BIG EVENTS OFF
NAFA, FRINGE FESTIVAL AMONG CASUALTIES
TOWNSVILLE’S premier arts event has been postponed indefinitely amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and how long a restriction on mass gatherings will be in place.
Townsville City Council has revealed North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) and the Northern Fringe Festival, held in July last year, will not go ahead for now.
NAFA cost $1.6 million to put together in 2019, half of that coming from the council’s budget, but pumped $4.1 million into the economy and spiked hotel occupancy rates by 8.6 per cent during July.
Non-essential mass gatherings of more than 500 people outdoors and 100 people indoors have been banned by the Federal Government for the foreseeable future, forcing the cancellation of a growing list of major events, including music festival Groovin the Moo.
Mayor Jenny Hill said public health was the primary concern and postponing the event was also the best financial decision for the council, as deposits had to be made for artists and venues.
“There is some uncertainty about how long mass gathering restrictions will stay in place, and whether the restrictions could last until July – this is why council has had to make the decision to postpone NAFA 2020,” she said.
The council earlier this week also postponed or cancelled events at the Civic Theatre.
But COVID-19 has not shut down all arts and culture events in the city. Townsville Little Theatre confirmed the run of its latest production Bedside Manners, which began last night.
Treasurer Iain Mcdougall said the show expected 40 to 50 people maximum at opening night and had only sold limited pre-sale tickets, and they would be capping audience numbers at 80 to be able to space out seating.
Mr Mcdougall said the coronavirus would hopefully not destroy arts in the city altogether, with the Townsville Little Theatre still planning to hold the Short Season of Short Plays in April.
“We’re just hanging in there at the moment, still rehearsing and making sure we are ready because we don’t want to have to blanket cancel,” Mr Mcdougall said.
“We’re not shutting up shop, (but) if we’re told to cancel all get-togethers, then that will be a different matter.”