Local Cultural Leader Reflects On Pandemic's Impact To The Arts

HAVERTOWN, PA —Earlier this month, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance published its analysis of the devastating economic impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the arts and culture sector in the five-county Philadelphia region.

There has been hundreds of millions in lost revenue for artists and artistic organizations, lost jobs for those who work in the arts and even the disappearance of artistic and cultural institutions.

While the survey measured the numbers, Tom Kelly reflected on the impact these losses will have on the society at-large. Kelly is the president and executive director of Kelly Music for Life, a Haverford Township-based nonprofit that produces and promotes music and art events to benefit the community.

"Losing the arts has an immeasurable impact on humans in society," Kelly said in an email to Patch. "Without music, audiences cannot sing and dance together. No comedy, no laughter. Without poetry and visual arts, we lose introspection."

Kelly continued: "And the artists lose their voice. As venues close and festivals get cancelled, artists lose their livelihood. For so many, their art supports them financially. More importantly, it provides the artist the opportunity to express themselves. Together in a venue, the artist engages in a social conversation with the audience. That genuine give-and-take of human emotion cannot be duplicated on a video or TV monitor."

For its analysis of the impact of the pandemic on the local arts scene, the cultural alliance drew from the results of two surveys it conducted in recent months, which included economic data from 289 local artistic and cultural organizations. The results are eye-opening:

• The estimated total revenue loss for the entire Greater Philadelphia arts and culture sector from March 2020 to March 2021 is $371.7 million.
• 41 percent of responding organizations are not likely to survive beyond fall 2021 on current contributed and earned income streams.
• 46 percent of survey respondents said their most urgent financial need, and period of greatest risk, is between January and June 2021.
• The top financial concerns are: reduced earned revenue (87 percent) and reduced philanthropic giving (63 percent).
• The organizations surveyed reported that 6,569 cultural workers were affected by the pandemic: 2,452 positions were laid off or furloughed, 801 positions have reduced hours and 3,316 contractors have had their work cancelled or significantly reduced.
• 38 percent of organizations have cancelled or significantly reduced their social impact programming serving vulnerable populations.

The alliance made several recommendations for overcoming these challenges, including: federal stimulus funding for the arts, restoration of the Philadelphia Culture Fund to its pre-pandemic level and organizations collaborating with the philanthropic community to develop funding plans.

In response to the alliance's findings, Kelly Music for Life put out a release reminding people about the importance of supporting the arts and seeking donations and support for the programs it sponsors.

"We don't just see visual arts. We inhale the arts deeply in our souls," Kelly said. "The words, music and vision define who we are as humans. Take them away and we lose a valuable piece of our identity."

Kelly went on to lament the festivals, concerts and arts-filled gatherings already lost to the pandemic, and he made a plea to potential patrons and leaders to help stop even more of these events and institutions from disappearing.

"Before it is over, there will be more carnage," Kelly said. "We hope supporters and leaders who understand the gravity of the situation and the importance of art, are willing to step up and help us make it through this very challenging time."