The live performance sector was one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and is still struggling to recoup and rebuild, said Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for the Arts since 2022, Tony Burke.
The Live Performance Support Fund will be a demand-driven fund that will allow eligible event organisers to access coverage up to a defined percentage of their anticipated revenue — supported by the Commonwealth.
The program will run from November 2022 until February 2023.
It will provide coverage for events affected by the nationwide requirement to mandatorily isolate following a positive test.
“While the industry is learning to live with COVID-19, it still faces significant challenges that threaten its viability,” Mr Burke said.
“With COVID-19 still prevalent and isolation requirements still in place, the industry desperately needs confidence going into the summer events season. Organisers still face enormous financial risks putting on events that cannot be commercially insured against COVID-19.
“A number of organisers lost their investments when events had to be cancelled at short notice because of public health orders.
“Those cancellations were devastating not just for organisers but for the musicians, performers, tradies, lighting operators, food van workers, hospitality employees and others who had been counting on income from those events.”
The scheme is part of the government’s consultations on its National Cultural Policy.
More information on guidelines and the application process will be available soon.
