How Has COVID Changed The Creative Industry?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put virtually every industry through the ringer. However, some have been impacted more than others and it’s fair to say that the art world has experienced the brunt of it. It’s interesting to explore how creative industry and art sectors are continuing to change as the pandemic continues. In addition, what these industries will look like in the future.
Funding Trouble
First, it’s important to note that the art industry has struggled with funding over the past couple of years. This is not a new concern nor is mutually exclusive to the pandemic. However, COVID-19 has made the situation more dire. With restrictions still in place, the art world on an international level is in desperate need of more funding and financial support. It will be important to monitor whether governments provide it. Particularly, if restrictions and outbreaks continue to cause delays and even cancellations of different shows that help ensure art venues can continue to stay in business.
More Dynamic And Immersive Exhibits
It’s clear that creative industry and artistic organizations are now in a fight to get audiences back out into the wild. This is a real struggle and the answer will likely keep giving them things that they can not experience at home. This has become more difficult. Take the theatre as an example. Disney Plus saw fantastic levels of success when they offered Hamilton as a free streaming option during the initial lockdowns. If the lockdowns had continued, it’s likely that other studios would have dug into their treasure troves to find out which stage shows they could bring to their respective streaming services. This didn’t happen but there were rumours for quite sometime this would happen.
Meanwhile experts such as Freddi Wald envision a future where museum exhibits are far more immersive and interactive. Although, this is likely to be a balancing act as museums attempt to keep the calm and serene environment that they are widely known for.
A New Digital Realm
Finally, it’s also worth noting the development of NFTs. These have become possible due to the blockchain and there is a lot of support for them in the art world. This includes sculpture, painting or colorful portraits to name some disciplines. While some people may question their real value, many artists are delighted that there is a way to secure their digital art. Moreover, ensure that it cannot be copied or replicated without their consent. This has become a massive concern for digital artists. At the same time, NFTs are a new way that artists can earn remotely and make a living from the pieces of work that they can create. This could become more crucial if the pandemic continues further into 2022.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key ways that COVID has reshaped different creative industries. It’s likely that all creative sectors including theater and the art world will bounce back eventually. However, if new variants of COVID-19 continue to emerge then there could be a long and uphill battle. Creative business owners and creators themselves will need to explore more innovative possibilities to keep audiences interested and ultimately keep the lights on.
