Since New Zealand shifted to the red traffic light setting since January 24, one sector that has been most affected has been the events sector. Because of the restriction imposed in red light setting, gatherings of more than 100 people is not allowed, and hence big events are not taking place.
The move to the 'red' setting in NZ's Covid-19 Protection Framework has left thousands of people who work in the live events and ancillary industries completely without work for the foreseeable future.
On Wednesday, as a relief for the sector, the government has announced boosting support for the arts and culture sector.
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said, “The red traffic light setting, whilst needed to protect the health and safety of New Zealanders, has had an impact on the livelihoods of those who make a living out of arts and culture. That's why we're committing to a one-off $5,000 grant for self-employed individuals/sole traders who can show proof of a loss of income or opportunity to work. We're also extending the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme, the Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund, and the Screen Production Recovery Fund.
“I’m confident that our move to extend critical support schemes for New Zealand’s arts and cultural event sector will provide some relief and help our wonderful creative communities to get back on their feet.”
The Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme will be boosted by $70.7 million from its current $22.5m allocations. It has been extended to cover events planned before the move to red and scheduled to take place before 31 January 2023. This includes an extension of criteria to cover cancellations due to a lead performer getting Covid-19 or needing to isolate. The support scheme covered the costs of the artists and performers and technicians such as sound or lighting crew,
The Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund is being boosted by $35m, and organisations can now receive up to $300,000 – an increase from the $100,000 limit. The relief fund will now include a one-off $5000 grant to self-employed or sole trader practitioners who can show loss of income.
The Screen Production Recovery Fund gets another $15m, with $7.9m allocated to New Zealand Film Commission and $7.1m to New Zealand on Air.
Indian Weekender spoke to people from the events sector to know what this announcement means to them.
Simon Coxhead, Director, Motive Events
It is incredible news for the Arts and Culture sector and shows the support and hard work that Carmel Sepuloni has done; we are, however, very concerned that this same support and consideration has not been extended to the business events sector.
Hearing "for most of the country red is business as usual" is incredibly frustrating and lacks real awareness of what is happening in the sector. We have cancellations, postponements, and a real sense of cautiousness' to stay at home, not travel and certainly not attend a business event. But we are business as usual, right?
The business events sector is also in dire need of help and support, just as the arts and cultural industry see events that can't be carried out while red is in effect!
To show the scope of our industries and the effect we are suffering, in 2019, the arts and cultural sector created 92,000 jobs; the tourism sector achieved 220,000 jobs. These jobs cross paths frequently; for example, event catering would fall into both categories, venues (and their staff), marquee hire, security, live acts, event planners and organisers etc.
To say that only an "arts or cultural" event is to receive support is a direct slap in the face to corporate events. Does the labour minister for arts and culture have more sway than the tourism minister at parliament? Are our event sector and professionals deemed of lower importance than significant scale events within the arts and culture sector? Maybe the Minister for Tourism needs to understand the number of business deals created at corporate events that, if not able to proceed, would directly impact this country's GDP?
I personally want to know exactly what the tourism minister is doing to support our precious corporate event sector, which has been crippled again by the traffic light setting.
We seem to not be a part of this so-called team of five million we so strongly supported! Jacinda Ardern, Stuart Nash, Grant Robertson, please tell us are we still in the team, as it sure doesn't feel like we've been picked for your squad?
Stu Robertson, Managing Director, Team Up Events
We operate in the business events industry; therefore, while undoubtedly welcomed by the Cultural Sector, this announcement provides no support for the hundreds of businesses who have seen mass cancellations of conferences, meetings, and other associated exhibitions since the move back to alert level red. Our industry is in desperate need of reinstatement of the Wage Subsidy and Resurgence Support Scheme to ensure survival and retention of staff over the next 3-6 months.
Bobby Sohal, Event Manager, Vogue Entertainment
It's good that the government is acknowledging the industry, it's tough for some that are in this industry full time who have invested 100 thousand and above to their equipment for lighting and sound as they have nothing else to fall back on and a lot of the equipment would be mortgaged, paying interest etc. with no light at the end of the tunnel to know when this will come to an end, everyday business is suffering. The grant seems good and helps with a temporary fix for a short period, but we will see how long it'll be before moving forward.
Martin Avard, Senior Event Manager, The Trusts Arena
"With the change COVID protection framework to traffic light setting Red, our overall business model is limited to the type & size of events that can take place with the venue capped at 100 x pax. The financial impact for the venue is felt with events cancelling or postponing within our calendar for the coming months. The latest financial support package announcement is targeted at the arts & culture sector rather than event venues like the Trusts Arena. A very small percentage of events that are held at the Trusts Arena would be eligible for this support package so that it will have little impact for us as a venue.”
ISSUE
Leave a Comment