Australia’s Live Industry Issues Plea For Insurance Following Shock Bluesfest Cancelation
Expect the unthinkable to happen again. This time, the government must plan for it. That’s the response from the live industry, which is shattered by the late cancelation of Bluesfest.
The unthinkable happened Wednesday (March 31) when the Byron Bay Bluesfest was canceled by authorities on the eve of its 2021 event, torpedoing the popular festival for the second straight year.
Expect the unthinkable to happen again. Next time, the government must plan for it. That’s the response from a live industry that’s shattered by the late shut-down.
In separate statements issued Thursday, Live Performance Australia and the Australian Festivals Association called on federal and state governments to activate a Business Interruption Fund, an insurance fund for creative businesses to access in case of emergency.
“This is a watershed moment,” comments LPA chief executive officer Evelyn Richardson. “Our industry has worked with all governments to get our people back to work, our shows back on stage and touring. However, continued snap lockdowns and border restrictions are killing consumer and industry confidence. We have been shut down for a year. We can’t survive the next six to twelve months without some form of insurance.”
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A Business Interruption Fund is “now a matter of urgency,” adds Richardson. “It should be top of the agenda at the next National Cabinet meeting on April 9.”
At least one confirmed case of the highly infectious COVID-19 variant was confirmed in Byron Bay, resulting in state government shutting down the Bluesfest party just hours before showday.
LPA calls for emergency Business Interruption Fund after @BluesfestByron shut down.
https://t.co/Vb2Fk7Om5k@ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg @PaulFletcherMP @GladysB @DanielAndrewsMP @AnnastaciaMP @MarkMcGowanMP @marshall_steven @TasLiberal @ABarrMLA @fanniebay
P.C. Bluesfest pic.twitter.com/pAoOPmkR2z— Live Performance Aus (@LivePerfAust) April 1, 2021
Spanning five days, the popular camping event was designed as a COVIDSafe one, operating at approximately 50 percent of normal capacity and production, and featuring an all-local bill across three performance stages. This year’s fest boasted a daily capacity of 16,500.
“I’m in a bit of shock that one single COVID case can shut down a festival that so painstakingly put together a COVIDSafe plan in accordance with government regulations,” one industry professional told Billboard Thursday afternoon.” “It feels like a massive body blow to our festival industry.”
The financial blow is predicted to be measured in tens of millions of dollars for organizers, artists, managers, agents, crew, hospitality staff, caterers, suppliers, fans, the local tourism industry, notes the AFA.
“We have been calling for a Business Interruption Fund for situations exactly like this,” comments AFA general manager Julia Robinson. “We also need to get our touring routes back up and running between states and internationally.”
Our thoughts go out to the organisers, suppliers, vendors, staff, crew & fans who will miss out on Bluesfest tomorrow. We support a Business Interruption Fund to protect festivals from cancellations. Output & FTE was down 86% in 2020…and we haven't event restarted yet. https://t.co/LQuUse9k8g
— Australian Festival Association (@AustFestAssn) March 31, 2021
The dramatic cancelation of Bluesfest follows the announcement last week of A$135 million in extra support for the embattled live industry. “We welcome the additional RISE funding,” notes AFA’s Robinson, “but if that is the targeted industry support that we are getting, we need it flowing now before there’s no industry left to support.”
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