Australia’s federal election is set for May 3, and Live Performance Australia (LPA) has called on candidates to discuss their plans for the country’s creative and cultural industries.
According to LPA, more Australians see a live performance than all major sporting offerings combined, whether it’s ballet and dance, children’s and family entertainment, circus and physical theatre, classical music, comedy, musical and dramatic theatre, opera, arts and music festivals, or concerts.
Additionally, the performing arts body said that more than two-thirds of Australians attend live events and there were more than 30.1 million ticketed attendances at live events in 2023. More broadly, 97% of Australians engage with the arts in some capacity.
The culture and performing arts industries are also integral to the country’s GDP, accounting for 2.5%.
“Going into the election, we understand that governments are operating under tight budgetary constraints with household cost of living pressures and the uncertain global outlook front of mind,’ said Live Performance Australia’s chief executive, Eric Lassen.
“But there is one thing we can be certain of: investment in our live arts and entertainment industry creates great jobs, builds economic resilience and opportunity, supports social well-being and enriches our community, and takes Australian creativity to the world.
“Although audiences have returned to live arts and entertainment since the pandemic, we’re operating in a very challenging business environment with significantly higher costs for production and touring; skills shortages; shifts in audience behaviours; and, cost of living pressures really squeezing discretionary spending by consumers.”
Lassen added: “There’s no room for complacency. We need to keep investing in current and future generations of Australian creative talent, with a smart mix of good policy and strategic investment that powers up the creative and economic potential of Australia’s live arts and entertainment industry.”
LPA’s key policy priorities including a 40% live theatre production incentive; a strategic approach for Australian live music; continuing support for Creative Australia’s role as the lead agency for public investment in performing arts; a business innovation and sustainability fund; a reserves rebuild fund to help organisations restore their financial reserves run down in the pandemic; and extending Public Benevolent Institutions (PBI) status to a wider range of arts and cultural organisations.
Additionally, LPA has focused on policy priorities such as national industry-led skills and training initiatives; building future audiences through more opportunities for children and young people; taking Australian creative to more audiences; renewing performing arts venues to support infrastructure and accessibility upgrades; and creating a local programming fund to support local presenters and producers.
Lassen concluded: “We look forward to working closely with the incoming government after the election to continue building a thriving and dynamic live arts and entertainment industry made by Australians for local and global audiences.”