The Impact of Coronovirus on Arts and Culture

It is clear a new phase of the coronavirus is upon us, which will require new measures alongside a continued lockdown of the culture and arts venues here in our city - for the next few months at least.

How can community and friends schemes and local support groups like Sheffield Visual Arts  Group help in the next responses to the virus?

1.    SUPPORT THEM FINANCIALLY IN WHATEVER WAY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW.

2.    IF YOU HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS FOR AN EVENT, DON’T ASK FOR A REFUND, DONATE

       THE PRICE.

3.    IF YOU NORMALLY SPEND ON THE ARTS, LOOK AT BUYING GIFT VOUCHERS TO USE

       AFTERWARDS, OR A CD, ART WORKS, BOOKS AND CRAFTS ONLINE.

4.    JOIN MAILING LISTS, ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU

       WHEN THEY RE- OPEN.  SENDING AN EMAIL TO YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS AND VENUES

       OF YOUR SUPPORT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM WHEN THEY RETURN TO WORK.

5.    TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET INVOLVED.

These small gestures all help art and cultural organisations get back on their feet and be around for years to come.  After months of social isolation the power of the arts to bring people together
will be needed more than ever.  Just remember use it or lose it.

What are we up to ?

We aim to promote and celebrate Sheffield's outstanding visual arts, and improve access to them. Also to contribute to local policymaking.

These are the specific issues we are currently working on:

• Arts Council Consultation: 10 year strategy

• Sheffield's "Compact"

• How and where to archive Sheffield's Street Art

Other Sheffield Initiatives we contribute to:

• "Joined Up Heritage Sheffield"

        Explores ways to develop a better resourced, better connected and better

        communicated heritage offer for a wide range of audiences.

www.joinedupheritagesheffield.org.uk

• "What Next ?"

        What Next ? Sheffield share, debate and take collective action on issues facing

        the local and national cultural sector.

•  Creative Guild

        Sheffield Creative Guild is a membership cooperative which seeks to connect,

        support and advocate for the many creative individuals and organisations

        in the region.