Culture feeds city recovery from Covid
A group of Brighton & Hove cultural organisations, that pioneered a collaborative approach to Cultural Recovery in the city, has published a report demonstrating its impact on artists and audiences, as the city recovers from the pandemic.
More than 50 organisations were involved, employing 324 artists and creative workers - most of them freelancers, whose livelihoods were so heavily impacted by the pandemic.
Supporting city projects
The plan saw a total of £550,000 raised to support projects around the city, including 25 new commissions and 24 events, welcoming audiences of more than 12,000.
Around 435 local residents participated directly in projects, at a time when people clearly needed to reconnect.
One participant commented: “This project landed in my life at a very difficult time. It helped me have another focus and helped me digest some of the grief and anxiety that I was struggling with.”
Fantastic!
There is evidence of a strong appetite for these kinds of events from audiences, who had not been able to share creative experiences for many months.
“Third Thursdays is fantastic - to be out with people experiencing culture in a safe way post covid,” commented one audience member.
Partnership working
The funding came from many different sources, including Brighton & Hove City Council, Arts Council England, Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District and the Government’s ‘Welcome Back’ Covid recovery fund.
Arts organisations in the city also contributed, supporting freelancers to be involved in decision making and be paid for their time.
This collaboration has been one of the strengths of the programme and has created partnerships that will last.
Building relationships
One of the organisations commissioned was Sussex Dance Network. Artistic Director Katie Dale-Everett said: “Involvement in the ABCD programme has been instrumental to the growth of myself as an individual, my organisation and the artists and communities we support.
“Learning from participating in the programme will continue to inform the work we do locally and further across Sussex and relationships built will continue long-term to make greater impact by working more intelligently together.”
Aiding recovery
One of the programme’s main supporters has been Brighton & Hove City Council.
Councillor Martin Osborne, co-chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee (TECC) said: “Brighton & Hove is known worldwide as a centre for culture and the arts, whether it’s supporting and providing platforms for events and exhibitions, to nurturing and creating opportunities for up-and-coming artists.
“We saw first-hand the devastating effect Covid 19 had on the industry and those who make their living through the arts, so are pleased to have supported a programme that will not only aid recovery, but work to provide a more sustainable and inclusive future for arts and culture in our city.”
He added that the report will be considered by members of the TECC committee in January.
New challenges
Recovery from the pandemic is a complex process, that is still ongoing for many in the cultural sector, with the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis and impending cuts to public services bringing a new wave of challenges.
The power of arts and culture to connect and bring people together is more important than ever, and the Cultural Recovery Programme has made a strong contribution to ensuring it can continue to support the recovery and prosperity of the city.
