How the Arts Have Been Staying Afloat During COVID
In the arts, theatre, and culture, things have been especially tough in the last year. It's an industry that often struggles with funding, but the lack of ability to perform or put on events or exhibits has been particularly stressful during the pandemic. Everyone from museums and galleries to individual performers has had to find alternative ways to survive and to keep the industry going. People have been using a range of methods to do this, from looking at other ways to use their skills to getting online to share their crafts. Here are some of the ways people have been staying afloat.
Implementing Safety Protocols
All businesses that have wished to serve customers recently have had to make various adaptations to be able to do so. From the regulations that are put in place by governments to the things that businesses choose to do to reassure their customers, there have been a lot of changes. People in the arts have chosen to do many of the same things that other businesses have. Limiting the numbers of people that can enter a venue, providing hand sanitizing stations, requesting that people social distance and even conducting temperature checks all help to keep everyone safe while still allowing performances, exhibits, and more.
Going Online
Moving online has been another popular way of dealing with the pandemic in the arts. Frederica Wald, Head of Membership at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, points out some examples, including online ticketing and online and virtual content. Many performers have turned to making their performances available online, whether through live streams or recorded videos. They can sell tickets to online events or offer digital downloads or access to their performances. It's one way to keep doing what they love and even make it more accessible to people around the world.
Raising Support
Many artists, performers, and others in the arts and theatre have been doing what they can to support each other. In many cases, this has included fundraising to support themselves and others in the industry. This can include putting on special events or simply running a crowdfunding campaign to get members of the public to contribute. Those people in the industry who have managed to stay afloat during the pandemic have even been trying to do what they can to support those on lower incomes, contributing their time and money to assist others who aren't so lucky.
Diversifying
Diversifying and turning to different talents has also been a must for many in the arts. Some people have managed to use their artistic talents in other ways, while others have simply taken any job that has become available to help them survive. Some people have chosen to share their talents through teaching instead of performing, while others have focused on writing or focusing on other skills that don't require the need to perform. This has allowed many people to keep going in different ways.
Everyone in the arts has had to find various solutions during the pandemic, but what is evident is that there is a determination to survive and keep going.
