Mary Loh, Head of Talent Development & Programming weighs in on the arts landscape and why the arts will not die.

When we say that the global COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted the arts, we are stating the obvious. The evidence is all there – empty performance venues and half abandoned galleries, cancelled productions which have incurred a estimated loss of  $2.6 million solely in expected income from ticket sales as of 6 April[1], the loss of sponsorships and fundraising which would support company operations and the loss of jobs.

According to ilostmygig.sg[2], close to 3,000 people in the creative industries have lost up to $30,366,873 in income to date, due to 8,768 projects being cancelled. Despite the Singapore’s generous Resilience Budget allocation of $55 million to support the arts and the slow easing of safe distancing measures, the arts groups remain gloomy about the sector’s recovery simply because there does not seem to be an end in sight.

However, through the annals of history, artists have proven that it is possible to thrive in times of adversity. Shakespeare wrote King Lear, Macbeth and Anthony and Cleopatra when the Globe Theatre was closed down because of bubonic plague. The Spanish flu pandemic set conditions which birthed the Bauhaus Movement with new design paradigms and creative pedagogy.

Despite numerous personal challenges including becoming deaf, Beethoven has composed some of the most enduring works of music that the world has known. Although the relevance of the arts is questioned in times of trouble, it has never been dealt a death blow because of what I would call the certainty of arts.

Finally, the arts will move forward because of the remarkable resilience of those who make art. While good music, theatre, literary and visual arts thrive in boom times, artists do not put the tools of their work down when times are bad. Dancers will find spaces to dance, defining new dance vocabulary.

Music will inspire hope even when it captures the shared moments of deep despair. A painting will move you with depictions of the human condition. Artists may be momentarily deterred but they are unstoppable. It is the inner spirit of Creativity that drives them.

This creative drive is budding in the students in our CFA Arts Excellence groups. I see them embracing the challenges, not giving up and not passively waiting for the storm to pass. Though practice and performance is difficult using Zoom and other livestreaming platforms, they adapt how they are used to rehearsing and creating shows to the resources they have and stretch their creative problem solving muscles.

They continue to be optimistic that they will be able to rehearse together in larger groups and to be ready to present their work. This resilience will stand them in good stead for the future.

The arts strengthens the human spirit when the need for masks obscures identity and human connection is hampered by safe distancing.

It is something for us to hold on to, giving meaning and connection to each other and the rest of the world – This is something that a deadly virus certainly can never take away.

[1] Ong Sor Fern, https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/covid-19-has-cost-the-singapore-arts-scene-at-least-26-million-in-box-office-and, Accessed 1 September 2020

[2] I Lost My Gig, https://ilostmygig.sg/, Accessed 1 September 2020