The Australia Council for the Arts has announced a support package for artists and art organisations during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Chief Executive of the Council, Adrian Collette (pictured) said the cultural and creative sectors had suffered enormous damage as a result of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis.
“We must do all we can to support the arts community, for whom the impact of COVID-19 is catastrophic,” Mr Collette said.
“Venues have shut their doors with little or no notice, organisations have been forced to cancel their programs and activities, and hundreds of thousands of arts workers have had significant negative impacts to their immediate and future livelihoods.”
He said the impact on the creative sector would also have a broader effect on the community.
“The flow-on effect is immense for the broader community and economy, not least the many thousands employed in related industries driven so strongly by the arts and creative industries, such as tourism, hospitality, regional and community businesses,” Mr Collette said.
“Importantly, the rapid disappearance of Australian creative work from our lives will have a major social and cultural impact on the Australian public in both the short and long term.”
He said the Australia Council had freed up funds to immediately respond to the situation faced by the arts sector.
Mr Collette said the response package included adjustments to the Four Year Funding 2021-2024 program; suspension of current investment programs and introduction of new programs focused on immediate relief; an online learning series to assist the sector to respond to the crisis; and First Nations support.
“The Australia Council has repurposed all available uncommitted funds from this financial year to immediately respond to the critical situation.”
He said all artists, art practitioners, arts groups and arts organisations should also be looking at the Government’s measures to provide hardship support.
The Council has also launched Creative Connections, an online webinar series for the cultural sector offering practical, accessible professional development.
