Three weeks ago, consistent with State and Federal Government instructions regarding social distancing, WAYJO made the decision to cancel all rehearsals and public events until May 31. It is with a heavy heart that we now announce the full cancellation of all events programmed in our 2020 Season, Homegrown.

Entering 2020, fresh from the success of our 2019 season An American Jazz Story, featuring record attendances and easily surpassing box office targets, WAYJO’s Homegrown program was to focus on the breadth of talent in Australian jazz, with multiple new commissions and guest artists featuring Australians from around the country and indeed the world. Sadly, this season is not to be.

WAYJO are currently exploring exciting and innovative new programming initiatives that we will share with our audiences once restrictions on public gatherings are relaxed. This programming will reflect the need for performances to be commercially viable but still contain the artistic integrity WAYJO’s reputation has been built on in the company’s 37 year history.

The last few weeks have been impossibly difficult for the arts sector as a whole. WAYJO stands in solidarity with our fellow Western Australian small-medium arts companies who have lost their funding through the Australia Council as well as those, like WAYJO, who are facing difficult times with no events to present and little in the way of generated revenue coming in. Many WAYJO artists and alumni now find themselves with no income from performances and events and little prospect of these performances returning in the near term.

Arts improves lives, now more than ever. WAYJO urges the Federal and State Governments to act quickly and decisively to further support the arts sector, and in particular those artists and arts workers who have seen incomes reduced to almost nothing as a result of the considered response to controlling the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. These artists and arts workers deserve urgent financial support and assurance during the current circumstances, and the sector as a whole faces decimation without this support.

We wish all of our alumni, members, families, friends and the wider community health and safety during this time. We ask that those who have capacity, donate to WAYJO, other arts organisations, and funds dedicated to the support of artists and arts workers. Above all else, we look forward to planning our recovery, and sharing with everyone the love for jazz our company has, and rising towards our 40th anniversary in 2023.

WAYJO exists to offer outstanding opportunities to young artists, and to build the future of Australian jazz. We wish for everyone to stay safe and connected to WAYJO, and we hope to see all of you at a performance in the near future.

Please Note: As WAYJO staff are working from home during the COVID-19 isolation period, WAYJO’s office phone is not currently attended or checked daily. To ensure the swiftest response, please make your enquiries directly via email.

Contacts

Simon Keen
WAYJO General Manager
simon.keen@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950

Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing (Monday & Wednesday)
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950