Arts Minister Paul Fletcher rules out JobKeeper extension

The arts and entertainment industry says the pandemic continues to affect its business.

Sydney Dance Company dancers warm up ahead of a show. Picture: Supplied/Roy VanDerVegt

The federal government has ruled out extending JobKeeper or a similar wage subsidy for the live entertainment industry, even though businesses say continued uncertainty and disruptions caused by the pandemic bite into their earnings.

A year after the first lockdown shut theatres, concert halls and other venues, arts and entertainment companies in many areas continue to operate at reduced ­capacity, are unable to tour ­widely, or are restricted in their ability to engage inter­national artists. Geoff Jones, chief executive of live entertainment and ticketing company TEG, said his company’s revenues were at 30 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

“We are selling tickets but we are not selling them anywhere near the velocity we usually do because of COVID restrictions,” he said. “We would still be entitled to JobKeeper until the end of this year, easily, and we’re not alone.”

Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said the government had provided $800m in JobKeeper payments to the creative and performing arts sector, plus more than $700m in industry-focused measures. “The government’s position is very clear, that we will be bringing JobKeeper to an end at the end of March,” he said, adding he would continue to monitor the pandemic’s impact on the arts and entertainment sector.

A report for the Live Entertainment Industry Forum last December found the industry’s contribution to the economy shrunk by 65 per cent last year, a contraction of $23.7bn. Sydney Dance Company, which is showing its production Impermanence at the Adelaide Festival this week, has drawn on JobKeeper for 82 staff. Executive director Anne Dunn said conditions remained challenging, particularly given ­reduced audience capacity and uncertainty about lockdowns.

“The other factor is COVID has introduced additional cost to our expense base,” she said. “We are keen to get back on stage, and back on the road, but there are still a huge number of barriers and very little contingency left in the sector. I think the industry as a whole is incredibly vulnerable and is holding its breath.”