COVID-19 Survey: Further reflections of impact on the Creative Sector in Tāmaki Makaurau September 2020
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Executive Summary
Introduction
Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi commissioned Dovetail, an Auckland-based research and evaluation company, to undertake a follow-up survey of Auckland’s creative sector on the impact of COVID-19. This survey was conducted in September-October 2020, and followed a similar survey conducted during the first lockdown in April 2020. The survey was distributed via email and social media networks. A snowball sampling approach was undertaken, in which recipients were encouraged to distribute the survey to others in the sector. In total, 146 responses were received from people based in or working in the Auckland region. The sampling approach means that the results may not be representative of the creative sector in the region; the results do however point to a range of issues for consideration.
Respondent profile
More than half of those participating in the survey were creative freelancers, contractors or entrepreneurs (52%). Some 16% were leaders of a creative not-for-profit organisation, and 12% were leaders of commercial creative enterprises. A further 10% were creatives working for an organisation. The remainder were unpaid creatives or indicated other roles. Over two-thirds (57%) were working full-time in their roles, and (32%) were part-time. A wide variety of art forms or creative practice were identified by survey participants. One-third of respondents (29%) were male and two-thirds (64%) were female. Some 72% were European/Pākehā, 12% were Māori, 9% were Moana Oceania (Pacific), with the remainder spread across a range of ethnic groups.
Event cancellations
COVID-19 continues to have widespread impacts on respondents’ creative sector activity. 58% of respondents indicated they had to cancel an event, hui or gathering, or project or service because of COVID-19, and a further 36% had had to postpone. Half of these cancelled or postponed events (46%) were within the next month following lockdown, and some events were scheduled for up to six months from when the August lockdown was initiated; 11% were scheduled in 2 to 3 months from when the lockdown began, and a further 3% in 4-6 months’ time. In addition, 41% had had to cancel multiple or ongoing events.
Financial impacts
There remains some financial uncertainty among participants as a result of cancelled activity. Some 66% said that they personally would be able to financially get by without the cancelled activity, compared 7% who could not get by, and a further 26% who were unsure. This compares to 40% who said that their organisation would be able to get by, 24% were unsure and 7% said no (note that a further 29% indicated that the organisational response was not applicable). Answers to open-ended questions about financial costs indicated a range of personal financial impacts for individual respondents, from some saying no impact, to as high as $60,000. Some also reported significant losses for their creative organisations, ranging from less than $1000 to $2.5 million. Many respondents have had to reduce contractors (25% of applicable respondents) or staff (14%).
Key priorities and concerns
Key priorities and concerns of survey participants included the following: dealing with uncertainty and precariousness of funding; personal wellbeing; adapting to a new environment; viability of work, organisation and business; immediate financial survival; and future of the creative sector. Areas of support that were identified as needed included innovation and strategic advice (52%); fundraising support (45%); digital technology (44%); grant-writing and marketing/communications (42% each).
Accessing support and adapting practice
Most respondents had accessed some form of support, particularly the wage subsidy (66%) and the Creative New Zealand emergency relief grant (29%). A common theme in this survey is adapting to a new environment, recognising that COVID will not be dispelled in the near future, and embedding these new ways of working into development and delivery of work going forward. Survey participants had adapted their practice to meet the challenge of the current environment. This included shifts to online activities (58%); cutting some services or events (56%); new ways of delivering services (48%); new funding sources (47%); and contingency plans to meet health and safety requirements (43%).
Reflections from COVID-19
Key areas of learning from COVID-19 included the importance of responsiveness and flexibility (24%); capacity for resilience (14%); and the importance of relationships and community (9%). In the face of the COVID crisis, suggested priorities for the creative sector going forward were financial support; recognition of the value of the arts; advocacy and leadership; collaboration and mutual support; capacity building; and disruption to current systems and structures. Participants in the September survey appear to be focusing on dealing with the uncertainty that is part of ‘the new normal’ of COVID-19. This includes finding ways to resume business as usual, and operate within COVID level restrictions, implementing health and safety practices and ensuring readiness for the 'next wave'. Pivoting programmes and adapting to the new environment were also now key priorities, with innovation seen key to maintaining audiences, funding deliverables and providing certainty in uncertain times.
Māori and Moana Oceania respondents
From the 116 respondents indicating ethnicity, 14 respondents identified as Māori (12%), and 11 identified as Moana Oceania (Pacific, 9%). The sample size does not make statistical testing feasible, but some differences are apparent. In particular, the loss of events, and the impacts or uncertainty of the COVID-19 environment, appears to be more strongly evident among Māori and Moana Oceania respondents. Key priorities or concerns that were particularly high among Māori respondents were future of the sector; fighting despondency and finding work; and viability of work, organisation or business. Key priorities or concerns that were particularly high among Moana Oceania respondents were wellbeing; and strengthening governance and operations. Both Māori and Moana Oceania respondent groups had shown a marked shift towards delivering online events and new ways of delivering services.
Shifts in experiences/feedback from the April 2020 survey
Some limited comparisons can be made between the findings from this survey, conducted in September-October, and those of the earlier April survey. Even with the shorter and less intensive lockdown from August, many were still impacted by COVID, and many are still struggling with the impacts of the earlier lockdown. Income sources and opportunities remain disrupted and cancellations/postponements are an ever-present factor. There does not seem to be the same level of long-term cancellations in this survey compared to the April survey, but this may indicate that fewer are planning long-term in the current environment.
A common theme in September 2020 was the inability to plan far ahead, and alongside this, adapting to a new environment, recognising that COVID will not be dispelled in the near future, and embedding these new ways of working into development and delivery of work going forward.
Responses suggest that people are more confident of getting by financially than in April. However, many are reporting financial losses, and in this survey, one in four respondents are unsure about being able to get by and face an uncertain future.
Conclusions
Six months on from the first COVID-19 lockdown, this survey reveals that the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau is cautiously rebuilding, with some optimism and resilience emerging, yet is still being buffeted by the challenges that COVID brings. Those participating in the survey appear to some extent to be in a stronger position to get by than the previous April survey, yet for many, uncertainty about the viability of their personal earning capacity, or that of the organisations they’re part of, remains an ongoing issue.
Many in the creative sector are building in contingency planning, shifting to online delivery where feasible, and working day to day to maintain viability and momentum. The inability to plan for the long term appears to be keenly felt across the sector.
The survey findings suggest a disproportion impact among Māori and Moana Oceania respondents, particularly in terms of cancellations, uncertainty and ensuring viability. At the same time, these groups have also shown a willingness to adapt and build new forms of delivery.
For the creative sector, the findings reinforce those of the earlier April survey, particularly recognition of the value of the arts, the importance of advocacy and leadership, and the need for continued financial support.
