Art resides in one's dwelling

In these unprecedented times, the world is currently grappling with a pandemic, with a virus spreading globally at a rapid pace. Governments and scientists are implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to mitigate or suppress contagion. Amidst this crisis, the creative industries are playing a crucial role in keeping the nation educated, creative, and entertained.

The creative industries, which are included on the DCMS's list of Creative Occupations, are responding to the pandemic in innovative ways. They are offering new programming, making collections available online, giving away digital content, and becoming social-distance compliant. This is essential for helping people stay at home during the pandemic, which is crucial for the success of NPIs.

Professor Hasan Bakhshi MBE, the Professor of Economics of the Creative Industries and Director of Creative PEC, has been at the forefront of these efforts. He is joined by Professor Giorgio Fazio, the Research Director of Creative PEC and Chair of Macroeconomics at Newcastle University Business School, and Dr Josh Sieper, who is researching the co-location of the Creative Industries with other Industrial Strategy Priority Sectors.

The Government, funders, and the creative industries are coming together to support cultural consumer assistance. This includes providing financial and organizational support to help the arts and cultural sectors survive economic challenges caused by the pandemic. Similar support measures have been introduced in other countries around the world.

The 2025 Spending Review has implications for the creative industries. The Government has introduced COVID-19 support measures such as covering wages for employees on temporary leave (furlough) and providing financial assistance to the self-employed. These measures are designed to help the creative industries weather the economic storm caused by the pandemic.

Professor Nick Wilson discusses the Equity Gap in Britain's Creative Industries, while Professor Dave O'Brien emphasises the importance of higher education to the arts, culture, and heritage sectors. The PEC's blog provides a platform for independent, evidence-based views on various topics related to the creative industries.

The Global Creative Economy Council is aiming to unsettle and reorder the creative economy. With accredited qualifications mattering in journalism, as it is included on the DCMS's list of Creative Occupations, the council is working to ensure that the creative industries are equipped to thrive in the post-pandemic world.

Communications should move from explaining to citizens that they should stay at home to what they can do there. The Government, funders, and the creative industries should come together to think about new ways of promoting cultural consumption in the home in coming days and months. The creative industries can contribute to the "war" effort against the virus by keeping the nation educated, creative, and entertained with various forms of media.

In these challenging times, the creative industries are demonstrating their resilience and adaptability. They are playing a vital role in helping the nation cope with the pandemic and are positioned to play a key role in the recovery efforts.