Labour City Councillors are planning to introduce a live music fund to support Oxford’s musicians and venues. £20,000 a year over the next two years would be made available to help make events happen, if the proposals are given the go-ahead at the Full Council budget meeting on Monday 23rd February.
Cllr James Taylor is Oxford’s youngest ever City Councillor, and Oxford City Council’s Champion for Live Music, Events, and the Night-time Economy.
He says: “Oxford has a proud musical culture, with artists like Radiohead, Supergrass and Glass Animals, but high prices are strangling the sector and stifling new artists. The fund is specifically designed for new and upcoming local artists to meet the high costs of holding events in Oxford.
“This is something I strongly pushed to be included in the budget after meeting with groups representing the sector. I repeatedly heard that costs were the biggest pressure holding people back and stopping events from happening.”