From the Field

Performing Arts during the Pandemic

IETM, an international network for contemporary performing arts, released the results of its COVID-19 survey of 80 members from 23 countries. Performing Arts in Times of the Pandemic: Status Quo and the Way Forward describes the initial impact of COVID-19 on performing artists, their coping strategies and the varied government policies enacted to support them. Although focused on Europe’s response, the report offers general policy recommendations to help artists, from immediate measures to the long-term integration of the arts into economic and social recovery.

COVID-19 Impact Survey Results

Americans for the Arts has released results from its national survey on COVID-19’s economic impact on the arts sector. Results continue to be updated based on new responses, but at the time of publication, respondents have estimated more than $685.6 million in lost revenue and unanticipated expenses. The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures has also published initial raw data from its field survey while still collecting responses. In addition, Theatre Communications Group has shared an impact report from its membership survey of theatres across the United States.

Supporting Young Artists

Part of WolfBrown’s Navigating the Crisis series, Act for Young Artists advocates for an intentional focus on young artists in times of crisis. Principal Researcher Dennie Palmer Wolf explores the ways young artists can be fostered during and after crisis through targeted philanthropy, reinventing online learning, cultivating citizenship, pathway employment opportunities and disrupting inequality. Ensuring a more diverse, creative generation of artists requires building “with, not for, young people.”

COVID-19 and Intentions to Visit Cultural Entities

In her most recent Data Update, How COVID-19 Is Impacting Intentions to Visit Cultural Entities, Colleen Dilenschneider examines the U.S. public’s intention to visit cultural entities in the coming months and years—a strong indicator of future behavior. As states revise their stay-at-home orders, recent surveys of cultural organizations conducted monthly suggest that Americans’ intent to attend cultural entities is increasing slowly. Optimistically, the data suggest that intent to attend cultural events will return to historic levels in three months. However, this intent to attend events is contingent on organizations’ adherence to health and safety precautions.

Adaptive Capacity and Resilience

EmcArts convened 50 arts leaders from organizations participating in an eight-year national Innovation Labs for the Arts program to study adaptive capacity. On Adaptive Capacity and Resilience identifies eight adaptations that contribute to nonprofit cultural organizations attaining resilience, and how differently resilient organizations then behave.