JobKeeper a lifeline for the arts, but may not go far enough

Andrew Henry, artistic director of Red Line Productions. Picture: John Appleyard

Small theatre company Red Line Productions has been forced into lockdown along with the rest of the live entertainment sector, but the impact on employees extends well beyond its four full-time staff.

Red Line works out of the Old Fitz Theatre in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo and has postponed the remainder of its 2020 season due to the coronavirus health restrictions.

Artistic director Andrew Henry said the company with four full-time staff had registered for the JobKeeper wage subsidy, available to companies that have lost 30 per cent of turnover.

But he said the cancelled productions also affected more than 50 freelancers and contractors who no longer had work with the company.

“They are not on the payroll, they invoice you afterwards, and we had to cancel every show this year,” Henry said.

Entertainment union the MEAA has warned the JobKeeper program may not adequately cover freelance artists and arts workers if they are not registered as a business, or have not had the same employer for 12 months.

The nation’s biggest performing arts company with turnover of more than $100 million, Opera Australia, also is seeking the JobKeeper assistance.

The company last week stood down most of its workforce on reduced pay after it cancelled dozens of performances, including the Sydney Harbour season of La Traviata that was due to start last Friday.

OA chief executive Rory Jeffes said he was awaiting more details on JobKeeper and that he expected the company would be eligible.

“From initial review this will certainly help OA continue to provide support to its people across the coming six months,” he said.

The JobKeeper subsidy comes as the coronavirus continues its path of destruction across the arts sector. Industry body Live Performance Australia on Tuesday cancelled the 2020 Helpmann Awards, due to the public health emergency.

“Our number one priority right now is to secure more government support for the hundreds of thousands of people across our industry who have lost income and work as a result of the shutdowns,” said LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson.

LPA has welcomed the JobKeeper lifeline but said Jobkeeper does not factor in the short-contract nature of work in the entertainment business and the “lumpiness” of ticket revenues.

She said it was unclear whether JobKeeper would benefit performers and crews who may work on many shows through the year. It was also uncertain whether companies can access the subsidy if a 30 per cent loss of ticket revenue cannot be demonstrated within a single quarter.

The body has called for an industry-specific aid package for commercial and subsidised companies to ensure the industry survives the indefinite lockdown.

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar, speaking on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday, said the government was keen to help industries affected by the rigorous health measures, including the arts industry.

The Australia Council on Tuesday announced details of its $5 million resilience fund. The funds are available in three streams: to help offset losses from cancelled activity; to help artists and organisations adapt to new operating conditions; and grants for “creative responses” to the crisis.