Breathing through the pandemic: Performing arts challenges and responses to the mental health implications of COVID-19

This report presents research into the challenges faced by the performing arts sector in Western Australia during the sudden lockdowns that occurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic in early-to-mid 2020. The research includes a series of digital stories told by artists who were affected by COVID-19 lockdowns and provides both a historical snapshot as well as digital record of the challenges that were faced by performing artists in Western Australia during the beginning of the pandemic.

The research found that the performing arts sector was dramatically impacted by COVID-19 and performing artists and arts workers experienced significant changes to their ways of working and loss of income and work opportunities, accompanied by impairment to psychological wellbeing and increased psychological distress. While the sector was affected as a whole, particular attention should be paid to those who may be at greater risk for negative outcomes, including women and gender-diverse individuals, who may be juggling increased demands across multiple domains (e.g., work, domestic responsibilities, employment precarity) and younger performing artists who may be less established in their careers and subsequently experience higher levels of anxiety about the future.

Increased ongoing investment in financial and mental health support, particularly support that is catered towards the specific demands and challenges of the performing arts sector, will be required going forward to ensure the WA performing arts sector continues to flourish in a post-COVID society.

The recommendations include:

Future monetary support, opportunities or incentives for the sector to help attract back those workers who have left the industry.
Given the precarity and lack of financial support for many of the participants during COVID-19, access to a low-cost or free mental health service that caters specifically to performing artists would be a highly beneficial.
Work on strategy of “glocalism” in medium and long terms, to boost employment for local performing arts, help mental health, and as a future strategy to build on WA’s unique cultural offerings.
Ongoing support for performing arts organisations for the sector to fully recuperate from the effects of COVID-19, especially in the medium term. It could encompass means such as digital infrastructure, COVID-safe plans, or streamlined quarantine procedures and facilities for interstate or international performing artists.