How the pandemic is impacting on arts and culture
Analysis by the Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) and the Centre for Cultural Value show that the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have had a devastating impact on the cultural and creative sectors. Initial findings from a COVID-19 research project show devastating numbers of job losses and reduced hours, with 55,000 jobs gone (a 30 per cent decline) in music, performing and visual arts in the first six months of lockdown.
Another useful PEC report Building Back Better? Creative Freelancers and Learning from the Covid-19 Experience resonates with experiences in the craft sector, even though the focus is broader. The report includes descriptions of the all the categories of freelancers (including sole traders) who have missed out on Government or other support, as well as a model of where businesses see themselves in terms of responding to the pandemic.
The Cultural Value Centre summarises government cultural policy responses to the pandemic across the UK and how they might shape the future. It shows how artist-led activity shifted to the virtual with new commissioning and programming utilising online spaces; how freelance and self-employed artists and cultural practitioners are facing specific challenges; how some may find solutions in rescue funds and how the pandemic has highlighted several socio-political tensions, such as inequalities across race, disability, class and gender in the UK.
Excluded UK has been advocating on behalf of those missing out on support programmes during the pandemic, with city mayors uniting to offer support. Munira Wilson MP, led a parliamentary debate on 9 December highlighting the needs of people ineligible for Covid support schemes.
The Creative PEC has published its latest data on cultural content consumption during the pandemic, with more people buying physical books as lockdown eased.
The APPG for Creative Diversity, chaired by Baroness Bull, is investigating ‘what works’ to boost diversity in the creative sector, supported by King’s College London. They have also released a paper with the Creative PEC on the impact of the pandemic on diversity in the creative sector.
NEMO continues to analyse how the pandemic is impacting on the museums sector in terms of losses, digital offers and organisations' readiness to adapt. NEMO is calling for adequate financial support for the lockdown period as well as the following years for museums to build on their digital momentum.
Museum Freelance’s recent poll shows that freelancers feel they are falling through the 'government support cracks' and feel abandoned by the museums sector. Almost 80% of museum freelancers have lost earnings during Covid.
Ofsted’s second series of reports on the impact of the pandemic summarises over 900 visits to education and social care providers during September and October. The reports make bleak reading both for the impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable children and on the arts in schools. Most secondary schools are teaching all subjects, as are ‘many’ primary schools. However, many school leaders reported having restrictions on their full provision of practical activity for pupils in Key Stage 3 in subjects including design & technology and music.
The first wave of The Audience Agency’s COVID-19 Monitor shows that in a constantly changing landscape, the ability to understand and respond to audiences’ changing preferences and behaviours is vital.
Voluntary Arts report Common Ground - Rewilding the Garden shows how creative activity is thriving in areas of socio-economic deprivation regularly overlooked by the cultural sector, but how it needs significant support and recognition of how taking part in creative cultural activity improves social connectedness.
Northumbria University and Brunel University London are working with resilience planners from UK cities to explore how art and performance could be used to establish successful social distancing strategies.