Arts to get another $10m from SA government for COVID recovery

Premier Steven Marshall has announced another $10 million in funding to help SA’s arts and cultural sector recover from the impact of COVID-19.

ACE Open gallery executive director Louise Dunn and artistic director Patrice Sharkey with part of its current exhibition. Picture: Morgan Sette

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The State’s devastated arts sector will receive another $10.2 million in emergency funding to create jobs and help fast-track recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

Premier Steven Marshall said the new funding would bring the State Government’s total arts support package, which has already included direct assistance for artists and rent relief for organisations, to $20 million.

“We know that in addition to the economic benefits, the arts play an essential role in helping people to connect, which is now more important than ever,” Mr Marshall said.

Funding will be aimed at four areas: Collaboration and partnerships between artists and organisations to create jobs, reopening theatres and festivals by creating new works, digital innovation to generate online content, and mentorships to support strategy and business development.

ACE Open gallery executive director Louise Dunn and artistic director Patrice Sharkey with part of its current exhibition. Picture: Morgan Sette

Arts Industry Council of South Australia chairperson Gail Kovatseff welcomed the package.

She said the government had “responded to the needs and advice of the sector” to produce a progressive package that invests “both strategically and broadly”.

“The investment is all new money and it will have a significant, positive impact on our sector”, Ms Kovatseff said.

Contemporary art gallery ACE Open’s executive director Louise Dunn said mentorships and collaborations were areas which could really benefit both organisations and artists.

“Digital innovation is also something that is so critical … to be able to get some further investment into those areas is very exciting,” Ms Dunn said.

AICSA will hold a webinar with the Premier and Arts SA staff to brief its members about the funding details on October 1 at 4:30pm.