For the arts sector, the COVID-19 lockdown has been an unmitigated and ongoing disaster. In an industry that is renowned already for the fragility of its gig nature and precariousness of income, the closing of venues means not only have performers been thrust from work, but many who also relied on pay from jobs related to the arts such as bar work, sales and teaching have found they are unemployed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The question is being asked: do governments care about the arts sector? The $130 billion JobKeeper subsidy scheme has strict eligibility criteria - many artists have found they do not qualify because the nature of their work means they are with employers for less than 12 months.
An amendment to the JobKeeper Scheme moved by opposition MP Tony Burke to provide a support package for the arts and entertainment sector was defeated 29-24 in parliament.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released data demonstrating the extent of what has happened to the arts. Government restrictions have affected 94 per cent - almost every business in the arts and recreation sector - the ABS reported.
According to an AAP report, five in six operators in the sector say demand has dropped and their cash flow has taken a serious hit, while bout three in five arts businesses have applied for the JobKeeper wage subsidy. Last week's ABS data showed arts was the only sector where fewer than half of businesses were currently operating, and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance says the situation is desperate.
"Workers in the arts and entertainment sector have been stood down by their employers, their working environments (venues, sets and workshops) have been shut down by government decree, and they have been forgotten by the COVID-19 stimulus," MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy said.
For Ballarat artists, actors and musicians, the situation is similarly grim. While eight Ballarat artists will be commissioned by the City of Ballarat to respond to physical limitations of the coronavirus outbreak through the Be Kind - Be Creative initiative, the lack of work and security for hundreds of others in what's called a 'creative city' is ongoing.
The Courier has spoken to workers in the arts industry since the COVID-19 restrictions began, and to a person they have reported losing work and opportunities for work into the future.
Musician and teacher Geoffrey Williams says both he and his partner have had gigs cancelled.
"I also teach at the Victorian College of the Arts, and one of those classes couldn't be translated to online, so I've lost that for the moment," Williams says.
"For some of us it has been very tricky. It 's all very strange, but because there's no way around it, I need to some how make it work."
Musician Ari Lane of band Honey Hunter says all the gigs booked ahead for them have been cancelled, and while she is grateful to have another job she can work in, her bandmates are not so lucky.
"Look there's a local band that has had an overseas tour cancelled, so it could be worse," Lane says.
"Our drummer has found himself out of work. He's not able to work at all at the moment, and he's in a number of bands. He's just putting all of his time and effort into music and songwriting."
For visual artist Kim Anderson, the council commission is a lifeline in at time where access to galleries and her places of inspiration have been cut off.
She says the opportunity to create work with another artist is a gift when so many fellow workers are not only unable to make work so readily, but may be struggling to find an income at all.
"It's very proactive of council to be supporting artists. I'm surprised; I'd thought we be the last on the list."
