Responding to the effects of Covid
Covid-19 and the Experience of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Entrepreneurs is based on 20 stories of the lives of creative entrepreneurs during Covid 19. The report points to the need to invest in regeneration and not just recovery of the sector as it was. “This is not a time for self-preservation by the gatekeepers of our current system … [but] to cultivate something new.”
A debate in House of Lords on Covid-19: Performing Arts Freelance Workers discussed the needs of the 100,000 freelancers in the creative industries who fall outside the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Lord Black of Brentwood expressed concern about new graduate recruits, skilled freelancers leaving the arts and the waste of talent of newly trained young people - the performers, technicians, craftspeople and teachers of the future.
#ArtIsEssential is a new campaign of artists, institutions, galleries and sector support organisations to raise awareness of the visual arts. It seeks engagement from Government, in particular in shaping and re-directing policies in relation to the arts.
Voluntary Arts’ third large-scale survey of creative participation across the UK and the Republic of Ireland demonstrates the resilience of everyday creativity in difficult times:
● Despite the extreme difficulties caused by the pandemic, voluntary creative groups remain optimistic and resilient
● The amount of time people contribute to creative groups has increased during 2020
● Taking part in creativity is hugely important for wellbeing and social connection.
The Centre for Cultural Value is researching Covid-19: the impacts on the cultural sector and implications for policy and has submitted findings on the cultural sector’s workforce to the Treasury Committee inquiry on the economic impact of coronavirus. Around half of the cultural sector are self-employed. There has been a collapse in working hours and an increase in the number of people leaving creative occupations in 2020 (15%) compared to previous years. This article shows how we should be especially worried about younger workers.
New findings from the Creative Industries Federation show that creative freelancers, microbusinesses and those dependent on audiences are seeing the biggest financial hit as a result of the pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, 63% of respondents have seen their turnover decrease by more than half, with creative freelancers experiencing the biggest drop in revenue. Creative industries outside of London are hit particularly hard, with those outside the capital more likely to see bigger turnover decreases and least likely to be able to monetise digital content.
NEMO, the European museums organisation has gathered information about museum re-openings and closures from 31 European countries, listing details about re-openings, political and sector communication as well as hygiene measures.
The Creative Doodle Book Project is a new resource created during lockdown to support learning-disabled artists with a series of playful tasks and activities that encourage creativity, thought, and reflection.