COVID’s Omicron phase means that independents such as Sarah Aiken (seen here in a scene from her solo work ‘Make Your Life Count’) face some of their toughest challenges yet. Photo: Gregory Lorenzutti.
As Omicron continues its spread across the country, we’re seeing countless snap changes to COVID-affected seasons, in clear signs the crisis is far from over.
Yet for all the large-scale COVID fallouts, there are also devastating costs at the other end of the scale. Smaller works by independent artists are also being disrupted by Omicron, but unlike larger shows, they’re managing the pressures with no real back-up or in-house support.
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
