Live Performance Australia (LPA) has today unveiled $345 million proposed plan to help the music industry recover from the affects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
LPA are calling for the support of the Federal Government to assist the industry coming out of the crisis.
The plan calls for a $90 million Business Reactivation Fund which would include capital investments to restart touring and productions, offer support to live music service providers (eg. production and technical businesses, sound and lighting specialists, stage-hands and more), a Community Engagement Fund to support regional venues and more.
The Business Reactivation Fund is proposed to run from July 2020 to December 2021 and would see $50 million provided to promoters, theatre producers and more, as well as using $10 million to ensure COVID safe compliance across staff training, hand sanitising stations, etc.
"As we enter the 12th week of shutdowns due to the public health response, it’s well and truly time for the Federal Government to get behind Australia’s arts and entertainment industry and deliver a comprehensive and properly funded plan so our world-class industry can get back to work," said LPA's chief executive Evelyn Richardson.
"We welcome the Morrison Government’s acknowledgement of the impact that COVID-19 has had on the arts and entertainment industry, but it’s now time for real action backed by substantial targeted investment."
"Unlike some other parts of the economy, a gradual re-opening process is not commercially viable for most of our industry. We can’t re-open venues that only have dozens in the audience. That’s why we will need a sustained and strategic investment by government to get our industry up and running again."
Additionally, the plan also includes a $55 million 'See It Live' e-voucher scheme to encourage people to return to live music venues.
"Australians have always been great supporters of live performance, and buy more tickets to live performance events than all of our major sporting codes combined," continued Richardson. "Our proposal for a ‘See it Live’ e-voucher program for households will help them get back to their favourite live performance event.
"It will take time for the live performance industry to rebuild, so we also need to continue to provide income support through programs such as JobKeeper and JobSeeker for industry workers who have been displaced by COVID-19."
Longer term initiatives in the plan include tax incentives, a loan scheme, the waiving of visa fees for international artists and more.
‘’Our $4 billion dollar industry will be a major driver of economic activity, jobs and cultural tourism recovery. Our number one priority is getting our venues open and our people back to work," explained Richardson.
"We look forward to working closely with governments at all levels to make this happen in the coming months. Getting our theatres open in spring is our first priority followed by our larger events such as concerts and music festivals. Our Kiwi cousins are back in theatres in the next two weeks with no physical distancing, so we believe our September timeframe is very achievable."
Read the full proposed plan here.
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