Statement – Save the Arts, 9 September 2021
Australian Artists Fear Shattered Arts And Creative Industry Has Been Forgotten By The Australian Government
An open letter to the Australian Government calling for a vital reform in the way that the arts and creative industries is represented in the Federal Parliament of Australia has been left unanswered.
The letter was sent three weeks ago by Australian artists James Bustar, Mark McConville and Lindsay Webb to Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher on the 11th August 2021, before being sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier of Victoria Dan Andrews.
Three weeks later – James, Mark and Lindsay are still waiting for a response and fear that the Australian Government has forgotten about the importance of breathing new life into Australia’s arts and creatives industry, left shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As well as calling for reform, the letter also makes clear the devastating financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and creative sectors in Australia and the need for ‘industry specific’ federally funded financial assistance to support those in the industries who need it.
This comes after James Bustar, Australian entertainer, juggler, now turned activist, started up ‘Save The Arts’ after a gruelling 18 months and made a heart-rending video about the emotional and financial effects that no support has had on the country’s entertainers and the arts.
Through the ‘Save The Arts’ campaign, Bustar has sought to directly raise awareness of the governmental neglect and lack of industry-specific support that was decimating the artistic community of Australia.
It all began with small clips and challenges. The first challenge was called ‘An Apple A Day’, which challenged followers to throw an apple from screen to screen, from person to person, country to country. The challenge was a huge success, with 110+ entertainers from seven different countries globally participating.
Another successful campaign was the Arts Awareness Collaboration video named “If 2020 was a flight.” Bustar joined up with other artists to strip bare to illustrate they had been ‘stripped bare’ from their work.
Bustar said that nothing could have prepared him for the heavy price the Australian arts community would pay with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has affected every aspect of the arts and entertainment sector, everyone from shoemakers for production shows, to lighting designers, to circus performers,” he said.
“I am doing this from my heart for the love of the industry and not for my own worth. Entertainment must live on and we must stand to get our industry back on the road.
“There are so many entertainers (and other industries) who have had to step into other jobs to just financially get through this situation. It is truly heart-breaking.
“The Australian Government decided in March that the government subsidy (which I am well and truly aware didn’t benefit everyone) was no longer needed. Although I know first-hand of so many entertainers who have lost their livelihood. It is definitely still needed!”
For more information please visit www.savethearts.com.au and to read the letter https://savethearts.com.au/
https://youtu.be/hlYorBoUmoc
