September 8, 2020 by Erika Beatty

As COVID wreaks havoc in the performing arts, do we still need a national opera company?

Artists / Artist Management, Change management, Coronavirus or COVID-19, Cultural organization, Distance economy, Grants and Public Support, Opera, Research, Risk management, Scenario planning, Structural change, Venues and facilities

By Peter Tregear

“Anyone looking for evidence of just how devastating the COVID-19 pandemic has been to Australia’s performing arts industry need look no further than its flagship company, Opera Australia.

Only last year it was boasting an operating surplus. Last month, however, Chief Executive Rory Jeffes announced an organisational restructure, which the industry union claims could result in up to 25% of permanent staff losing their jobs.

The aim of this restructure, employees were told, was to better align the organisation to the changing environment of COVID-19 with a new operating model. But what, exactly, should that model be?”

Source: The Conversation



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