Government must step in with urgent funding package for Divine Playhouse organisers
The 24 Hour Economy Commissioner, Mike Rodrigues, must step in and throw his and his agency’s resources behind the organisers of Divine Playhouse to find them another venue after they were forced to close as a result of a vicious and coordinated campaign by far-right religious extremists.
Greens MP and arts, music and night-time economy spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has issued a statement on social media and started a petition to the Government for a $200,000 emergency funding package.
“This is a completely untenable situation, not least because the Minns Government is missing in action. So too the 24 Hour Economy Commissioner whose very raison d’etre, surely, is to support event organisers at times like this,” said Cate Faehrmann.
“Mike Rodrigues attended and spoke at the opening night of Divine Playhouse, along with the Music, Arts and Night-time Economy Minister, John Graham. It begs the question, where has the 24 Hour Economy Commissioner been since?
“The forced closure of Divine Playhouse will have ripple effects throughout the arts, music and night-time sectors in Sydney. The 24 Hour Economy Commission has invested significantly in supporting venues and event organisers as part of the Government’s Vibrancy Reforms and they must come out in strong support of Heaps Gay who are under attack.
“The Government has provided rescue packages for event organisers before, including music festivals like Bluesfest. The 24 Hour Economy Commissioner must urgently step in, publicly support the Heaps Gay organisers and their wonderful Divine Playhouse venture, and give them an emergency relief package,” said Cate Faehrmann.