BLOG: Why we should make art a top priority--especially while in crisis

It is difficult to accept a reality where galleries, studios, and museums are empty. These are central locations of hope, enlightenment, connectivity, and enrichment, and the deep sense of loss as they close is felt throughout the world. In an article announcing Newark’s response to COVID-19, Mayor Ras Baraka states, “Newark is a ‘City of the Arts,’ where access to spoken-word events, musical and dance performances, film, art exhibits, theatre offerings, museums, and libraries add exponentially to our economic health… The impact of our arts community is felt in our neighborhoods, our businesses, our institutions, and our households”. 

Even though there is a misconception that the arts and the economy are separate, which inherently devalues the power of art, there are clear indicators and studies that prove COVID-19 has deeply impacted the arts sector--in our city and beyond. A crowdsourced dataset based on staff and media reportings created by @MichelleNMoon, shows that roughly more than 12,000 arts organizations’ staff have been laid off or furloughed. International art fairs like ART Paris and FRIEZE New York are canceled. Relief efforts seem bleak as ARTnews reports, “arts-related organizations are set to receive roughly $300 million—a small fraction of the $2 trillion sum… it is relatively small compared to Germany’s $54 billion arts relief package.” Our government lacks the infrastructure to support the arts, especially when in crisis. This results in us witnessing independent stores, small businesses, consultants, and artists struggling, and it leaves us with the ultimate question--what can we do? 

For Newark, Mayor Baraka launched the Creative Catalyst Fund, a 750,000 package that distributes grants to artists and collectives. Hyperallergic reports, “the Andy Warhol Foundation announced they will commit one year of its $1.6 million regranting budget to emergency relief funds for its 16 regional partners.” Many more organizations are following suit and it is important to highlight these efforts and support them.

Here’s a list of resources compiled by Nene Aïssatou Diallo, a local artist from Newark and Member of LAND Collective. Also, here is list of resources compiled by Creative Capital.