On December 7, 2020, the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance released its latest report on COVID-19’s profound impact on the arts and culture sector across the province, based on survey responses collected between October and November, 2020 through the GVPTA COVID-19 B.C. Arts & Culture Impact Survey.

Highlights from the December 2020 Report

  • Of the 443 respondents, 57% were individual artists & arts workers, and the other 43% responded on behalf of an organization. Of the 253 responding as individuals, 54% identified solely as an artist, 17% solely an arts worker, and 29% as both artist and arts worker.
  • The top five disciplines of respondents included: Theatre (48%), Music (37%), Visual Arts (32%), along with Dance and Community Arts (tied at 30%).
  • The majority (61%) of respondents were based in Metro Vancouver.
  • Obstacles:
    • Most organizations identified that they face multiple obstacles, including current government regulations relating to public health orders (67%); financial constraints (59%), and lack of resources or capacity to adapt (51%);
    • Most individuals identified that they face multiple obstacles, including general uncertainty and inability to plan for the future (83%); shortage of available work opportunities (74%); and a shortage of personal energy and motivation (61%);
    • Individuals aged 35–54 reported a higher number of obstacles in the last three months in comparison with other age ranges;
    • 80% of Indigenous and Racialized respondents identified personal or family health and safety concerns, compared to 54% of non-Indigenous or Racialized individuals. 
  • 58% of organizations feel that they are financially prepared for the second wave of COVID-19.
  • Compared to the previous three months, organizations expect a net decrease in the number of staff, artist contracts, and hours worked over the next three months.
  • 91% of organizations had remote workers (working more than half of their hours) in September, an increase of 26 points compared to pre-pandemic. 86% of organizations expect to continue to have remote workers after vaccines are available.
  • 19% of artists and arts workers originally projected they would earn less than $20K this year from all sources of income, but now 56% expect to fall within that income bracket. 
  • 84% of respondents are interested in digital programming and practices. 49% indicated they don’t have access to the necessary technology to make the shift.
  • More respondents in non-urban and northern communities, compared to other communities in the province, feel they don’t have affordable, reliable, high-speed internet in their region.