For anyone working in the arts sector, the events of March 2020 remain indelibly marked on the memory. Just two days after the World Health Organisation declared a worldwide pandemic, the Australian Government banned all ‘non-essential’ gatherings of 500 people or more on 13 March. Five days later this was tightened further to gatherings of 100 people, before the first nationwide lockdown was declared on 23 March. Now, 29 months after those first bans were put in place, and with COVID-19 still causing disruptions and last-minute performance cancellations across the country, the Australia Council for the Arts has released its report into the impacts of the pandemic on cultural and creative industries.

Photo © Ivan Radic, Flickr

While the report is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for recovery, it is glaringly obvious that workers and organisations in the arts and recreation sectors suffered disproportionately. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 94 percent were severely affected compared to 53 percent in other industries.

In addition to financial loss and issues around job security, the report highlights structural barriers to accessing general economy-wide income support and declining mental health as ongoing issues....