KR8V TALENT | 1SSUE 1 PG 5
OPINION
Arts and the Pandemic (Pt.1) By Fashakin A. Michael
C
oronavirus aka Covid 19, the talk of all towns
centres were left unproductive.
made a rude entry into our planet to effect a
Finance to any creative person is the fuel needed in
change; a lasting change in the way live
order to cover a great distance. The art sector and artists
generally. The effect of this change is evident in the way
need funds to create and bring to bear the creative
we eat, drink, relate with people; in terms of exchanging
thoughts, but this was impeded as medicine has taken
pleasantries, visitation, congregating, our mode of
a larger proportion of the available resources.
dressing, how we handle ailments and in fact the arts and culture sector.
The ban on travelling at the peak of the pandemic took
The art industry was not left out by the scourge as it is
its toll on creative exchange programs in the arts.
known that art defines the people and their way of
During the lock down, many artists withdrew into their
doing things, the arts practitioners are products of their
various studios/homes, those in developed nations who
environment and available resources.
had access to the internet had most things needed
The pandemic has its positive as well as the negative
delivered to them through different means, while their
effects on the arts and culture industry/institution.
counterparts in developing nations remained indoor
Statistics gathered in 2017 on Arts and Cultural
with limited resources and inability to explore, coupled
Production Satellite Account
with the fear of being effected by the virus, many ended
(ACPSA), through a partnership between the Bureau of
up brain-drained.
Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts in the US shows that arts and culture
Amidst
contribute 4.5% of the annual national GDP through
Coronavirus has afforded the art and artists some great
direct economic activity and 3.4% of the total work force.
opportunities to explore new ideas and materials. As
many
downsides
of
the
pandemic,
the
many creative people got locked up within their various As funding of the creative sector is being drastically
space, they were left with little or no options than to
reduced
make do with what they could find within their
or
completely
withdrawn
due
to
the
pandemic, artists, 50% of whom are self employed were
immediate environment.
left to solely cater for financial needs, healthcare, amongst many other needs. Recreational activities were also put in hold, which means artists whose livelihood depend on those
TO BE CONTINUED
