The creative and cultural sectors have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in major cities where these industries drive a large portion of the economy. Jobs in these sectors are often non-standard, precarious, and lack safety nets. While governments have implemented unprecedented rescue responses, a more targeted support package is needed to address the specific challenges faced by creative workers and businesses. A collaborative approach between different levels of government, businesses, foundations and other organizations will be crucial to help the cultural and creative sectors survive the crisis and build greater resilience going forward.

1. COVID-19: IMPACT ON CREATIVE JOBS
27 January 2021
Ekaterina Travkina
OECD Local Economic and Employemt Developmetn Programme

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Our cultural and creative sectors are in crisis –
particularly in big cities
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Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors |
Note: TL2 regions, 2017 or latest available year for OECD countries with data plus Romania
in London are in the creative economy
1 in 6 jobs
of economic activity in New York is from the
creative economy
$1 in every $8
of jobs in Seoul are in the creative economy
5.5%

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Characteristics of CCS employment
• High shares of non-standard
work
• Precarious
• Highly-skilled
• Resilient
• Less prone to be replaced by
automation or delocalised
• Dense ecosystems
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COVID-19 Impact on Cultural and Creative Sectors
• Difficult to access income
support, self-
employment or business
support measures
• Lack safety nets
• Difficult to measure

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The sector will not bounce back quickly
4
Continued income and revenue
loses
Reduced investment in future
production
Likely reduction of public and
private funding
Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors |
Subnational government expenditure in "recreation, culture and religion"
as a % of total public expenditure in the category (2017)
Note: * COFOG: Classification of the Functions of Government
**. Social protection expenditure includes both capital and current expenditure.
1. Australia, New Zealand,
2. and Turkey: estimates from IMF Government Finance Statistics. WA: weighted average; UWA: unweighted average. The total of
general government spending is non-consolidated. No data for Canada, Chile and Mexico.
Source: OECD (2020) Subnational governments in OECD countries: key data

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Opportunities for the recovery
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Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors |
EDUCATION HEALTH TOURISM
DIGITAL
Using technologies that
allow “presence at
distance” (AI, virtual and
enriched reality, or the IoT)
to build a new “experience
economy”.
Technologies, formats and
skills for distance and
distributed learning, and
digital forms of access to
culture.
Active ageing, improved
health, combatting social
isolation and loneliness,
and health can benefit
from culture.
Higher value added
experiences which
incorporate local creative
sectors, increase the
attractiveness of new
destinations & provide
interaction with visitors.

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Unprecedented rescue
responses

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A more targeted support package is needed
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Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors |
PUBLIC FUNDING
Grants & subsidies for CCS &
individual artists
Compensation of losses
Loan provision and guarantee
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT
Job retention
Income support
Unemployment benefits
DEFERRAL OF PAYMENTS,
EASING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
Advanced aid
Postponement & relief of dues
STRUCTURAL POLICIES
Training and capacity building
Impact analysis
Digitalisation
Innovation

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And bring together partners to create a supportive
ecosystem
Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors 8
City Governments
To guarantee the survival of venue-based sectors cities such as Amsterdam and Helsinki have suspended delivery
targets for cultural institutions but maintained grants.
Businesses
The French Société Générale bank group established a EUR 2 million Emergency Aid Fund to support musicians.
London’s Soho Theatre worked with Amazon Prime Video to raise funds to support freelancers in the theatre sector.
Foundations
The Amplifier Foundation sought to employ creative workers through a Global Open Call for Art that grants USD
1000 for a piece to 60 artists. The works will then be distributed online and physically.
Collective Management Organisations
In Australia the Phonographic Performance Company (PPCA) calculated and distributed advance payments for
Australian Registered Artists based on the average of their previous earnings

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Help culture survive the crisis and build its future
resilience
Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors | 9
 Ensure support reaches creative professionals and firms
 Encourage investment in cultural production
 Adapt public self-employment and income support
measures to new and hybrid forms of employment
 Widen innovation support - to cater for non-
technological innovation
 Improve access of creative firms to SME finance by
leveraging intangible assets

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What next: Culture and
the recovery

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Upcoming cultural & creative sector events &
publications
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Covid-19 Impact on Cultural & Creative Sectors |
 27 Jan| WEBINAR: Spotlight Covid-19 and Music & the
Night Time Economy webinar
 27-28 Jan | WEBINAR: Culture & jobs: Rescue, support
and unleash (Co-hosted by Glasgow City Region)
 25 Feb | WEBINAR: Book publishing
 25-26 Feb | WEBINAR: SME support ecosystems for
Cultural and Creative Sectors (Co-hosted by Flanders)
 April | WEBINAR: Innovation in public and private
investment in arts and culture
 Summer | SUMMER SCHOOL: 4th edition of Summer
Academy on Cultural & Creative Industries, Trento Centre
 Summer | REPORT: Culture & Local Development