[ad_1]
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Fleetwood Mac performing at Spark Arena in September 2019.
An events industry leader has called for “luxury” self-isolation for rock acts to help New Zealand’s ailing live music industry, as the incoming art minister is warned of major layoffs ahead.
The incoming Minister of Art, Culture and Heritage, Carmel Sepuloni, has been warned in a ministerial briefing that the cultural sector in general could face the loss of 11,000 jobs due to Covid-19.
Events industry leaders have called for more border waivers and an Australian travel bubble to help the live music industry struggling with a lack of international touring during the pandemic.
Vishnu R Nair / Unsplash
The live music sector has been hit hard by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Sepuloni’s ministerial report, released by the government on Tuesday, warned that many music companies and venues were “hanging by a thread.”
“Business for some Auckland-based production companies has declined by 80 percent, leading to job losses, sale of inventory / equipment and downsizing,” the report states.
READ MORE:
* Cast a $ 150 Million Covid Fund Now or You Will Lose the Arts Sector, Leaders Warn
* Shaping the future of Aotearoa’s arts and culture sector
* The events industry demands justice, as masks are considered sufficient in public transport.
Spark Arena co-owner Stuart Clumpas said they had laid off half their staff and saw a 90 percent drop in ticket sales due to a lack of international touring acts.
Clumpas said private events companies should be able to run “luxury” facilities for international rock artists to isolate themselves and rehearse for two weeks before traveling to New Zealand.
Lynn Grieveson / Press room
Incoming art minister Carmel Sepuloni has been warned of major layoffs in the arts sector.
“These acts don’t want to be the center of attention when they are off stage. Event before Covid, they would be isolated during the tour, “he said.
“We’ve talked to people who would come on tour if they could do that.”
New Zealand Entertainment Venues Association Trustee and Trusts Arena CEO Mark Gosling said everyone in the arts industry was “making it really difficult.”
The recent liquidation of the KiwiKrew roadie business, which employed 25 permanent employees and often up to 300 casual workers, was a sign of things to come. The company was based on international touring acts coming to New Zealand.
Stuff
Womad NZ, a three-day music, dance and arts festival, has been a part of Taranaki for almost 20 years. (Video first posted on December 4, 2020)
“They will not be the last of those types of businesses that are going to have problems or go to the wall,” he said.
“That will seriously affect our ability to endure big concerts. That is no small thing. “
He said a travel bubble deal with Australia could open up the region to major events touring both countries.
“We would like to see a lot of urgency about what that would mean for the events industry.”
Promoter Robyn Alexander of Pacific Entertainment said the industry was “holding its breath.”
“Nothing is the same. Everyone is doubting everything.
“We have all lost money … It has been a difficult road.”
Latitude Creative / supplied
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has struggled with lower ticket sales and events canceled due to Covid-19
Christchurch City Council venues and events company Vbase, which runs the Horncastle Arena, City Hall and Hagley Oval, had 50 people, or about 60 percent of its staff, laid off in June.
Vbase CEO Caroline Harvie-Teare said “it could be painful” for the live events industry if nothing changes.
She called for more waivers that allow non-citizens to enter the country for live events. British comedians Russell Howard and Bill Bailey, along with rock band Crowded House, received exemptions to perform in New Zealand next year after going through controlled isolation.
“That could give our industry a bit of international life to buy us some time before we fully open up.”
Sepuloni was told that the arts had been much more affected than other sectors by Covid-19.
Liam Gallagher performed at Auckland’s Spark Arena in December 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic closed the tours.
“In April 2020, the ministry commissioned an economic forecast for the cultural sector from Infometrics, which projected a potential loss of 16.4% in the sector’s GDP (compared to 8% for New Zealand as a whole) and approximately 11,000 jobs in work “, your report states.
The worst of job loss was yet to come, he warns.
“While some activities have resumed, financial viability remains a concern for many organizations in the sector.
“The creative workforce continues to face significant job insecurity and risks.”
