As we continue to report on the dire impact that COVID-19 has had on the arts and cultural sector, one question that frequently comes up at Americans for the Arts is: What can be done to prevent this from ever happening again?

I won’t attempt to tackle that question in this blog post, but I will be discussing some of the lived experiences of artists and creative workers that emphasize the need for building an infrastructure where artists and creative workers can thrive.

Unstable Housing and Food Insecurity

Artists and creative workers are experiencing a housing crisis because of COVID-19. 32 percent of respondents report that they have been faced with the threat of eviction in 2020, 7 percent report being evicted, and 11 percent have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. White women are the most severely affected, with 14 percent experiencing homelessness since the pandemic began.

Additionally, more than half (52 percent) of respondents have been unable to access or afford food at some point in the pandemic. The percentage is even higher for disabled BIPOC respondents (63 percent).

Limited Access to Healthcare

Artists and creative workers lack affordable healthcare for themselves and their dependents, with 43 percent of respondents not visiting a medical professional because of being unable to pay.

Read the full article about intentionally marginalized artists by Isaac Fitzsimons at Americans for the Arts.