The NSW Government yesterday announced a financial lifeline to major events and festivals across the state that have been affected by the latest COVID outbreak.
The funding will allow for major event organisers to pay suppliers, staff and recover other costs where an event is cancelled or significantly affected as a result of public health orders imposed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The response to the new fund has been mixed from the music industry, with the majority of the responses highlighting that while it is a good start, it's far from enough.
For an industry that produced $16 billion worth of economic, cultural and social benefit to Australia and with live music activity only at 6% of the pre-COVID era, industry professionals are urging the government now more than ever to provide more support.
"The announcement by the NSW Government to establish an Event Saver Fund is an important first step in ensuring that the live music industry in NSW can survive this latest wave," CEO APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
"However, we urge the NSW Government to also provide direct support to the artists, sole traders and small to medium businesses through a wage subsidy program, crisis support through Support Act and micro-business grants.
“Approaching the third year of the pandemic, we urgently need the NSW Department of Health to develop more sophisticated guidelines including vaccine mandates and mask wearing instead of the blunt instrument of ‘no singing and no dancing’ restrictions.
“It is ridiculous that live music patrons can sing and dance at a pub or festival in Wodonga or Coolangatta, but can’t a few kilometres away in Albury or Tweed Heads."
Music charity Support Act, which has disbursed more than 15,000 Crisis Relief Grants to music and live performing arts workers valued at more than $35 million has stated today that they "urgently" need support to keep up with current demand.
"After a brutal two years, the latest wave of Omicron infections is once again resulting in festivals, gigs and events being cancelled or postponed," Support Act CEO Clive Miller said.
"Many music workers are also testing positive to COVID-19 and being forced to isolate, resulting in them losing critically important income, along with the opportunity to engage with fans and colleagues after so long apart.
"It’s the proverbial ‘perfect storm’ that is putting enormous pressure on an industry which is still struggling to recover after almost two years of pandemic-related challenges.
"If you can, please donate today to help us continue to provide urgently-needed crisis relief and mental health support to music workers across all genres who are doing it tough."
For more details on Support Act's COVID Emergency Appeal, click here.
