A Financial Lifeline For The NSW Live Music Industry As Lockdown Continues

With the confirmation today of New South Wales' lockdown officially extending until at least Friday 30 July, the NSW State Government has announced a $75 million stimulus package for the already heavily suffering music and Arts industries.

As of today, not-for-profit and commercial performing Arts organisations, as well as live music venues, can now apply for urgent funding to stay afloat as the NSW crisis continues, with the confirmed funding making up part of the $5.1 billion package announced yesterday by the Federal Government.

In a statement released today by the NSW Government, Minister For The Arts Don Harwin spoke of the critical role the live events industries play in the NSW economy, and voiced the goal to cement certainty for those in organisations reliant on box office sales.

"As we work our way through the latest outbreak in NSW we want to ensure these organisations can survive the lockdown, and are ready to thrive once it is safe  for restrictions to be lifted."

Alongside the NSW Government, President of Live Performance Australia Richard Evans touched on the impact of the much-needed financial boost at a time when the industry in general needs it most. 

“Today’s announcement is incredibly welcome and timely news. Across the state, sold out performances have had to be cancelled," Mr Evans said. 

"This funding will allow organisations to continue paying staff and performers, and plan ahead for the coming months."

For many organisations and businesses, the reality of life alongside the ongoing uncertainty and changes forced by the ever-changing COVID pandemic has pushed many to breaking point. And with no clear end in sight of when this latest round of interruptions will ease, many in and around the live event industries continue to hope for a long-term roadmap to clearly light the way.

But today, many in the live music and arts realms at large have openly welcomed the move by the Government, with APRA AMCOS Chief Executive Dean Ormston driving home the importance of the Government support, while also highlighting the stark peril many continue to find themselves in as the COVID cloud of uncertainty still looms heavily on the music industry. 

"First to be fired, last to be hired, delivering immediate COVID-19 financial assistance for artists and music industry businesses will be a critical lifeline to our industry right now as many artists, venues and events face the complete loss of income for the foreseeable future, " said Ormston in a statement released today.

"We look forward to working with both Governments to ensure ongoing support is delivered where it’s needed most."

And while news of the support packages have signalled the government placing financial worth on the live music industry and surrounds during the current NSW crisis - there's still a lot of work to be done, even in other states not currently impacted by the recent outbreak according to Australian Live Music Business Council Interim Chairman Stephen Wade of Select Music.

“From our perspective, that’s imperative, if it does provide the opportunity to help those venues financially then from an ALMBC perspective we see that as an absolute imperative,” Wade told The Music today.

“Where we’ve got our work cut out for us is, when we come out of [lockdown], what capacities can we have in those venues?"

While the funding is a step in the right direction, Wade highlighted that other venues across the country, touring artists and more are also being impacted by the NSW lockdown, many of whom are still without support. 

The Arts sector supports 18,000 jobs across NSW and contributes $16.4 billion directly and indirectly to the NSW Gross State Product.

“It’s just too difficult at times for the [Government] to fathom and truly get their head around,” Wade said.

The latest announcements surrounding support packages has also been accompanied by the confirmation that the Australian Government has committed to applying the same level of Federal support nationally to any state or territory that experiences extended lockdown periods following of the declaration of a Commonwealth hotspot. 

Key elements of the upgraded Federal Government response for COVID-19 disaster payments beyond the Arts and live events industries include: 

• From week four of a lockdown because of a Commonwealth declared hotspot, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase from $500 to $600 each week if a person has lost 20 hours or more of work a week or $325 to $375 each week if a person has lost between 8 and 20 hours of work.
  
  
• Make the COVID-19 Disaster Payment a recurring payment for approved recipients for as long as the Commonwealth declared hotspot and lockdown restrictions remain in place. This will remove the need for recipients to re-claim for each seven day period of a lockdown.
  
  
• Amend the COVID-19 Disaster Payment so that a person would be eligible for the payment, including where they are still working, provided they have lost more than 8 hours or a full day of work.

Funding is now available to NSW commercial and non-for-profit performing arts organisations and live music venues impacted by the cancellation of shows. 

For information on how to apply, visit: www.create.nsw.gov.au