Culture in Times of COVID-19: Resilience, Recovery and Revival

28 June 2022

Charting the Recovery of the Culture Sector

The culture sector experienced significant decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 10 million jobs lost in 2020 alone and estimated revenue losses amounting to 20 to 40 per cent. In-person cultural experiences witnessed an eightfold greater decline in gross value added (GVA) than the global average for the whole economy, with some subsectors declining 25 per cent overall due to the sharp economic downturn and the public health measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus.

Culture in Times of COVID-19: Resilience, Recovery and Revival offers key insights on trends and structural transformations that can boost the culture sector as a cornerstone of an economy built on sustainability and well-being.

A set of strategic development considerations are put forward for governments and their partners, in both the public and private sectors, to promote the value of culture as a public good, encourage cross-sector collaboration and holistically address the essential needs of the sector, while supporting cultural professionals in adapting to a changing world and providing equal access and opportunities across the cultural value chain.

The culture sector is at a critical turning point, which offers significant opportunity to reframe it as a strategic driver of sustainable development. Momentum should not be lost, and all stakeholders should be mobilized to accelerate the recovery of the culture sector and create a diverse, resilient and thriving sustainable future.

The report is available in the Arab and English languages.

Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/culture-in-times-of-covid-19-resilience-recovery-and-revival