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Live Performance Australia (LPA) is calling for a targeted industry package advising that without this financial assistance there will be no bridge to recovery for many companies.

The shutdown of events and venues in response to Coronavirus has already cost the performing arts industry thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost income with LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson advising “we are on the front and back ends of this crisis, and without immediate and substantial support for under-capitalised commercial and Not-For-Profit companies, we won’t have an industry in the next few months.”

The economic stimulus package announced by government is welcome and critically important for the Australian economy by providing support for workers and businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Richardson adds “Australians who work in live performance or who rely on the industry for their livelihood have been the first to be hit by the coronavirus economic tidal wave and they will be the last to recover.

Richardson advised that they expected people and businesses who operate in the performing arts industry, including large casual workforce and sole traders, to be able to access some of the help that has been announced, including faster access to income support payments but stresses that  “many of our performing arts companies and businesses have seen their entire revenue evaporate overnight”.

The small business package measures announced, while welcome, will not make a material difference to 80% of our companies.

“These are businesses whose entire revenue has fallen off a cliff. Without immediate support, they won’t survive.

“They also have no certainty about when or if they will be able to resume operations in the future.

“As the Prime Minister warned, this is not a two or four-week situation. We are in this for six months or more.

LPA advise that following the second stimulus package announced, the industry needs an additional $650 million in targeted support measures to be announced in the next few days.

 Richardson added “today Australia’s live performance peak body and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) stand united in calling for a clear commitment from government that it will provide an emergency industry package this week. Otherwise, this will be the death knell for Australia’s world class live performance industry.”

For an overview of LPA’s revised emergency industry package click here.

Related Articles

20th March 2020 - LPA concerned over Government’s inaction in helping cultural sector survive Coronavirus crisis

20th March 2020 - Arts Ministers meeting fails to deliver support package as Australia faces ‘devastating cultural recession’

18th March 2020 - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison halts international travel and bans indoor gatherings of over 100

18th March 2020 - Perth Festival supports Live Performance Australia’s call for immediate economic stimulus

17th March 2020 - LPA calls for $850 million live performance support and stimulus package

15th March 2020 - LPA calls for urgent confirmation on timeframe for government’s ban on public events

13th March 2020 - Live Performance Australia calls for urgent government action to protect $2.5 billion industry

12th March 2020 - Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces $18 billion economic stimulus package

11th March 2020 - Live Performance Australia release Coronavirus statement

19th December 2019 - PAC Australia announces merger of key national performing arts events

3rd December 2019 - LPA reports live performance industry drives cultural economy but growth rate slowing

9th September 2019 - Touring regional performing arts to receive $1.6 million federal funding

22nd July 2019 - 2019 Australian Performing Arts Exchange to focus on programming and marketing

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