolute lifeline,” he said.

“We can now take the pressure off and not be worried about whether or not we’re going to shut down in the next, you know, one to three months.”

The funds received will used to pay bands and artists, Scobie said, and it would mean “certainty for all parties involved”.

“I don’t know whether or not the current cost of living crisis is going to continue to affect us and live music. But certainly, in the immediate and medium term, we’re very grateful to be able to receive funding and keep producing shows and keep showcasing South Australian musicians,” he said.

“It’s a very uncertain time and these are really challenging financial conditions to be operating in.

“We’re grateful and look forward to continuing to be able to operate.”

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said the government recognised “the importance of dedicated live music venues in South Australia”.

“Our live music venues play a vital role in supporting the careers of emerging artists and contribute significantly to the cultural life of our state – reflected through our designation as a UNESCO City of Music,” Michaels said.

“The See It LIVE Music Activation Fund brings together two areas of my portfolio, the Music Development Office and the Office of Small and Family Business, to provide targeted funding and business support to ensure a more sustainable future for our venues in the longer term.”

Venues awarded funding:

• Wheatsheaf Hotel (Thebarton)
• Ancient World (CBD)
• Grace Emily Hotel (CBD)
• Jive (CBD)
• Semaphore Workers Club (Semaphore)
• Rhino Room and Lowlife Bar (CBD)
• Murray Delta Juke Joint (Goolwa)
• The Three Brothers Arms (Macclesfield)
• Exeter Hotel (CBD)
• Big Easy Radio (Aldinga Beach)
• Lion Arts Factory (CBD)
• Unibar ADL (CBD)
• The Gov (Hindmarsh)
• Arthur (CBD)
• Woodshed (Royal Park)
• Nexus Arts (CBD)
• My Lover Cindi (CBD)
• Confession (Port Adelaide)
• Prompt Creative Centre (CBD)
• Broadcast Bar (CBD)