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Survey for Artists: COVID-19

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In late March 2020, M-AAA launched the COVID-19 Artist Impact Survey to determine the impacts on the livelihoods of artists in the Mid-America Arts Alliance Region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas) in the three weeks immediately following the global pandemic. Nearly 2000 artists from across the Mid-America region completed the survey.

The most significant initial impact is financial.
  • 79.0% of artists have had shows or gigs canceled. In the first three weeks, 60.6% have lost 1 to 5 shows or gigs.
  • 81.5% of artists have lost wages/earnings. In the first three weeks, 54.3% of artists have lost between $501 and $5,000.
  • 45.0% of artists have either partially or totally lost income from sources other than their art practices
The impacts extend beyond the financial.
  • 60.7% of artists have seen a decrease in their creative output.
  • 66.4% of artists indicate that social distancing has had an impact on their livelihood as an artist.
  • 42.8% of artists indicate that mental health has had an impact on their livelihood as an artist.

Artists surveyed have limited personal emergency financial resources.

  • 48.6% have $1,000 or less in emergency savings.
  • 60.0% have emergency savings that will sustain them for one month or less.
  • 84.6% have emergency savings that will sustain them for three months or less.

Artists’ situations will likely continue to worsen.

  • One in five artists (21.6%) indicates they do not need support at this time.
  • Confidence in ability to meet financial obligations decreases with duration.
  • 54.6% of artists agree or strongly agree they will be able to meet their financial obligations in April 2020
  • 20.8% of artists agree or strongly agree that they will be able to meet their financial obligations in August 2020.
  • Only 43.4% of artists have applied for or plan to apply for emergency relief funding, but 58.7% indicate they need salary/wage support
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