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Covid-19 and regional arts
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March 17, 2020
These are interesting and concerning times we all find ourselves in. And we are very much all in this together. How are you doing?
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Image: May Gibbs (1918). Copyright holders – The Northcott Society and the Spastic Centre: www.northcott.com.au and www.thespasticcentre.org.au
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Already the industry and region was struggling financially from the drought and recent bushfires. The fall out from Covid-19 will be wider spread and longer-term still. Here's some resources, suggestions and updates.
Reconsider your event planning
On 15 March 2020, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard made an Order under Section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010 to force the immediate cancellation of major events with more than 500 people.
March and April are the very biggest months of the calendar for local arts and heritage activity in the Central West so seeing cancellations and knowing more are coming is truly heartbreaking. BUT, cancellations are very necessary and Arts OutWest strongly advises organisers of both big and small events to be proactive.
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IDEAS
How can we all support the creative industries?
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So much of our industry is a casual, sub-contractor or sole-trader workforce.
So many activities in our region occur on the narrowest of budgets.
Covid-19 will be crippling.
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Rethink that refund
If you are in a position to not require a refund for an event, festival, workshop or class that may be cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19 Coronavirus then please consider that ticket you purchased as a donation to the artist, business, organisation or community.
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Continue to #buyfromthebush online
Are you a Central West based creative or maker and sell online? Tag us on social media (we're @artsoutwest on Facebook, Instragam and Twitter) and we'll build a list, share your great local work and stories.
Creatives: Find and join online communities
This is where we can florish. Facebook groups including Australian Arts amidst COVID-19 and Arts Tasker - work, skill and community sharing during COVID19 have emerged. Find and share others. Contribute. Connect with us on social media and share your positive tips.
Art Galleries: use the down time to refine
Gallerist Michael Reid has suggestions on gallery owners and curators can keep culture alive without leaving quarantine. Read the Arts Hub article here
(Arts Hub have quiet a few goodle articles at the moment - worth becoming a subscriber)
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EVENT CANCELLATIONS
The hit to our local creative industries
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Already many major events have been cancelled or postponed: Ironfest, the Trundle ABBA Festival (which moves to October), the Cowra Festival of International Understanding, and so many local gigs, shows and programs.
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Tell us your cancelled events
We are endeavouring to log all of these at artsoutwest.org.au/whats-on/ not just to provide info to the public but, as with the drought and bushfires, this data helps in collective lobbying and reporting to state and federal government.
Latest list of cancelled events here
We also put updates on Facebook
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If your event is cancelled please let us know artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
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But not everything is cancelled…
Already some creatives are providing online options, like Simone Gough of Har-Monie Group Facilitation who already regularly offers virtual lessons on Ukelele for adults and kids (you can use your Creative Kids vouchers). Details here
Let us know if you’ve moved your practice online.
And here's the list of local visual art opportunities well into the future that you can start preparing for.
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The network of regional arts organisatons in NSW (including Arts OutWest) and Regional Arts NSW are working collaboratively on advocacy and lobbying to state and federal government. We’ll keep you posted.
As you can imagine a lot of conversations, a lot of financial modelling and creative thinking is happening behind-the-scenes at all levels of the creative sector. Here's some updates that might help you out.
Ways the loses to your creative practice can be counted up right now:
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MUSIC
The Australian Music Industry Network is gathering data from any musicians, music venue staff or support businesses that have lost work from both the bushfires and covid-19. Do the survey here
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VISUAL ARTS
NAVA (The National Association for the Visual Arts) is working closely with national peak organisations as well as state and federal ministries and government departments to understand these impacts and represent them in detail, so that government at all levels is in the best position to consider urgent policy and funding responses. Do their survey here
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INSURANCE ISSUES FOR EVENTS & ARTISTS
Arts Law Centre of Australia have said “the usefulness of insurance in the face of coronavirus came down to fine print in policies, and encouraged smaller performing arts organisations to contact them for pro bono legal assistance." If you're an artist who has been affected by cancellations where the fine print is letting you down or you think you've been treated unfairly get in touch with Arts Law. https://www.artslaw.com.au/contact/
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Arts OutWest office, at the moment
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We are currently still working from the office on the CSU Bathurst campus but have been advised by the university that the campus could be closed in the near future. We will then work from home (some of our staff already work remotely). We are cancelling or limiting all face-to-face meetings and ask that you call first before visiting the office.
For now our contact details continue to be:
Phone: 02 6338 4657
Emails: artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
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