The global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused wide-reaching challenges for Victoria’s creative and cultural sector of a scale and nature we've never experienced before.
Creative Victoria is monitoring the changing situation with regard to coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria and its impacts on the creative industries and will continue to share information and updates as they come to hand.
On this site, you'll find information to help you navigate the current environment, including avenues for support and useful resources.
State of Emergency extended
The current Declaration of State of Emergency has been extended through to 11.59pm 7 May 2021.
UPDATE: New COVIDSafe Settings
From midnight on Friday 9 April 2021 new COVIDSafe Settings apply across Victoria.
To find out what this means for the creative industries, see our Restrictions summary and Q&As. For full details of the current Victorian restrictions, read the Victorian Government’s statement.
UPDATE: Victorian Government QR Code Service
To help Victoria stay safe and stay open, creative venues and facilities are required to use a QR code service that seamlessly integrates with the Victorian Government contact tracing system.
This means they must use the free Victorian Government QR Service or a Victorian Government Application Programming Interface linked digital record keeping system from March 26 (a 28-day compliance amnesty will be in place to 23 April 2021). This applies to the following types of creative venues as well as those in other sectors (see full list):
- Creative arts facilities
- Seated entertainment venues (indoors and outdoors)
- Indoor non-seated venues (such as galleries)
- Outdoor non-seated entertainment venues (such as Zoos, live museums)
- Drive in cinemas
The Victorian Government QR Code Service is free for all Victorian businesses, organisations, clubs and events. These records help contact tracers in the event a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) is identified.
For more information visit the QR Code Service page on the Victorian Government’s coronavirus website.
Victorian Travel Permit System
Victoria has established a permit system for all travel into Victoria from interstate and New Zealand.
From 11:59pm on 26 February, you will need to apply for a permit to enter Victoria from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.
The permit system is based on a traffic light system which allows for areas across Australia and New Zealand to be designated as green, orange or red according to their risk. Find more information about red, orange and green permit zones.
The permit system is for both travellers to Victoria and residents of Victoria returning home from interstate or New Zealand.
New South Wales/Victorian border communities will continue to have exceptions and will be able to use local residence identification to cross the border – such as a driver’s licence.
To apply for a permit, visit the Service Victoria website.
For information visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
Industry Restart Guidelines available now
When Victorian creative organisations, businesses and venues reopen and return to work, it is important for businesses and employers to understand their obligations and how to keep their workers, artists, audiences, patrons and the wider community safe.
Industry Restart Guidelines have been updated to reflect the latest easing of restrictions under COVIDSafe Settings. The guidelines, covering Museums and Galleries, and Indoor Entertainment Venues (including cinemas, performing arts and music venues) and Outdoor Entertainment Attractions and Experiences are available to download from the Arts and entertainment Services page on the Victorian Government’s coronavirus website.
Creative venues, museums and galleries with a retail or hospitality space should consult the relevant industry guidelines. Set building for theatre, film and television must adhere to construction sector guidelines.
COVIDSafe signage and resources for your workplace
As Victoria continues to open up and return to business, it's vital that venues and workplaces are COVIDSafe. The Victorian Government has created a collection of templates, questionnaires, signage and other resources to assist. Download and display these resources in your workplace and on your social media, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au
View these resources
Support Act Wellbeing Helpline
The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is a completely confidential and free of charge 24/7 phone counselling service.
Simply phone 1800 959 500 to speak with an experienced, qualified clinician about any aspect of your mental health and wellbeing. You can make an appointment, or request to speak to someone immediately.
Questions and answers for the creative industries
We have gathered the following information in response to questions about the current situation, its impacts on our creative industries, organisations and individuals, and available support.
New COVIDSafe Settings will come into effect from 6pm on Friday 26 March.
See our Restrictions summary and Q&As to learn more about what this means for the creative industries.
For a full run down of current Victorian restrictions, visit the Victorian Government’s coronavirus website.
If you are a current funding recipient and you will not be able to deliver on your project, or your plans have been affected, please contact Creative Victoria program staff. We understand these are drastically changed circumstances and will provide as much flexibility as possible, including changes to deliverables, KPIs and delivery platforms
Please get in touch with your client manager or funding program staff to discuss your needs. If you don’t know who best to speak with, contact our reception email and general telephone line and you will be directed to the right place.
Given these extraordinary circumstances we will be as flexible as possible with reporting and acquittals, please contact program staff to discuss your needs.
For organisations that receive funding through the Organisations Investment Program, outcomes reporting for 2020 has been suspended.
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