Respondent profile
43 performing arts venue operators shared their experiences on how COVID-19 has impacted their work.
Respondent type
- 40% Sole traders
- 28% Companies
- 26% Not-for-profits
- 7% Freelancers.
Industry sub-category (top responses)
- 33% Theatres
- 30% Music venues and arenas
- 14% Entertainment centres.
The following findings are based on respondents’ reported impacts from 1 April to 30 June 2020.
Number of jobs
Jobs in performing arts venues fell 72%. This was based on expected versus actual number of employees reported by partnerships, companies and not-for-profits operating in the performing arts venues sector. There were significant decreases in freelance
and contract jobs (down 93%) and casual jobs (down 79%).
Actual versus expected revenue
- 20% - Percentage of expected revenue earned before COVID-19 support
- 50% - Percentage of expected revenue earned after COVID-19 support.
COVID-19 support
- 38% - Received COVID-19 support
- $54,257 - Average value of support.
JobKeeper
Percentage of business entities that received JobKeeper assistance for employees
- N/A - Freelancer
- 15% - Sole trader
- 82% - Company
- 50% - Not-for-profit
Alternative revenue sources
Percentage of business entities that needed to draw on alternative revenue sources to cover lost revenue
| | Freelancer
100%* | Sole trader
94% | Partnership
- | Company
91% | Not-for-profit
75% |
|---|
| Business reserves | - | - | - | 91% | 63% |
| Personal savings | 100% | 94% | - | 36% | 0% |
| Superannuation | 0% | 12% | - | 18% | 0% |
| Credit cards | 0% | 41% | - | 9% | 0% |
| Family and friends | 33% | 0% | - | 0% | 0% |
| Bank loan | 0% | 0% | - | 9% | 0% |
| Other | 0% | 12% | - | 9% | 13% |
| None | 0% | 6% | - | 9% | 25% |
* Small sample size. There were less than 5 freelancers and 0 partnerships in the sample.
Methodology
This fact sheet was compiled from a survey conducted in 2020 by CATALYSE® Pty Ltd on behalf of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. View the full survey report.