When COVID-19 first began to affect Benalla no-one expected it to still be an issue more than a year later.
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While different industries have received different levels of support from state and federal governments the arts have struggled.
This article looks at three Benalla-based live-event promotors, Tegan Nash, who is attempting to start a live performance business during COVID, the Benalla Theatre Company which has managed to keep going in a limited capacity, and One Wild Apple owner Shannon Tharratt who has walked away from the industry completely.
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Shannon Tharratt - One Wild Apple
Many in the Rose City will have fond memories of One Wild Apple Cafe in the laneway off Bridge St.
Owned and operated by Benalla's Shannon Tharratt, it was very successful, but not the career she was looking for at the time.
One element of the business she did enjoy was promoting live music events in the laneway.
So in 2019 she made the decision to close the cafe and move into event promotion full time.
Sadly her timing could not have been worse.
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“Essentially the idea was to change the focus of my business to bring live performances and arts to north-east Victoria,” Ms Tharratt said.
“I had run a few successful events in the laneway and over at the drill hall while running the cafe, and I began to look at a schedule of live events to put on throughout 2020.”
One of the first events Ms Tharratt planned to promote was a fundraiser for those affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires.
“We were very sad to have to cancel that. We were calling it Hootenanny at the Hall and we planned to have that out at Moorngag,” she said.
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Ms Tharratt hoped that event would be a good way to introduce One Wild Apple promotions to the local community, while raising money for those who had just been through the devastating bushfires.
Sadly, after initially postponing it, the decision was made to cancel.
And While Ms Tharratt had plenty of other events in the pipeline each time one was arranged another lockdown would shut them down before they could be held.
“As the pandemic progressed going into multiple lockdowns in 2020 it coincided with the period of time the business was really ramping up with the season of music and arts event booked in,” she said.
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“I found for most of it, it was a matter of hours where I'd be contacting performers to let them know we would have to postpone or cancel.
“And, of course, they would be trying to get in contact with me to say they could not make it at the same time.
“It was difficult, but both sides understood there was nothing we could do but have a positive mentality and hope these event could still take place at some stage.
“And both the performers, and myself, were missing out on income.
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“I looked into things like JobKeeper but as a self-employed music and live event promoter there was not much support I could access.
“And the performers were in the same position.
“I spent a lot of time trying to reschedule things, but the uncertainty took a massive toll.
“It got to a point I had to look at pivoting in another direction and walking away from the industry.”
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Ms Tharratt has since had a complete career change working at a local florist and helping out with another passion of hers, gardening and landscaping on a local farm.
She has no intention of returning to the arts - for now anyway.
“Since deciding on a full career change I don't think I'll be looking to go back any time soon,” she said.
“Live music is still something that interests me, but I feel like I would need a lot of proof that the affects of COVID-19 on the industry were no longer there.
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“I am settled into a career change and enjoying what I am doing.
“I do hope live music and comedy and plays and everything that people enjoy going on a night out to see comes back soon - but I'm not sure if I will be a part of that when it does.
“I think I might just enjoy being in the crowd with everyone else having a good time.”
Tegan Nash - Live Art Benalla
Taqan Nash is in completely the opposite situation to Ms Tharratt, and decided to create a live arts and performance business in Benalla since the affects of COVID-19 began.
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“I am trying to establish Live Art Benalla, a performance umbrella which will deliver a range of cross-arts, multi-discipline events in the region that are about collaboration and engaging with regional artists,” Ms Nash said.
“When we can move freely again I would look to invite others from with Victoria, and interstate, to host some events that inhabit existing spaces in Benalla.
“These might not be traditional spaces for performances, like community halls, for example.
“But would be accessible to the public in terms of being free public experiences around Benalla.”
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Ms Nash was in the process of organising her first two events, which are on hold because of the current lockdown - but will happen as soon as they can.
“The first will be a live performance held on the Lake Benalla foreshore near the ceramic Mural,” she said.
“That will feature a visual artist from Queensland, a circus performer, a sound artist, and a dance artist - myself.
“I will also be hosting an industry event centred on bringing a few organisations together.
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“That will feature artist talking about collaborative opportunities in the region and highlighting what those relationships between organisations and artists can provide in terms of creating opportunities to establish some collaborative cross-art forms, events and installations, for example.
“Both of those will take place in Benalla.”
Ms Nash said the idea grew after she secured some funding from Benalla Rural City Council.
“That was fantastic, they have been really supportive and interested in what I'm planning,” she said.
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“And any time I've gone to them for information or help they have been really willing and open to having discussion, which is great.”
Ms Nash said while local government had been great she had not received any federal or state support.
“I did apply for regional funding, but was unsuccessful,” she said.
“It is such a fight to get financial assistance some times, and writing grant applications can take a lot of time.
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“So I am very pleased I got assistance from the local council.”
Ms Nash said she would love to hear from local performers and artists who might like to get involved with Live Art Benalla.
You can contact Ms Nash via Tegan.nash.ollett@gmail.com
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Molly Craig - Benalla Theatre Company
Benalla Theatre Company has been part of the Rose City for years.
Always popular, and always looking for a show that will excite local interest, it has had a 2020, and 2021 like no other.
Miraculously it did manage a few performances of its most recent show, Ma Bakers Tonic, between lockdowns.
Theatre company member Molly Craig said sadly that had to be cut short and they missed out on their closing night.
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“We had to cancel our performances scheduled for 2020 all together,” Ms Craig said.
“So when we were able to go ahead with Ma Baker's Tonic this year we were really excited.
“We wanted to reschedule the last few shows, but as the lockdowns continued we took the difficult decision to cancel those.
“It is so disappointing. We had people hired to do sound who we had to cancel. We had to arrange refunds.
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“Everyone was so understanding, but it is so sad when you put in so many hours of rehearsal, and get all the sets made, and make all the arrangements.
“And then bang, lockdown.”
Ms Craig said while 2020 and 2021 had been difficult the company was pushing ahead with its schedule for later in the year and into 2022.
“We are hoping to do a little concert as soon as we can, which is, of course, reliant on restrictions,” she said.
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“It's is called A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon and we're taking some of the music we rehearsed for Ma Baker's Tonic for that.
“So fingers crossed we can do that.
“We are also planning on starting rehearsals in November for our next big production - Mumma Mia.
“So we are hoping to have A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon done before that.”
Keep an eye out in The Ensign for when those two productions will be taking place.
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