How arts can survive virus
The outlook for the emergence of a creative economy post-Covid-19
RECENTLY the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) hosted a webinar, which brought together a cross-section of multi-disciplinary experts with active engagement in the Creative and Cultural Industries.
The panel included representation from the EU, European Creative Business Network (ECBN), an Italian Science & Technology Park and Nesta.
The main topics were informed by the current crisis brought on by the coronavirus and its impact on the creative, cultural and tourism industries.
The challenge to panel members was to share their current experiences and how it informs the design of interventions that not only provide relief, but also install the foundations for a rebound.
What was encouraging is that most OECD countries have designed and launched a response that includes relief funding as well as support instruments that can serve as an industry revitalisation catalyst.
The experience in the EU points towards a funding response to deal with the anticipated budget shortfalls at museums, art galleries, theatres and cultural spaces.
The ECBN published a White Paper Breaking out of the Covid-19 Crisis Restarting the Cultural Creative Industries is at the centre of an open and sustainable Europe, which outlines the impact of Covid-19 and some solutions for future sustainability.
What is clear and a key lesson for others is that they are using an evidence-based, data-driven decision-making framework to inform the structure and location of relief in the ecosystem. Notably, the paper calls for an Ignition Fund and a more comprehensive Creative Ecosystem Study.
In the midst of these enormous challenges there was acknowledgement for how important arts and culture is during the period of lockdown, physical distancing and self-isolation.
There are some lessons for South Africa that will allow us to curb the devastating economic impact on the local creative industry.
The Sello Maake kaNcube Foundation already made changes to accommodate digital delivery of the Creative Academy Youth Development Programme.
The academy was launched in 2018 with a generous grant from the Department of Arts and Culture.
It was assigned project status to be aligned to the medium-term expenditure framework 2020/21 – 2022/23 after the delivery of a successful pilot programme in 2019.
This allowed the foundation to negotiate and secure future accommodation in the Tshimologong precinct.
We were also readying ourselves to kick-start a collaboration with the Digital Skills Development Academy as well as the Wits School of Arts, Film and Television.
Our model was about access, a sprawling and efficient transport network, world-class infrastructure, access to a community and the ecosystem and the opportunity to work with some of the best minds in the country.
Lockdown brought an immediate halt to our implementation plan and it required us to think differently about programme delivery.
Most governments in the EU designed a response that brings immediate relief for those who are the most vulnerable, SMEs and freelancers.
The crisis also illuminates the plight of most industry workers who enjoy very little protection, no unemployment benefits and contractual conditions that are not at all fair.
In this time of crisis, there is also a global acknowledgement that arts and culture is what keeps most people sane during lockdown conditions.
It is the power of the arts and culture that once again illustrated its ability to serve as a unifier for humanity in the fight to defeat a common enemy.
We present a few ideas here that will hopefully inspire wide collaboration and creative intelligence to address the challenges in our industry:
• Evidence-based decision making is required to design an appropriate response for the Creative Industry to ensure we can implement interventions that are comprehensive and sustainable.
● Collaboration and innovation must be deepened through multi-disciplinary and cross-functional working groups to create funding mechanisms combine development finance, public sector and private sector finance to establish meaningful industry support.
● The installation of Arts & Culture as a medium to educate, guide and share messaging for a healthy society post Covid-19 through different forms of performance and visual arts that appreciates cultural context and relevance.
● Positioning of the Creative Economy as a key economic and social development contributor and accommodation in economic development finance to support new business models, youth development programmes and create employment.
It is always easier to comment from the sidelines as an expert armchair critic while enjoying the comfort of the armchair without the experience of the situation.
The foundation is ready to make a contribution and work on the postCovid-19 Creative Industry Recovery. Thuma Mina!