The Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced  that the State Government will inject $50 million into the struggling arts sector which has been devastated by the coronavirus lockdown.

The rescue package is the largest of its  kind to be made by any state.

The Premier said ,that “we know that the arts is a place of refuge and a source of inspiration in these challenging times.”

Th e Government’s decision  has been well received by the arts community.

Belvoir Street Theatre’s Artistic Director Eamon Flack said, his award winning company was likely to run out of money by the end of the year if the Company could not produce and theatre.

“The Governments’s funding injection will pull everyone from the cliff’s edge.”

Opera Australia’s chief executive Rory Jeffes said that there were enormous threats to the survival of Opera Australia going into 2021.

“It’s going to be. beyond September until we’re back in the theatre with sizeable audiences, so while we are subject to health restrictions we will continue to need support.”

The $50 million initiative is on on top of $6.34 million announced by the Government agency Create NSW last month to support independent artists and small to medium arts, screen and cultural organisaions.

Create NSW will assess an organisation’s finances before making recommendations to NSW Treasury for the release of funds.

The arts sector supports 118,000 jobs and contributes $16.4 billion to the economy the economy Treasurer Dominic Perrottel said.

“The package is intended to assist organisations to hibernate so they are in a strong position to restart operations when health  regulations permit.”

 

 

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