Fears for SA arts scene despite $250m federal support package
Big movies or festivals might get a kickstart from the Federal Government’s arts rescue package, but performers fear it will do little to save their livelihoods.
Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- $250m arts splash to gets shows on the road
- Are you missing out on your latest subscriber-exclusive rewards?
Movies will be filming in South Australia again soon, while new research shows our world-renowned arts festivals could inject millions back into the economy – if marketed right.
But industry players warn it will take much more than Scott Morrison’s $250 million JobMaker package to bring the devastated arts sector back from the brink.
Veteran comedian Boo Dwyer, who has started a psychology degree as a Plan B since coronavirus hit, said the package would help revive festivals and other big events but everyman’ musicians, performers and artists might not be able to afford new loans.
“You’re paying all the money upfront for a production six months or so ahead with no knowledge of whether a) it will go ahead and b) you can afford to do it because you’ve just spent what money you’ve got on rent, and then if you do ... are there going to be enough people allowed into a venue to make it even viable,” she said.
She feared the entertainment industry might become viable only for people who could afford higher ticket prices and for wealthier performers, unless there was more support for it to recover.
Arts Industry Council SA chair Gail Kovatseff also welcomed the package but said there were questions over who would benefit and whether some artists and regional galleries might miss out.
She called for the State Government to commit $10 million for a specific local support package.
SA Film Corporation boss Kate Croser welcomed the support as a massive win, saying it would remove one of the biggest hurdles for SA’s $119.5 million film sector to get new projects underway via a $50 million fund to cover insurance if COVID-19 interrupted a production.
Cabaret Fringe Festival chairman Greg Mackie welcomed the $75 million worth of cash grants to get festivals, tours, concerts and other events going again, and $90 million in loans for new productions.
“We are a sector that contributes more than just bums on seats,” he said.
“We drive taxis, we drive hospitality, we drive hotel [bookings], so the cascade benefits of any stimulus funding to arts and culture does reach other parts of the economy.”
But he said restrictions could keep audience numbers low for some time yet.
Meanwhile, new UniSA research shows SA’s arts festivals could bring in more tourism dollars after coronavirus from interstate travellers if marketed more prominently.
MORE NEWS:
Guy Sebastian slammed for ‘career damaging’ move
SA level-headed as Victorians return to panic buying
Crows, Port ordered to play in virus-hit Victoria
“Across Australia, cultural tourists travel further, stay longer and spend more than other tourists, with more cultural tourists attending the arts than wineries and sport, so this is a strong market to capitalise on for South Australia,” Professor Ruth Rentschler said.
“There is a need to actively diversify the State’s tourism marketing strategy by including the arts, not merely as an ambient activity, but recognising some of the major arts festivals as key brand association.”
Prof Rentschler predicted the festivals may not recover fully from covid for three years, but said there was still major potential for them to help drive the state’s economic recovery.
About 4.5 million people attended SA festivals in 2017, including 73,113 interstate and overseas visitors, injecting $81.3 million into the state.
