By Research reveals pandemic had devastating impact on South Yorkshire’s arts and culture
Research conducted by a university has revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a particularly devastating impact on arts and culture sects in South Yorkshire.
The report, conducted by the University of Sheffield, revealed that there has been a 60 percent decline in output due to Covid restrictions that took place over the past two years.
The output loss totalled up to 22 percent, five percent more than the UK’s average.
Approximately 55 percent of jobs (450,000 people) were furloughed in the arts and culture sector alone during this time.
The areas hit the hardest by this include cinema, performing arts, museums and historical sites.
Over 80,000 claims were made under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) by people in the arts, culture and heritage sector, which adds up to a huge 68 percent of the eligible population in the UK.
South Yorkshire was listed as one of the worst affected areas in the nation.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, director of city and culture and chair in early film and popular entertainment at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK’s arts, culture and heritage sector.
“This landmark report reveals how social distancing and lockdowns over the past 18 months have had a catastrophic effect on the finances of people who work in the sector, as well as businesses and venues.
“People have lost their jobs, businesses and venues have closed and this economic impact has severely affected the mental health and wellbeing of people who work in the sector across the UK.
“People in the sector have been losing sleep and have had much higher levels of anxiety due to how the pandemic has affected their personal finances and uncertainty about the future.”
The study also reportedly found that 76.5 percent of South Yorkshire’s freelancers in arts, culture and heritage jobs have seen their mental health deteriorate due to recent circumstances.
The figures have doubled, even tripled in some cases, compared to normal rates.
Both men and women listed being unable to sleep due to stress as well as higher levels of anxiety and depression since the pandemic began.
It is vital that these arts and culture sectors are improved on and supported as they can massively boost not just the region’s economy, but the whole country’s as well.
