RI Arts Sector loses over 10K jobs and $436 million in four months, national study

August 20th, 2020

Rhode Island’s arts sector lost over 10,000 jobs and sales of over $436 million during the months of April to July of this year as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, according to a report recently issued by The Brookings Institution. The report, “Lost Art: Measuring COVID-19’s Devastating Impact On America’s Creative Economy”, documents the impact of the health crisis on arts and culture nationwide, describing the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on a sector that contributes more than $2 billion annually to the Rhode Island economy.

Randall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of RISCA, expressed grave concern over these findings. “This report documents how, in just four short months, the arts sector nationwide and in Rhode Island has literally ground to a halt… Arts jobs are jobs, and our greatest challenge is providing our state’s artists and arts organizations with the resources they need to survive. We must ensure the arts return to contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our state.” Read more here.

Artists, What’s Next? August 26th, 11 AM – 12 PM, Zoom Conversation.

Please join Mollie Flanagan, RISCA’s Individual Artists Program Director, for a facilitated conversation about what you need and want in the coming few months from RISCA. What programs, meetings, events, and professional development would be the most helpful to you and sustaining your art practice in this time? What kind of grants? What other things could we be doing to support you as we all navigate this crisis?

For more information and Zoom link, click here.

Artist Programs in the Time of COVID Survey. Like many organizations, RISCA is thinking about what we do, and how we can make what we do of greater value to the people and organizations we support. This may involve continuing to provide the programs and services you have come to depend on. It may also involve reimagining our work so that it more responsive to the needs of the arts community during this unique period.

The purpose of this survey is to understand what you – the artists and cultural workers of Rhode Island – most need at this moment. The information we gather will help us determine how we organize our work and programs for the next several months and, perhaps, years. To learn more – and to take the survey – click here.

Rhode Island COVID-19 Filming Safety Protocols. The Rhode Island Film & TV Office is proud to announce COVID-19 Safety Protocols and additional support materials for those interested in making future productions in Rhode Island.

Included on the resource page are control plan templates, film permits and COVID-19 film permit addenda, links to RIDOH information resources, and safety guidelines from relevant unions. Read more here.

401-222-3880 | www.arts.ri.gov