Premier Gladys Berejiklian needs to urgently step in and support struggling artists, entertainers and other creative workers or appoint an Arts Minister who will, said Greens MP and Arts, Entertainment and Creative Industries spokesperson Cate Faehrmann.
“Artists, entertainers and other creative workers are on their knees right now. The COVID-19 shutdown has decimated an industry that employs more than 280,000 people in NSW, and they need our support,” said Ms Faehrmann.
“With the resignation of the Arts Minister, the Premier has chosen to leave a gaping hole at a time when it’s never been more urgent to have a dedicated Arts Ministry. This state’s creative workers are crying out for help and the Premier has chosen to hang them out to dry.
“Given that our arts and entertainment industries were literally shutdown overnight with no warning, all monies allocated in the last budget for arts must be urgently reprioritised. This needs a dedicated Arts Minister to give it the focus it needs. .
The first priority must be scrapping the controversial and unnecessary Powerhouse Museum relocation and directing that money straight into keeping our creative industries afloat through a combination of wage subsidies and grants.
“Now more than ever we need the arts. A thriving, productive arts and entertainment scene is vital in getting us through this pandemic and will be crucial for our economic recovery. When we get through this we need our artists, musicians, writers and all other creative industries workers to jump back in and once again do what they do best,” said Ms Faehrmann.
