Inside the $345m plan to restart, rebuild & reopen Australia’s live biz

Live Performance Australia has developed a $345 million plan to help the live performance industry reboot following COVID-19 shutdowns.

The plan includes capital investment in performing arts companies and productions to help them restart, and extending income support to businesses and individuals to retain jobs.

The ambitious program, announced today, includes big incentives to encourage Australians to return to live performance events as restrictions ease.

Evelyn Richardson, chief executive officer at LPA, said it’s time for the Federal Government to back the arts and entertainment industry as we enter week 12 of shutdowns.

“Unlike some other parts of the economy, a gradual re-opening process is not commercially viable for most of our industry,” Richardson said.

“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.”

The LPA plan includes a $90 million Business Reactivation Fund, which includes capital for market productions and tours and support for service providers.

There’s also a proposed Community Engagement Fund to help regional venues engage their local communities and to develop work opportunities.

The LPA’s plan also features a digital and technology budget, with $70 million earmarked for the Australia Council and a national See It Live campaign to encourage event attendance.

“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,” Richardson said.

“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 JobKeeper and JobSeeker for industry workers…”

The LPA two year recovery plan also includes longer-term initiatives to support the growth of the Australian live performance industry, including tax incentives.