In this series, Kristen and Kyla talked to artists about the impact of COVID-19 on their work.

Where to Find Our Guests

Recorded in May:
Nisha Patel: Moon Jelly House, Patreon, Twitter, Instagram
Lydia Hall
Lisa Buchfink

Recorded in June:
Brad Fehr

Recorded in July:
Panthea Vatandoost: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Medusa Theatre Society: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Jagen Johnson: Twitter, Instagram

Kristen’s Preparatory Notes for the Interview with Nisha Patel

Employment, Income

What are some of the major challenges that artists are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Can you explain for us how arts funding generally works? What are some of the ways that artists make money in non-pandemic times?

We know that artists have been particularly affected by the loss of employment due to COVID-19. A survey found that 95% of American artists have lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian artists and arts workers lost an average of $24,000 in March and April. Artists are some of the most financially insecure workers in the country. The average salary is $28,000, which is well below the Canadian average. Artists are also much more likely to be self-employed, which makes them more vulnerable to shocks like this. Productions are shut down, galleries are closed, workshops aren’t happening.

Lydia, an actress in the UK: “Everything has stopped. COVID has really messed the arts over right now”. “I worry that there will be no industry to go back to.” Do you see this as a short-term problem or is it something that will continue for years or maybe even permanently?

The economic impact of cultural products is an estimated $53.1 billion, or 2.7% of GDP in Canada. Art, of course, can’t be reduced to a dollar figure but that does demonstrate how important art is to our society. An estimated 700,000 people work in the arts and culture sector in Canada.

Have grant programs and things like that been affected by the pandemic, or is that mostly stable?

As someone who works primarily in a print medium, do you feel like poets are less affected by COVID-19?

Are there any kinds of artists that you think are being affected particularly profoundly, or conversely that have been affected less acutely, by the pandemic?

What are some of the ways that artists are adapting to this new reality? Is there anything about that that excites you?

Losing Art

In the UK, there is a risk of total collapse for theatres. An estimated 70% of performing arts companies may close by Christmas without government support. That includes the famous Globe theatre.

In Canada there has been something of a rescue package for the culture, arts, and sport sector – $500 million funding Emergency Support Fund for Culture, Heritage, and Sport Organizations, which includes $55 million to the Canada Council for the Arts – but even so there is a considerable risk to the sector. The Canada Council for the Arts did a survey in April which found that 39% of artists need help beyond the two general economic assistance packages, the CERB and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

I guess my question is this: do you think we stand at risk of losing certain kinds of art as a result of the pandemic?

Is the Canadian government rescue package adequate, or is more needed?

What about the risk that governments might cut future art funding as they try to deal with the budgetary crises that this pandemic is causing? Do you have any suggestions on how people can try to keep arts funding in their communities?

Changes to Art

How has your art changed since the pandemic started? You’ve been doing more visual art recently. Is that because of the pandemic or is it a coincidence?

Billy Eilish recently said that she “wrote a whole new song” in quarantine, which sparked some discussion online about the pandemic and pressure to create. Do you think that’s something that a lot of artists are feeling right now? Are you feeling a pressure to create, and how do you deal with that?

Artists are also facing pressures to digitize their work. Is that a good thing? What are some of the risks?

Pandemic is also slowing life down a bit: it is giving people time to stop and to do some introspection. Has that change of pace shaped your art?

Prep Questions Sent to Lydia Hall, Lisa Buchfink, Brad Fehr, Panthea Vatandoost, and Jagen Johnson

Tell us a bit about how the pandemic is affecting you and your work. You can interpret this however you want but we’ll include a few suggestions about the kinds of impacts that we think the audience might want to hear about.

How are you working now? Is it different?
How are you making a living now? Is it different?
What kind of art are you making? Are the media, themes, and techniques different? Is it harder to work right now, or is the pandemic giving you lots of ideas?
What about the people that benefit from your work? Are they different, or experiencing your art differently, right now? Are you making more use of virtual platforms?
Are there any programs that have helped you through the pandemic? These could be government programs, but they don’t have to be. If you have opinions on what more needs to be done or what has been most helpful, you can talk about this!

Tell us how you think art might change as a result of the pandemic. You can interpret this however you want.

Give listeners a call to action, if you want. Is there anything you think listeners should do to support artists right now, or in general?

Check out our other episodes on COVID-19:
Kristen and Kyla React to COVID-19
COVID-19 and Inequality with Alix Jansen
Ten Unexpected Effects of COVID-19
COVID-19, Wildfires, and the Climate Crisis