With a proud 20-year history as a boutique performing arts space, the Stratford Courthouse has facilitated countless local and touring music, film, theatre, visual arts and community events over the years, as well as being the cultural heartland of the town's annual Shakespeare on the River Festival.
But with the ongoing pandemic, cost of living pressures and COVID case numbers on the rise, keeping the Stratford Courthouse economically viable in the long term remains a challenge.
"The last couple of music shows that we've put on, the crowds have been down", Stratford Courthouse Incorporated president Steve Lawless says.
He observes that many people in the community are living with anxiety issues, so socialising and going out is a major effort for them, particularly if they are also living with a chronic illness.
But the declining attendances are in line with a more general pattern of hermitude being felt across the night-time economy, where front bars are consistently empty, pool tables are gathering dust, and people aren't going out after work for drinks.
"Initially when things first opened up, people were eager to get out and go to a show, but as case numbers went up as we opened up that seems to have dissipated a little bit," Mr Lawless says.
"I suspect that we're at a bit of a crossroads, that what happens in the next 12 months will really show whether the entertainment industry can survive on its own, or whether it's going to need an injection of funds from the government to continue.
"And, of course, the government has got lots of other demands on the taxpayer's dollar."
Community keeps doors open
After long-time owner-operators Gavin and Anna Roberts relinquished their management of the Stratford Courthouse to pursue new projects in 2019, the venue was essentially rescued as a cultural space for the town by the arts community.
"The local performing arts community got together with some help from Regional Arts Victoria and the Wellington Shire and formed a working group," Mr Lawless says.
"Out of that, Stratford Courthouse Incorporated was formed, and then in July of 2020 we took over running the building — this month is our two-year anniversary."
Keeping the venue going amid the disruptions of pandemic lockdowns and artists having to schedule, cancel and reschedule shows, has meant that the most reliable income comes from theatre groups hiring the space for classes during the week and modest support from grant applications and sponsorships to buy in shows.
"There's rent to be paid, electricity and rates and all sorts of incidentals that we have to meet, like providing sound technicians, on top of the costs of the artists."
If you don't use it, you'll lose it
With many budding artists depending on smaller, affordable venues like the Stratford Courthouse to experiment with new work and cut their teeth as performers, Mr Lawless says the local community can help keep the doors open by attending shows and even volunteering with duties like cleaning and ushering.
"What we make out of each show, any profit goes into bringing a new show. The bottom line is we need bottoms on seats," he says of the importance of preserving arts and culture in the region.
"And life without music, life without art, is not much of a life."
