WA country music artist Adele Oliver has only ever expected to break even to cover her costs when touring.
But the last gig of her recent tour — which covered a total of 1,800 kilometres over eight dates — cost her money due to the escalating price of fuel.
“Now I would not be able to make an income being on the road,” she said.
“It’s probably never been a great career choice, but now more than ever.”
The Broome-based singer songwriter estimates half the income from her latest gig went to fuel alone. (Supplied: Adele Oliver)
She said there was a strong feeling of uncertainty among touring artists, and she was now looking for other work to supplement her income.
Remote venues look local
She’s not alone.
Esperance booking company owner Kyron Smithson said fuel costs meant locals could expect fewer visits from touring artists and more gigs by local artists.
“It’s already a stressful life, so the more pressure you put on that … well there’s just going to be less people moving around.”
He has been trying to book multiple shows for touring artists visiting Esperance and negotiating higher prices to cover costs.
Kyron Smithson, pictured performing, says if they are able, venues should help cover the costs of fuel for touring artists. (Supplied: Kyron Smithson)
Townsville-based street artist Garth Jankovic, who has spent 20 years painting murals in remote locations, is also adapting to make touring more viable.
For years, street artist Garth Jankovic has travelled to remote communities. (Supplied: Garth Jankovic)
He said there were real concerns about getting stuck on the road with fuel supplies uncertain.
“It’s also about safety, about getting places and that you might not necessarily be able to get back [from],” he said.
Arts ‘needed more than ever’
Mr Jankovic, who works in remote places such as Doomadgee, Tennant Creek and Palm Island, said he would need to be savvy as corporations start to pull back on arts funding.
“It’s a bit of a matter of survival … I’ve got to try and stay ahead, one step ahead,” he said.
Garth Jankovic says art is needed to uplift communities now more than ever. (Supplied: Garth Jankovic)
This would involve planning multiple jobs on long trips, travelling the outback in winter to reduce air-conditioning use, and prioritising local jobs.
“When the whole of society seems to sometimes take a little bit of a downturn, it’s actually the arts, I believe, we need more than anything else,” he said.
Garth Jankovic teaches art programs at remote schools. (Supplied: Garth Jankovic)
“But ironically it’s usually the first thing that gets cut.
“Now more than ever you need the arts to uplift people’s spirits.”
Arts on the brink
Ms Oliver said the challenges of regional touring would be felt across the entire industry.
“You can see the slower nature of ticket sales, you’ve started to see people rein in their spending,” she said.
Mr Smithson said audiences would miss out on seeing bigger acts and opportunities for emerging regional artists would be limited if touring became more restrictive.
Mr Jankovic’s mural in the Queensland town of Aurukun inspires hope. (Supplied: Garth Jankovic)
“If they drop off their touring, that definitely has an impact, people don’t get to see stuff outside of the norm,” he said.
“They don’t have those artists to see to inspire them, to drive them to create.”
More quick-turnaround touring grants would help, he said.
A Creative Australia spokesperson said the arts funding and advisory body was aware of the pressures rising costs were having on artists and arts organisations and was monitoring the situation.
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