Festivals are in a time of uncertainty due to COVID-19 restrictions on mass gatherings, and without them the Far South Coast economy is likely to suffer further hits.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last month, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told the ABC he could not see large music festivals reopening "in the foreseeable future".
When Australian Community Media asked the Department of Health when restrictions would ease enough to allow festivals to run again, a spokesperson did not give a specific timeframe, but said authorities wanted to be "absolutely sure" the country was prepared for any outbreaks before relaxing rules.
The 2020 Four Winds Easter Festival was among several Far South Coast festivals cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but its organisers still plan to run next year's festival as well as a youth festival later this year, in one form or another.
Four Winds executive director David Francis said while there were restrictions for indoor concerts his organisation could use online streaming to show performances inside its pavilion.
Also, he said as the Four Winds Sound Shell was an outdoor venue, which could have less restrictions than indoor venues, social distancing could still be maintained at the site by restricting audience numbers.
"The concern for us and across the sector is you are planning in an unknown environment the whole time," Mr Francis said.
"My feeling is the changes will relax sufficiently and we will be able to begin some kind of music presentation, even if it's not at the previous scale in terms of audience numbers."
This year's Cobargo Folk Festival was cancelled due to the summer's devastating bushfires, then a later benefit concert titled Cobargo Unites! was also cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
"I think it's a really, really difficult time for festivals and there is no clarity at the moment," festival director Zena Armstrong said.
"We'd love to host a festival in 2021, but the whole of the entertainment industry is on hold."
When asked if the festival might take an alternative approach in how it is run, she said all options were on the table.
"But the great thing about the Cobargo Folk Festival is actually being there; it's not just the concerts, it's the whole experience," she said.
"As artists are doing it tough at the moment we want to make sure we are paying them for their time too.
"But we can move quickly and we are ready to move quickly."
The Far South Coast's economy was already grappling with the impact of the bushfires before the pandemic began, and festivals and events are large contributors to tourism in the region.
A Bega Valley Shire Council spokesperson said from an economic perspective festivals played an important role in activating the low and shoulder season periods by attracting people to the shire, and in turn supporting local businesses, employment and tourism more broadly.
"To the end of 2019, the Bega Valley Shire visitor economy is worth over $400million per annum with events playing a vital role in supporting this important sector," they said.
When it came to the individual festivals, Mr Francis said the Four Winds Easter Festival audience spent about $1.1million in the local economy while Ms Armstrong said Destination NSW estimates stated tourism from the folk festival generated about $2million.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
