The peak body for Australia's live performance sector is calling for an $850 million stimulus package to save jobs in the arts sector, following an industry-wide phone hook-up with the Arts Minister.Thousands of artists, comedians and musicians have been forced to cancel gigs because of social distancing measures
The Minister, Paul Fletcher, heard from 20 industry representatives on Tuesday, including the Australian Recording Industry Association , performing arts companies and representatives from peak body Live Performance Australia. "This is a much longer timeframe than I think people were preparing for — we're planning for four to six months' closure, this is not just four weeks," she said.
Many other festivals scheduled in coming months have been cancelled, including Vivid, the Sydney Writers' Festival, Bluesfest, the Other Art Fair and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In the local screen production sector, work has been frozen on the two biggest movies underway — Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic and Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, after both productions were touched by coronavirus., while Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton was in isolation while awaiting test results.
The Australian Festival Association, an industry peak body, initiated a campaign to track industry losses.
Get stuffed, Australia’s health expenses comes first. Typical lefty self centered wankery. auspol
AllinThisTogether
I work in the entertainment industry and I can say that this is an absolute load of shit and I'm embarrassed to be associated with them.
Every man and his dog now have their hands out. Filthy beggars
They already have it. It’s called newstart...
Wtf for People aren't going to events, so no stimulus is needed, yes you're going to be out of work,but so are the rest of us. The nation is about to stop. Which we need to do yesterday
Maybe the MONEY should go to the HEALTH BUDGET......
Apply newstart like the rest of nation if you are eligible.
As long as its a loan paid back to the public purse with interest, I'm all for it.
Id rather nationalize QANTAS or another major Australian company when they require it, rather than fatten the pockets of private touring companies and overseas artists...
$850M to stimulate what? Their wallet?
Why that particular industry? Do they not realize that literally every industry is going to experience the full brunt of this thing? You can't stimulate EVERY industry, so none should be at all.
Nope, not going to happen. Just shoot drugs in an alley like the old days.
I’d rather see the Arts being supported than the NRL
Money big artist command, maybe their to ones to start putting something back.
I can guarantee you now, a lot of companies will be gone by the start of next season, they've all just had their end of year peak period eradicated.