PRESS RELEASE

EPIC (EVENT PRODUCTION INDUSTRY COVID-19) CALL FOR IMMEDIATE GOVERNMENT ACTION TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF IRELAND’S LIVE EVENTS SECTOR WORTH €1.3bn IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE*

‘Never, in the history of staging live performance and events, has there been such a sudden and total stop to work, as happened on the 12th of March 2020. Live events continue through wars, they raise money for famine, they raise the spirits of a nation in times of need, and provide a focus in times of celebration. But now the stages are dark and the festival fields are empty and we as an industry need help to get through to the time, when once again, we will raise the curtain, light up the stage and turn on the sound to entertain Ireland and the world.’ Sophie Ridley, Chair of EPIC

Never in the history of live performances and events has there been such a sudden and total global cessation of work for live events professionals as happened in March 2020. The Irish Live Events industry has been decimated by the restrictions placed on mass gatherings and the need for social distancing on foot of the Covid-19 health crisis. For more than 3,500 full-time live events workers across Ireland, employment and revenue streams are now non-existent, with no real indication or guidance on when live events will return.

In response to the Covid-19 crisis in the Irish live events industry, the working group EPIC (Event Production Industry Covid-19) has been formed to represent the interests and concerns of the 3,500 individuals and businesses involved full time and the 15,000 people part-time in producing live events.

When we think of live events, that in 2017 had almost 3.5 million attendees with 12% of these coming from abroad, we rarely consider the workers behind the scenes who guide the journey of live events from an idea to an experience. These workers are the backstage crews, the small, independent contractors, the family businesses, the events professionals who form a dynamic, self-sustaining ecosystem of specialist skills and trades that are crucial to the presentation of all live events. Events workers bring to life concerts, festivals, sports, spectacles and community gatherings of myriad shape and size, audience and genre. They are the Production teams, the Sound Engineers, Riggers, Lighting and Pyrotechnics experts, Safety Officers, Event Controllers, Tour Managers, Venue owners and workers, Logistics, Security and so many more. Also, we rarely think of the 1.3bn in additional revenue generated by these event with every one euro pend results in an additional €6.06 being generated in the rest of Irish economy.

EPIC calls on Government to invest in the stabilisation and recovery of the live events industry to safeguard against the imminent collapse of hundreds of businesses and organisations throughout Ireland and the devastating knock-on effect that will have on employment and economy in local communities. EPIC calls on Government to invest equitably in the live events industry so that sectoral knowledge and specialised skill sets are retained, and the industry is empowered to mobilise and innovate world-class, safe, viable live events for the future.

The Key Actions proposed by EPIC are as follows:

• Extend the Covid Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme for Live Events workers until the mass gathering ban and social distancing restrictions are lifted and the industry can get back to work.

• Develop business grant support of 20% of 2018 turnover for SMEs in the Events sector, to ensure business stabilisation and continuation.

• Extend bank loan and lease payment breaks until mass gatherings can be reactivated.

• Direct insurance companies to re-evaluate insurance policies to reflect reduced risk, in public liability insurance, event liability insurance and vehicle insurance.

• Support rent assistance and rent breaks for Events workers, until mass gathering bans and social distancing restrictions are lifted.

• Invest in an Industry Assistance Programme to cater to the mental health and wellbeing of Event workers during this time of crisis.

• Reduce the VAT rate of 9% for the Event sector for 3 years.

• Remove the commercial rates for empty places of entertainment and warehousing of event equipment.

The busiest period for the live events workforce is May to September, with over half the residents of the Republic of Ireland purchasing a ticket to a live music event and over 400,000 overseas visitors attending our live events*. In 2020, this work has been lost in its entirety. It is estimated that this year will see a 90% + drop in revenue* within the Live Events industry, with 92% of Event and Arts workers incomes impacted.* The Events and Arts industry is worth 1.7 Billion Euro to Ireland each year.* While many other sectors begin their recovery, live events workers have no clear indication or guidance as to when their work can recommence. Many will be forced out of the industry and losing the workforce that facilitates the production and exposition of events will be catastrophic for multiple sectors, including arts, culture, tourism and hospitality.

Ireland’s Live Event industry is a thriving, viable sector which can recover but requires Government investment to do so. When mass gatherings are reinstated it is vital that this highly-skilled, specialist workforce will still exist, ready to power up the thousands of events that take place in cities, towns and villages across Ireland. The live events industry is embedded in the cultural fabric of Ireland. Live events workers are the glue that binds an ecosystem of thousands more, from artists and arts organisations to traders and vendors, local communities and national movements across the gamut of society from arts, entertainment, sports and business to education, environment, tourism and hospitality.

Live Event experiences bring joy to our citizens, create work for our people, enrich local economies and infrastructures, contribute to the national economy, drive tourism and hospitality, and are integral to the international perception of Ireland as a great place to live, work, visit and do business. It is crucial that the government moves to protect it now before it is too late. They say the show must go on, but there will be no show without live events workers.