COVID pandemic and loss of funding blamed for West Australian Music staff cuts

West Australian Music (WAM) - Western Australia's peak music industry group  - has today announced that with the shifting and uncertain environment of COVID-19 and the loss of crucial funding, staff cuts have been made that include all its regional staff.

In its announcement, WAM – known for helping develop the careers of young musicians - recognise the powerful role of their dedicated staff in the organisation and advise that their team  have worked tirelessly to adapt to the shifting and uncertain environment of COVID-19.

As with many involved in the music and arts sector, WAM continued to weather cancellations of flagship events and loss of crucial funding sources and advise “this has brought new and weighty challenges in securing a sustainable future for the organisation, our programs, and the legacy of all who’ve engaged with WAM across our 35 years.” 

According to the ABC, The Western Australian government had provided WAM two $350,000 grants to help it through the pandemic, but those grants ended this year. The payments equalled more than a quarter of WAM's income in the past financial year. WAM's 2020-21 annual report stated that most of its funding came from the state government and charitable donations. The cuts were expected to have a significant impact ability to support regional artists in WA.

WAM advised that it is reluctantly winding up a series of roles within the organisation, and “giving a heart-felt wave to our dedicated and passionate team members choosing to move on – Nigel Bird (Regional Officer), Claire Hodgson (Industry Development Officer), Honor Gleadow (Admin Officer) and Izzy Bartlett (Regional Assistant).

“The enormous contributions Nigel, Claire, Honor and Izzy have made in their many roles at WAM extend beyond the organisation to the countless people and communities they’ve connected with across WA. We’re incredibly proud and thankful to have called them part of the WAM team.”