The impact of COVID-19 on international arts residencies

Res Artis and UCL's Cities partnerships Programme, UCL Innovation & Enterprise and UCL Slade School of Fine Art have released an analytical report of a survey examining the impact of COVID-19 on the international arts residencies field.

The survey was conducted between 7 May and 1 June 2020 and received 1,132 responses from 774 artists and 358 arts organisations around the globe. This is the first of three surveys and investigated the pandemic’s immediate effect on in-progress and planned arts residencies.

The survey found that:

• 54 percent of planned residencies were cancelled, modified, cut short or postponed.
• One in 10 (or nine percent) of arts residency operators were forced to close indefinitely.
• Just 17 percent of respondents were able to access emergency funding support.

Another two surveys will follow to asses the medium- and long-term impacts of the virus on arts residencies around the world. The primary aim of these surveys is to articulate the challenges and opportunities for the sector during this difficult time.

The collaboration, hard data and analysis will be used to instigate positive change by providing information, support and key policy recommendations for artists, arts residency operators, funders and key sector stakeholders.

Read the full report of Survey I here

Further information

• Cities partnerships Programme
• Innovation & Enterprise
• Slade School of Fine Art
• Res Artis

Contact

Enquiries: office@resartis.org

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