Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will showcase the talent of Australia’s cruise line entertainers in its latest #WeAreCruise video campaign, providing a tribute to the thousands of artists who perform aboard cruise ships worldwide.
A new online video highlights the growing levels of employment that cruising generates within the Australian entertainment industry, which has become a major source of talent for international cruise lines. Appearing on CLIA’s social media channels in Australasia, it is the latest in a series of videos highlighting the many businesses and communities that make up this region’s cruise economy.
CLIA managing director in Australasia Joel Katz said Australia had become a rich source of dancers, singers, musicians, comedians, and other artists who perform on ships worldwide.
“Cruise lines have been making a huge investment in their on-board entertainment and the diversity and standard of performances available today is incredible,” Katz said. “Entertainers provide an essential part of the cruise experience and are one of the key reasons guests keep coming back to cruise.”
The new video features Grayboy Entertainment Founding Director Graeme Gillies and Brent Street performing arts school Managing & Creative Director Lucas Newland – both major Australian suppliers to the international cruise industry.
Gillies said his company had booked artists to perform on more than 20 ships over recent months.
“The cruise industry has become one of the biggest suppliers of work for entertainers and it is now probably 75 per cent of the work we do,” Mr Gillies said. “The biggest thrust of it is the work they provide on land for us as well, not just for our business but the many contractors we work with who all gain a lot of their work now through the cruise industry.”
Newland said the cruise industry had become a backbone for young Australian performers.
“Australian performing artists are world-renowned for being extremely versatile – there are so many Brent Street graduates working across the cruise sector,” Mr Newland said. “The cruise line industry has been extremely beneficial to the performing arts industry in Australia.”
The latest #WeAreCruise video was previewed at CLIA’s recent Cruise Industry Awards for Australasia, where Brent Street students performed for guests.
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