By Oliver Lees
A key figure in the Macedon Ranges music scene believes the arts and events industry is “still a long way” from recovery after two years of changing COVID-19 restrictions.
With more than 80 per cent of eligible Victorians having received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the events industry has once again been given the green light to allow musicians and other creatives to perform in front of an audience, albeit with density restrictions still in place.
Macedon Ranges Music Festival organiser Jimmy O’Hare said although the changes were promising, it will be some time before the sector is able to perform at pre-pandemic levels.
Already in the process of organising his own festival in March, Mr O’Hare said he’d decided to only book Victorian artists due to the uncertainty of domestic border closures.
“The high vaccination rate is promising but that’s just one issue,” Mr O’Hare said.
“There are shows that aren’t going ahead, people still in isolation and ongoing border closures.
“So it’s still going to be tough for a while yet, because a lot of it is an international industry.”
According to the findings of a Victorian Parliament inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the events sector, the event industry “has been hit the hardest” due to its requirement for large gatherings of people.
The state government has announced a new funding opportunity for the struggling regional events sector.
The Regional Community Events Fund will provide small-scale festivals, cultural events and sporting meet-ups with a cash injection of up to $25,000 to assist in establishing a COVID-19 safe environment.
It’s set to complement the Regional Events Fund, which provides grants of up to $1 million to help bolster opportunities to reestablish the strength of events outside of metropolitan Melbourne.
Mr O’Hare said he welcomed the government funding, which he qualifies for, but would like to see more support for small venues and individual workers.
“We’ll be OK, but my main concern is musicians and crew workers that aren’t really going to see access to this finding till next year,” he said.
“Our general attitude is that we’re excited to putting on shows.
“The world’s never needed live music more than it does now. I encourage everyone to get out and support shows and some merchandise music.”
