Culture shock: COVID-19 and the cultural and creative sectors - OECD policy response

The OECD has published a Policy Response on COVID-19 and the cultural and creative sectors. The findings include: Along with the tourism sector, cultural and creative sectors (CCS) are among the most affected by the current crisis, with jobs at risk ranging from 0.8 to 5.5% of employment across the OECD region ... and the effects will be long lasting due to a combination of several factors.

The crisis has sharply exposed the structural fragility of some producers in the sector … and the inadequacy of public support schemes ill-adapted to CCS business models and forms of employment.

Abstract: Cultural and creative sectors are important in their own right in terms of their economic footprint and employment. They also spur innovation across the economy, as well as contribute to numerous other channels for positive social impact (well-being and health, education, inclusion, urban regeneration, etc.). They are among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with large cities often containing the greatest share of jobs at risk. The dynamics vary across sub-sectors, with venue-based activities and the related supply chains most affected. Policies to support firms and workers during the pandemic can be ill-adapted to the non-traditional business models and forms of employment in the sector. In addition to short-term support for artists and firms, which comes from both the public and private sector, policies can also leverage the economic and social impacts of culture in their broader recovery packages and efforts to transform local economies.

The study includes Policy Recommendations - for the short, medium and long-term.

Read OECD Policy Response