Adelaide venues mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for public access

South Australian venues the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Hindmarsh Stadium are to require audiences, fans and visitors, along with staff, to be fully vaccinated from the end of December.

The venues will impose mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements as of 29th December all staff and patrons over the age of 16 to show proof of full vaccination, or an official medical exemption, to enter.

With South Australian Premier Steven Marshall having previously ruled out mandating vaccinations for attractions and venues, the move, Adelaide Festival Centre Chief Executive, Douglas Gautier said the changes were critical, telling the ABC “we know how important vaccinations are for the safety of our audiences, artists and staff and we make this decision with health, safety and wellness front of mind.

"As a major performing arts venue, we understand how significant this decision is in helping the performing arts industry and home companies get back on track and to maintaining business continuity.

"It will also ensure we can continue to do what we do best - staging the very best live performances from around the world."

The Adelaide Festival Centre - whose venues include the Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre, Artspace and Her Majesty's Theatre - said a study conducted last month showed 98% of South Australian arts audiences were either partially or fully vaccinated, or intending to be vaccinated.

The decision has been welcomed by South Australia's major arts companies, including the Adelaide Festival, which has been pushing for vaccinations mandates from the state government.

With the Adelaide Festival unable to bring in a mandate itself as it is a statutory authority, interim Executive Director Kathie Massey stated “the Adelaide Festival applauds the decision by the Adelaide Festival Centre to become a venue that is open to fully vaccinated patrons, artists and staff (or those with a medical exemption.

"Adelaide Festival Centre is leading by example, ensuring that all those who hire the venue can deliver the arts to South Australians, as well as interstate and international visitors as safely as possible."

The mandate will apply to upcoming festival events, including the 2022 Adelaide Festival.

Despite pleas from the attractions and venues sector, last week Premier Marshall indicated mandatory vaccinations would only be brought in for the most vulnerable areas, such as aged care and health.

Images: The Adelaide Festival Centre (top) and the Adelaide Convention Centre (below).