Australia Council campaign urges vaccination as key to reopening of cultural and creative venues and events

October 9, 2021

The Australia Council for the Arts has today launched a nationwide advertising campaign, urging Australians to get vaccinated before returning to galleries, museums, theatres and other live entertainment venues.

Following the live music industry's #VaxtheNation campaign, the television and social media campaign - It’s time to take our seats, Australia (#TakeYourSeats) - is being rolled out across the country as of today, with an undertaking by SBS to translate the advertisement into at least eight languages.

Featuring an empty venues and outdoor seating, the campaign encourages people to ‘take a seat’ at a vaccination clinic before doing so at a live performance event.

Explaining the need for people to get vaccinated to support the reopening of the industry, Australia Council Chief Executive, Adrian Collette stated “vaccination is our ticket to reopening and staying open.

“We want to welcome audiences back safely, and to help our artists and creative workers to get back to work and return the vibrancy of live performances, exhibitions, festivals and cultural events to our communities, cities and regions.

“The vaccination targets set out in the national plan are vital to reopening – and staying open with minimal interruptions and disruption in the future. Our role is to advocate for the cultural and creative industries, and this campaign, calls on all Australians to take their vaccination seat, so that we reopen, recover and rebuild from the disruption of the pandemic.

“We’re on the right track, but after a year and a half of restrictions on venue capacity, interruptions and lockdowns as well as domestic and international border closures, high rates of vaccination are essential to providing greater confidence and certainty for the future."

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher added that the Federal Government’s “objective through the National Plan is that as states and territories open up, arts companies, promoters and festivals are ready to go.

“We want to see venue doors thrown open to audiences; we want to see the curtains going up; and we want to see performers coming on stage to a welcoming roar of applause.”

The campaign features seats at a range of cultural venues - from open mic nights, to galleries, live music and theatre. It highlights what is at stake – and what we can look forward to returning to.

The Australia Council is working to reach as many Australians as possible with translations of the video in Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi available from early next week. The video is also Auslan interpreted.

Click here for information on the Australia Council website.

7th October 2021 - Sydney’s museums and art precincts announce reopenings

5th October 2021 - Ticketmaster commissions two-part film series promoting Australia’s path to the return of live events

4th October 2021 - City of Newcastle agrees to back Newcastle Art Gallery expansion with further funding

1st October 2021 - Victorian Premier announces COVID vaccines will be mandatory for all essential workers in the state

29th September 2021 - Arts Centre Melbourne campaign showcases the value of the performing arts to the community

24th September 2021 - Arts Minister cites $10 billion in Federal Government pandemic support for the creative sector

23rd September 2021 - Uneven path to return of live entertainment in Melbourne and Sydney

16th September 2021 - Australia Council investment supports performing arts to tour nationally from 2022

15th September 2021 - Tour Promoters offer vaccinated Australians chance of free tickets

11th September 2021 - Come From Away producer insists performers must be vaccinated to return to stage

6th September 2021 - Leading entertainment promoters launch ‘Vax the Nation’ campaign

6th September 2021 - Tasmania’s MONA mandates staff vaccinations, reveals expansion plans

30th August 2021 - Major venues pivot to become mass vaccination centres

20th August 2021 - Outback music festival organiser to demand proof of vaccination for attendees in 2022

11th August 2021 - Australian live entertainment groups call for federal insurance guarantee

30th July 2021 - Australia’s lockdowns to end once 80% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19

28th July 2021 - Unvaccinated Australians could be barred from festivals, theatres and sport and entertainment venues

8th July 2021 - VMA says Australia getting vaccinated is the key to live entertainment industry’s road to recovery

6th July 2021 - New Australia Council research explains digital arts engagement

2nd July 2021 - Advertising executive appointed new Chair for the Australia Council for the Arts

4th May 2021 - Inconsistent capacity rules between entertainment and sport inflict further damage on live music

16th April 2021 - Powderfinger bandmates lead call condemning Queensland Government’s ‘double standard’ on venue capacities for sport and live music

22nd March 2021 - Australian Live Music Business Council calls on government to ease COVID restrictions on venues

19th March 2021 - Live Performance Australia calls for 100% capacity in all live entertainment venues

26th August 2020 - Australia Council highlights the significance of arts and creativity for Australians

4th May 2020 - Theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh says West End and Broadway shows will be ‘last to go back’

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