Arts leaders in crisis talks as virus shuts down sector

A member of the Opera Australia orchestra performs outside the company office in Sydney on Thursday, urging OA to reconsider its decision to stand down musicians for two weeks and for the federal government to provide emergency financial support to the performing arts sector devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP

The arts and entertainment industry is seeking immediate emergency assistance from governments as federal, state and territory culture ministers meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the sector.

The extraordinary meeting of culture ministers, who usually meet once a year, comes as performing and visual arts organisations shut down and face massive loss of income and employment.

Industry leaders have warned that their sector, worth billions to the national economy, is extremely vulnerable due to low artist incomes and the highly casualised workforce.

Live Performance Australia has estimated potential losses of $500 million due to an industry shut-down of three months, although the imposed ban on public gatherings could be longer.

The nation’s largest subsidised performing arts company, Opera Australia, has directed its orchestral musicians to take leave until March 30. Musicians on Thursday morning rallied outside OA’s headquarters in Sydney to urge the company to protect their jobs.

The company, which has cancelled its Sydney and Melbourne opera seasons, says it is working with the MEAA union to ensure employees will continue to be paid.

LPA, representing the $4 billion live performance industry, has called on the culture ministers for an immediate injection funds to protect the industry.

And the National Association for the Visual Arts says more than 5400 events have been cancelled, and reports losses to the sector of $27.6 million.

“Following five years of funding cuts, on top of summer’s fires, floods and storms, this disruption comes at the most vulnerable time that the industry has ever experienced, says NAVA executive director Esther Anatolitis.