La Boite pushes Government to reconsider JobKeeper criteria

The cancellation of La Boite’s 2020 mainstage season saw us facing a 75% decrease in our earned income this year. Federal Government stimulus packages, including JobKeeper, has saved the company during this extremely uncertain time. These packages have enabled us to continue to develop new work, pivot to digital outcomes, advocate and consult with our communities, continue to support our 12 full-time team members and activate – within the restricted limitations – our spaces for artists.

Although JobKeeper is beneficial in sustaining existing arts organisations, it fails to respond to the tiers within the arts sector and our colleagues are suffering as a consequence, due to their ineligibility to benefit. During the 2019/20 financial year we engaged more than 115 casual staff and 63 short-term contract artists and creatives. JobKeeper’s strict eligibility criteria meant we could only extend support to 25 of these 178 hard-working and dedicated team members. The current qualifying criteria places us and other arts organisations in the uncomfortable position of being unable to support the majority of our sector: those artists, creatives, technicians and crew not in the privileged position of belonging to a company or organisation.

Many Federal Government stimulus packages are due to expire in September. This arbitrary end date fails to acknowledge the length of time this crisis could impact those industries subject to physical distancing restrictions. While many industries resume normal operations over coming months, the arts continues to face an uncertain future. The end of September will not see La Boite return to business as usual. We are looking at a prolonged period of not presenting work on our stages due to the sensible and understandable restrictions on large gatherings. We are effectively in limbo and unable to plan with any confidence for the coming years. The arts sector was the first hit by COVID-19 and will be the last to return to normal. Australia’s response to this crisis in our industry now runs the risk of irreversibly impacting the creative sector to the point that it may be hard to recover. 

As Australia’s longest continuously running theatre company, La Boite will continue to advocate for the arts, locally and nationally. Our industry is essentially the creative force and voice of Australian culture and one that we cannot help but feel has been abandoned.

Claire Bonney
Account Manager
9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101
P: 0432 713 421
E: claire@aruga.com
www.aruga.com.au

Adam Brunes
Co-Founder
9/33 Vulture Street West End QLD 4101
P: 0421 233 609
E: adam@aruga.com
www.aruga.com.au