Arts industry’s call out to Federal Government goes unanswered

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

An open letter to the Federal Government, pleading for more financial support, an acknowledgement of the level of frustration and despair across the sector, a dedicated arts and creative industries minister and more concrete timelines for the revival of the live scene has gone unanswered.

The letter was first sent three weeks ago to minister for communications, urban infrastructure, cities and the arts, Paul Fletcher, and was subsequently forwarded to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victoria’s premier Dan Andrews.

James Bustar, one of the performers behind both the letter and the stirring video campaign about how much entertainers’ mental health is suffering during lockdown, said entertainment must live on and the industry needs to get back on the road.

“I am doing this from my heart for the love of the industry and not for my own worth,” he said.

“There are so many entertainers (and other industries) who have had to step into other jobs to just financially get through this situation. It is truly heartbreaking.”

He also issued another rallying cry to the Federal Government to do more.

“The Australian Government decided in March that the government subsidy (which I am well and truly aware didn’t benefit everyone) was no longer needed – although I know firsthand of so many entertainers who have lost their livelihood. It is definitely still needed.”

The industry collective said they feared the Australian Government had forgotten about the importance of breathing new life into Australia’s arts and creative industry.

You can find more information about the Save The Arts campaign here, and read the open letter here.