| | | ARTISTS: SURVEY UPDATE
Thanks to all 53 artists who responded to our survey last week. I thought, especially as an introduction to our call this afternoon, I'd send a summary from my report together with the comments from individual artists to give a sense of our environment. We will probably need to do another survey around mid-April to get another temperature reading.
CAFC COVID-19 IMPACT SURVEY 1
Sun March 15-Thur. March 19, 2020
Summary
We had 123 responses (consolidating duplicate responses from some organizations gave us 119 final responses), from 43 zip codes across 22 towns.
Almost half (45% were artists), one-quarter (28) performing arts organizations, 9 each visual arts organizations and creative businesses, 6 historical societies 2 museums and 12 others (arts councils, an art school, artists studios; a Business Improvement District; a church; a movie house; a music school; an observatory; a public library; and a writing workshop).
At the time of the survey, 37% of respondents replied they were closed to the public and two-thirds of artists had lost work. Two-thirds of respondents had cancelled and postponed events, classes and meetings.
Anticipated financial impact: Generally half indicated loss of work and loss of sales; quarter loss of fundraiser event revenue and ticket sales.
Rough estimate of total financial loss through end of April: 96 replied, ranging from $100 to $500,000, totaling $3.75 million and averaging $39,000.
Previously Unanticipated Expenses: 25 responders estimated unanticipated expenses ranging from $50 to $250,000, totaling $398,500 and averaging $16,000)
FINAL ARTISTS' COMMENTS - Actually, the limits on outside activities, places to go and social interactions is affording more quiet uninterrupted studio time, marketing focus and future planning.
- Also as an artist I work in the restaurant business part-time which funds my studio. This has been drastically impacted by covid-19
- Anxiety and time spent reaching out and connecting with loved ones makes creative flow difficult. However cancellation of many volunteer responsibilities has created time opportunities. Concerned about being able to get needed supplies for work.
- Bookings for Spring and Summer events and programming have completely stopped, as have communications with potential clients as they navigate the current crisis in their com. I do not anticipate that community programs will be focusing on programming that includes teaching artists for awhile, if at all.
- The financial downturn will effect painting sales
- I am starting my business and it is virtual I work with a coach which is virtual while events will be cancelled and I am still researching and communicating with potential prospects
- I had started a renovation of studio space two weeks earlier - this proceeds w/o delay - workmen put in full day cleaning surfaces
- I think the impact will be far reaching in ways we do not yet anticipate and this survey should be repeated in a few months
- I work with after school, extra curricular and senior programs. All are closed until further notice and only one is on a contracted basis that protects my pay. The others are class to class, gig to gig. I just started working again at the end of January after major surgery in November. I am in jeopardy of losing my studio space and possibly my apartment if things don’t pick up by early April.
- I’m concerned about a shortage of materials as people hoard supplies, namely clay from ceramic suppliers.
- Kids home, where I do my work, and their demands put strain on ability to do the work and focus. Just general anxiety and angst. Freelance "day job" opportunities dried up and hiring is on freeze, so facing unanticipated financial hardships.
- My husband being seriously ill (NOT with Coronavirus) and hospitalized the last 4 weeks and now in Carolton for rehab where I cannot visit him. The loneliness of not seeing him during this apocalypse and the terror of getting him home safely without being exposed to the coronavirus. This whole debacle will surely inspire a painting or new body of work!
- My work is 109% participatory and difficult to envision creating an online version. It’s for groups, not individuals, which adds more difficulty.
- My workshops, performances, and events are all live in person. There are many options that am suggesting to various organizations for online distance learning or in person more presentation work in a few weeks where we can all be outdoors on our own blankets in the grass maybe working on project where we have more natural materials collected from the environment, but it's all too soon for anyone to answer me in regards to the many organizations that present my work. Only one out of seven has said that we can begin moving our work online. That is the most creative and small company that I work with able to reach the largest number of people around the world.
- Reaching out via email, other platforms, creating artwork in own studio. Temporarily removing artwork on display in other locations, and placing in storage.
- School shutdowns prevent students from practicing, so lessons have been cancelled
- Slow down and fine tune creative decisions.
- Some workshops and presentations were time-sensitive, so won't be postponed or rescheduled. With these, working from home or moving them online is not an option, so these are a permanent loss.
- The place where I anticipate having trouble is a break down in the supply chain for getting work done. Other businesses are open for now, but Jerry's Art Supply Store may close, the local print shop may close (for making prints).
- This will have a minimum of a six month financial Impact, as course scheduling at different places I teach /lecture are generally planned six months in advance. The public is also now too afraid to come for any private lessons or consults. I am now concerned about paying rent and other business related expenses such as internet, phone, e commerce fees, etc not to mention health care insurance which for me is over $1300/month alone. Income from several on site shows and art fair that cancelled have also impacted the bottom line.
- Trying to navigate life as normally as possible within the health advisories.
- We are Skyping many lessons and rehearsals in NYC for an upcoming April performance have been reduced in number and rescheduled to off peak hours on Metro North.
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