Report shows creative and cultural sector hit hard by the pandemic
In the wake of a report commissioned by researchers from the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Faculty of Social Sciences, working with Chamberlain Walker Economics and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), which revealed the impact of the pandemic on the South Yorkshire’s arts, culture and heritage sector, the CEO of Sheffield-based Showroom Workstation – the cultural heart of the city has reinforced the importance for businesses and people from across the sector in coming together.
The report found that the sector was the second hardest hit by the Covid-19 crisis, seeing a 60% drop in output as measured by GVA.
The sector also saw the second largest number of staff furloughed – over fifty percent, which was well above the national average of 16% and only outdone by the catastrophically affected accommodation and food sector.
Within the sector there was also an imbalance some areas seeing growth or only modest declines (+17% to -5% range) in output such as; computer games, software, educational book publishing, TV broadcasting and libraries. While cinemas, performing arts, museums and historical sites were very badly impacted seeing drops in output between 30% and 70%.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, director of city and culture and chair in early film and popular entertainment at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK’s arts, culture and heritage sector. This report reveals how social distancing and lockdowns over the past 18 months have had a catastrophic effect on the finances of people who work in the sector, as well as businesses and venues. People have lost their jobs, businesses and venues have closed and this economic impact has severely affected the mental health and wellbeing of people who work in the sector across the UK. People in the sector have been losing sleep and have had much higher levels of anxiety due to how the pandemic has affected their personal finances and uncertainty about the future.”
Ian Wild
“We are committed to supporting creative professionals and businesses to bounce back better than ever. That’s why we’re working with the SYMCA to organise the South Yorkshire Cultural and Creative Industries Network – giving practitioners, businesses and organisations the chance to talk about opportunities, address challenges collectively and showcase the brilliant work being undertaken.”
Kate Brindley, arts, culture and heritage project director, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said: “This important research provides crucial, regional-specific evidence needed to understand the full effect that the pandemic has had on our creative and cultural businesses, organisations, and individuals.
“These sectors are vital to our economy, civic identity, and quality of life in South Yorkshire. The Mayoral Combined Authority and partners are committed to developing a coherent regional strategy for the sector, launching bespoke business support tools for the creative sectors, and investing an additional £1million into arts and culture over the coming months to aid their recovery.
“As well as this immediate response, we recognise the need to keep pushing for additional funding from government to aid the recovery of the region’s cultural and creative sector, to ensure the people of South Yorkshire have the same opportunities afforded to them.”
