Live Performance Australia (LPA), the national peak body for Australia’s live arts and entertainment industry, welcomes the reappointment of Tony Burke as Minister for the Arts and Susan Templeman as Special Envoy for the Arts.
LPA Chief Executive, Eric Lassen, said Mr Burke brought significant experience in the portfolio combined with a deep passion for Australian culture and creativity.
‘Having led the way on the development of the National Cultural Policy, Revive, we look forward to working with the Minister on the future evolution of the policy.
‘This includes the opportunity to further build and strengthen the capabilities and potential of our arts and cultural organisations to contribute to our economic, social and cultural vibrancy including through measures such as live performance production incentives,’ Mr Lassen said.
LPA also welcomes the continuing appointment of Susan Templeman MP as Special Envoy the Arts.
‘We welcome the Albanese Government’s recognition of the contribution of our artists and cultural organisations and companies to our national life, and the value of having strong and effective voices around the Cabinet table and within Government,’ Mr Lassen said.
More Australians see a live performance than all of our major sporting codes combined, whether it’s ballet and dance, children’s and family entertainment, circus and physical theatre, classical music, comedy, musical and dramatic theatre, opera, arts and music festivals or concerts.
‘Although audiences have returned to live arts and entertainment since the pandemic, we’re operating in a very challenging business environment with significantly higher costs for production and touring; skills shortages; shifts in audience behaviours; and, cost of living pressures really squeezing discretionary spending by consumers.
‘The Albanese Government’s return represents a tremendous opportunity to build on the strong foundations put in place by the National Cultural Policy and deliver great outcomes for our artists, companies and organisations, and audiences,’ Mr Lassen said.
