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SXSW cancelled for first time in 34 years due to coronavirus concerns

SXSW is the latest event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, with the City of Austin calling off the annual festival just one week before it was set to be held from 13-22 March.

While Austin Public Health earlier this month that “there’s no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make the community safer”, SXSW said in a statement announcing the news that the “situation evolved rapidly”. It’s the first time in 34 years the event has been cancelled.

“We are devastated to share this news with you. ‘The show must go on’ is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place,” SXSW said.

“We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation.

“We honour and respect the City of Austin’s decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites.”

The tech, music and film festival, which attracts the international advertising community, could be rescheduled. SXSW said it is working to provide an online experience as soon as possible for ticket-holders, starting with SXSW EDU, an iteration that promotes teaching and learning.

SXSW said it will contact ticket-holders, clients and participants as soon as possible and post answers to frequently asked questions on its site.

“We understand the gravity of the situation for all the creatives who utilise SXSW to accelerate their careers; for the global businesses; and for Austin and the hundreds of small businesses – venues, theatres, vendors, production companies, service industry staff, and other partners that rely so heavily on the increased business that SXSW attracts,” the event added.

SXSW is the latest in a string of high-profile events to be cancelled in response to health concerns surrounding COVID-19, or coronavirus. Facebook and Twitter pulled out of their SXSW commitments earlier this week, while Google I/OFacebook’s F8, Google Cloud Next, Mobile World Congress, and Game Developer Conference have all been cancelled too.

Locally, the likes of OMD, Foxtel Media, Dentsu Aegis Network, JC Decaux and Viacom CBS have all experienced office closures as a precaution.

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