MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper and Mildura councillor Helen Healy have joined forces with local community arts organisations to lobby for a roadmap out of restrictions for the creative arts.
Ms Cupper and Cr Healy will be making a joint approach to the Victorian Minister for the Creative Industries, Danny Pearson, calling on the state government to ease restrictions to allow community arts groups in Sunraysia to open up.
Ms Cupper labelled current restrictions on the creative arts sector as unfair and unclear.
“The current roadmap groups dance studios with gyms, and that just doesn’t make sense,” she said.
“And despite multiple efforts to obtain definitive advice, it is still unclear what the rules are in relation to music lessons.”
The pair are working with community arts groups including With One Voice choir and Electric Light Theatre (ELT), who were forced to suspend their programs due to the pandemic restrictions.
ELT president Kylie Livingston said she was frustrated by the double standard the restrictions set between sport and arts for young people.
Ms Livingston became aware over a month ago that the minister was in discussions to align youth arts programs with sporting guidelines for under 18s – but so far, there’s been no wins for drama and dance companies like ELT.
“It’s so frustrating,” Ms Livingston said.
“This is the week we would begin our rehearsal season and we are completely hamstrung by the hold up and no clear plans for a staged return for community arts groups.
“Sport always takes precedent over the arts, but for 29 years we have provided a creative outlet for kids of Sunraysia and our community including parents and grandparents rely on us for providing a creative outlet and sense of wellbeing.”
With One Voice choir conductor Catherine Threlfall said for many of the choir’s vulnerable and disadvantaged members, losing their social outlet amid the social isolation of COVID-19 had been devastating.
“Our vulnerable members are desperate to be together and online is no substitute for connecting and singing together face to face,” she said.
“You can’t underestimate what being creative together can do for people’s mental health.”
