PBA stands with Divine Playhouse

Sydney must make room

The Pride Business Association (NSW) stands with Divine Playhouse and the artists, workers and small businesses whose livelihoods have been affected by its sudden closure.

Queer-led businesses are part of Sydney’s cultural and economic infrastructure. They create jobs, commission artists, engage local suppliers, bring people into our precincts and give communities places to gather. That is the rainbow economy in practice.

Supporting Divine Playhouse does not require agreement with every joke, image or performance. People of faith are entitled to express their views and protest peacefully. Drag, satire and provocative art also have a legitimate place in our culture. In a diverse and democratic city, disagreement cannot become a commercial veto.

Independent venue operators and commercial renters take considerable risks. They invest in fit-outs, staff, programming and promotion, often bringing new life to underused spaces. Landlords hold considerably greater power. That power should be exercised fairly, proportionately and with a genuine attempt to resolve concerns, particularly where a tenant has listened and responded in good faith.

At a time when governments are promoting Sydney as a vibrant global and 24-hour city, we cannot celebrate creativity in theory while queer and independent businesses are pushed out at the first sign of controversy.

The PBA calls on Revelop to return to constructive discussions with Divine Playhouse and find a path for the venue to reopen.

Sydney should be big enough for faith and satire, belief and dissent, landlords and renters, and queer people creating culture on their own terms.

Jarrod Lomas, PBA President.