Chamber of Arts and Culture Chief Executives Group COVID-19 Response Communique

Today the leaders of 50 Western Australian arts and cultural organisations met to discuss a co-ordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis that is severely impacting the sector.  As the magnitude of the challenge starts to become clearer, there is a growing list of needs amongst organisations and individuals.

Organisational Boards are going to be faced with a number of critical decisions and policy questions relating to the sustainability of their organisations.   The wellbeing of artists and workers in the sector was a clear concern expressed by the group with organisations needing to deploy a range of strategies to deal with permanent employees, contractors and staff. 

Jim Cathcart, Director of the Fremantle Arts Centre expressed the distress managers were feeling as programmes and venues close down.  “We know that household livelihoods depend on the employment we provide, and no one wants to be in the position of making these decisions”.

Data collected by website Ilostmygig reports the following statistics for individual arts workers who have listed WA as their home State:

• $21,3 Million reported as lost income
• 55,150 artists and arts workers impacted
• 29,236 gigs / events cancelled plus numerous exhibitions and sales

Chamber of Arts and Culture WA members have agreed to work together on a resilience programme to support organisations and individuals as they navigate the myriad of issues that will face them over the coming months.

Chamber Executive Director Shelagh Magadza said “It’s important that we act quickly to determine what we can do as a sector to support each other through shared information and workshops around critical issues.  We cannot afford to lose this precious infrastructure from our society.  Through this period and beyond, art and culture will remind us of our humanity as the world shifts around us.  A key concern of our sector leadership is how we can continue to contribute to the wellbeing of our community at this time”.

The group is calling on the State Government to clarify what changes are being made to the organisation and project funding it administers, and what avenues are available to organisations in distress.  Timely decision making, flexibility and streamlined processes are required to enable Boards and Executives of the sector to make critical decisions.