Top row, left to right: Destination NSW; Adobe; Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner. Bottom row, left to right: Destination NSW; Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner
Live Performance Venue Accelerator 2025
Applications for Round 2 of the Accelerator Program closed 2pm Monday 4 November 2024.
Please refer to the Live Performance Venue Accelerator Program Guidelines (PDF 3.09MB) for further information, including the eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and application process.
All applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of their applications by Friday 16 December 2024.
The program starts in early January 2025 with an acoustic appraiser visiting each venue. The workshops start in February 2025 with an in-person bootcamp in Sydney, followed by a series of online workshops over the following six weeks.
Round 3 of the Accelerator Program has not been confirmed at this stage. To be notified of any future rounds, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Program content
Workshop topics and coaching sessions with SMEs may include the following modules:
- Vision
- Exploring and defining your venue's vision for a live performance program.
- Business model and financials
- Understanding how to create a long-term performance program based on the vision. This will include a deep dive into costs and revenue potential.
- Space acoustics and sound management
- Best-practice sound mitigation, equipment and systems setup, and good neighbour practices.
- Programming
- How to find and engage with appropriate artists, curation and scheduling fundamentals, and contracting best-practice. This also includes opportunities to hear from artists, agents and partners.
- Marketing and audience development
- Building and engaging with a new audience, including social media, performance marketing, and analytics.
- Brand and venue partnerships
- How to identify suitable partners and pitch to them.
- Planning and DA (Development Application) - optional
- What to expect if planning to undertake capital works.
Accelerator Program benefits
The intended benefits for successful applicants from the Accelerator Program include:
- An individual and free acoustic appraisal of their venue
- A series of skill building workshops delivered by subject matter experts
- Networking opportunities
- One-on-one coaching from subject matter and industry experts
Past participant highlights
Hear what past participants of the Accelerator had to say about the most valuable takeaways from the program.
Hear from NSW Live Performance Venue Accelerator participants
Key dates
| Activity | Details | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerator applications opened | Monday 30 September 2024, 10am (AEST) | |
| Accelerator applications closed | Application form must be completed and submitted online | Monday 4 November 2024, 2pm (AEDT) |
| Accelerator applicants informed of outcome | By Monday 16 December 2024 | |
| Successful applicants’ venue acoustic appraisal | Appraiser will visit the venue for up to 2 hours | During January 2025 |
| Accelerator bootcamp | In person only in Sydney | Monday 17 February 2025 (PM) and Tuesday 18 February 2025 (all day) |
| Accelerator workshops | Delivered online | From Tuesday 25 February 2025 |
| Subject matter expert sessions | Delivered online | From March 2025 |
| Mentoring sessions | Delivered online | From May 2025 |
*Note: Accelerator delivery dates are indicative only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Department.
Who is this program for?
Existing small to medium hospitality venues in NSW who meet the eligibility criteria.
The ideal candidates are venues who do not currently stage a regular calendar of live performances and have a desire to diversify their business by doing so (refer to Assessment Considerations below).
The program would suit a venue that has an existing space that could be dedicated to live performance, without needing to undergo significant structural alterations to the venue.
A maximum of one Accelerator application will be accepted per venue. If an applicant owns more than one venue, they can submit an application for each eligible venue. Each eligible application will be assessed separately on its own merits.
Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria and provide evidence as requested in the application form.
Eligibility for Round 2
To be eligible, applicant venues must:
- be in NSW
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN) or be registered as an incorporated association with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or other Act;
- be an existing:
- bar
- brewery, and/or distillery
- café
- hotel/pub
- registered club
- restaurant
- winery
- provide a commercial on-premise food and/or beverage offering
- have an existing space suitable for live performances which has a maximum total patron capacity of 300
- operate, or intend to operate, at least twice per week after 5pm, and possess the relevant approvals (development consent) to do so
- have the relevant approvals (development consent) to operate as a hospitality venue and a live performance venue
- have business owner and building owner approval for staging live performances.
Ineligible applicant venues may include (but not limited to and is subject to assessment):
- venues that are not yet trading on the date the Accelerator applications close
- a business operated by local, state, or federal government
- educational institutions
- entertainment facilities (entertainment listed as the primary purpose on the venue’s development consent).
Please find further information in the Admission Program Guidelines (PDF 3.09MB).
Frequently asked questions
These FAQs supplement the information provided in the Program Guidelines.
Eligibility
No, both unlicensed and licensed venues can be eligible.
The Accelerator is designed for venues with little-to-no knowledge of how to stage live performance. Venues who are regularly staging live performance may not find the Accelerator beneficial. Venues that meet the eligibility requirements can apply. Applications will be assessed against criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines.
Live Performance Examples
Below are some examples of live performance activities that has been provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be an exhaustive list:
- Theatre and musical theatre
- Live music
- Cabaret
- Opera
- Dance performances
- Classical music and choral performances
- Poetry slams and readings
- Comedy
- Live immersive and interactive experiences
- Live DJs
- Live art murals
Other examples of live performance activities may be considered at the discretion of the assessment panel.
No, hospitality venues with a total capacity over 300 patrons in the proposed live performance space are not eligible to apply.
Up to 30 eligible venues will be accepted into the program. Refer to the Program Guidelines for further information on how applications will be competitively assessed.
Ineligibility
If your submitted application is deemed ineligible, your application will not proceed to assessment. You will be advised via email.
Applying
If you require assistance with your application form, please contact us via mail:
A maximum of one Accelerator application will be accepted per venue. If you own more than one venue, you can submit an application for each eligible venue. Each application will be considered separately.
Your application must be received through our secure online form. Use the ‘apply now’ button on this webpage.
No. The form does not allow multiple visits so you cannot save as a draft and re-open it later. All information must be inputted in a single session. Please review the questions and gather your information in a word document before starting.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has the discretion to accept late applications only where it would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 4 November 2024, 2pm (AEDT).
Application Assessment Process
Places in the Accelerator are limited, and priority will be given to applicants who do not have existing skills to stage live performances, and whose venue vision provides potential beneficial outcomes for the local community.
No further information can be accepted, or changes made to your application after you submit it.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner may, at its sole discretion, and at any stage of the application process, request additional information from an applicant, provided it does not give the applicant an advantage over other applicants.
The Live Performance Venue Grant Program has not been confirmed at this stage. There may be, however, grants available to live music venues through Sound NSW as part of the Venues Unlocked program.
Application Outcome
All applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome of their applications by Friday 16 December 2024.
The Live Performance Venue Accelerator will start with an acoustic appraisal at your venue in January (must occur prior to Monday 3 February). Workshops start in February 2025 with an in-person bootcamp in Sydney on 17 and 18 February. This will be followed by a six week series of online workshops.
To get the most out of the Accelerator, participants must attend the in-person bootcamp in Sydney and participate in all mandatory online workshops.
Participants may be required to complete some elements of the Accelerator in their own time, in preparation for upcoming sessions.
Venues that do not attend mandatory sessions may have their place on the Accelerator discontinued.
The time commitment is a minimum of 31 hours per successful venue. This is anticipated to involve:
- 1.5 days in person in Sydney in February 2025
- 2.5 hours per week over the following six weeks
- Up to 4 hours on-to-one coaching and mentoring from April to June 2025
The schedule of workshops will be sent to successful applicants in their Invitation Letter in the first half of December.
Participating venues will need to register up to 2 representative/s to attend the Accelerator.
General
Other eligible live performance activities may be included at the discretion of the assessment panel.
The in-person bootcamp will be held in a central location in the Sydney CBD.
The in-person bootcamp in Sydney will take place Monday 17 February 2025 in the afternoon/evening and Tuesday 18 February 2025 9am to 5pm. Times and dates are subject to change and all successful applicants will be notified if this occurs.
The online workshops are approximately 2.5 hours each, per week, over a six-week period.
- Participants will be provided with their venue acoustic report, bootcamp, workshops, mentoring and coaching free of charge. Participants will be provided with dinner, breakfast and lunch during the bootcamp.
- Travel costs, including meals whilst travelling, are the responsibility of the participants.
- If the participant's venue is located outside Metropolitan Sydney, they are entitled to one night's accommodation to attend the in-person bootcamp in Sydney. Specific eligibility criteria is outlined below.
- Regional NSW participants, where their venue is located in the Central Coast & Hunter, Northern, Western and Southern Regions, are eligible for one night’s accommodation for the purpose of attending the bootcamp. Hotel bookings will be organised by the Department in collaboration with the NSW government’s travel provider.
- Up to two people per venue are entitled to one night’s accommodation for the purpose of attending the bootcamp.
- For consistency and verifiability, the NSW Department of Planning’s map of ‘Regional Boundaries NSW’ will be used to determine eligibility.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner may request periodical reports following the completion of the Accelerator to help measure the success of the program. This will be outlined in the Participant Agreement. Participants may also be required to participate in case studies and provide testimonials and/or venue images/video for use in promotional material.
Contact us
For further information or clarification, please contact us at: