$345 million plan to restart and rebuild Australian live performance industry

Live Performance Australia (LPA), a prominent body representing promoters, event producers, theatres, concert venues, performing arts centres, arts and music festivals, and more, have formulated an AUD $345 million rebuilding proposal for the live entertainment industry.

It is estimated that the Australian live music industry is worth $4 Billion, copping an estimated $340 million loss just this year due to COVID-19. Live Performance Australia's two-year "COVID-19: Live Performance Industry Rebuild & Recovery Package" poses that a similar figure will need to be disbursed in its goal to reopen Australia's live concert industry, which would be allocated in a controlled and gradual manner.

The LPA plan includes:

• $90 million Business Reactivation Fund which includes capital investments to restart and market productions and tours; support for service providers to the live performance industry (such as production and technical businesses, stage-hands, riggers, video, sound and lighting specialists);

• Community Engagement Fund to support regional venues to get local communities engaged and to develop work; an Australian Music Recovery Fund;

• Funding to help the industry operate in a ‘COVID safe’ way.

• Digital and technology innovation; $70 million in additional support for the Australia Council;

• Domestic incentives to help Australians reconnect with live performance events through a $55 million ‘See It Live’ household e-voucher scheme

• Travel incentives to attract international visitors to attend live events in Australia.

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

• Tax incentives for pre-production costs and live music venues;

• An Arts and Entertainment Loan scheme to encourage investment in commercial product; the waiving of visa fees for international touring performers;

• A contingency fund to support events which may be impacted by future restrictions due to COVID-19 outbreaks, in particular locations that require a targeted public health response.

LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson has said “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.

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. We look forward to working closely with governments at all levels to make this happen in the coming months…” Ms Richardson said.

Take a look at the full plan below.