24 March 2020
Open letter: Academics call for urgent crisis support for the arts, live music
More than 100 Australian academics have signed and sent an Open Letter to the Federal Government, calling for immediate crisis support for the arts, live music and event industries. The letter is related to an existing proposal of an Industry Package of $750 million supporting these industries, and it was sent to the Federal Treasurer (Josh Frydenberg), Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts (Paul Fletcher), and the Finance Minister (Mathias Cormann).
'Significant and immediate support is now needed to protect the livelihoods of the hundreds of thousands of artists, managers, agents, crews, venues, contract and casual workers that rely on these industries', the letter reads.
'Australia's cultural future is now as much at stake as the livelihoods of its artists and musicians. The Australian music, arts and live events industries have been among the first to feel the immediate impacts from the Coronavirus pandemic; these industries are also the first to bring joy, music and art into the lives of Australians, and to give hope and a sense of community in times of crisis. It is time to give back.'
The letter, initiated by Dr Felicity Wilcox, composer and Lecturer in Music and Sound Design, UTS, is signed by 103 academics, and five non-academic co-signatories.
> View the full letter and the names of all signatories (pdf)
© Australian Music Centre (2020) — Permission must be obtained from the AMC if you wish to reproduce this article either online or in print.
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