Cultural leaders envision a post-COVID world

Republished by ECBN from: The World Economic Forum

“During this lockdown period audiences have become more used to participating…[and] to actually getting involved. There has been more collective action”. That was the assessment of Es Devlin, a London-based artist and stage designer, on how the COVID-19 pandemic may have forever changed the way audiences engage with culture. Devlin’s remarks came during a virtual Town Hall of the World Economic Forum’s Arts and Culture Global Solidarity Network on 28 May, focused around the theme what can we do now that we could not do before.

Launched in March, the Arts and Culture Global Solidarity Network connects artists, cultural institutions and the broader cultural ecosystem to share lessons learned for navigating the coronavirus crisis as a sector – and to come together in shaping the narratives of the world we want to live in post-COVID-19. As most arts and culture policy is national and not necessarily conversant with neighbouring countries, information flow has been key. To date, more than 100 mission-aligned cultural institutions from across the globe have joined the network. Today, as countries around the world begin to ease lockdown restrictions, museums and cultural institutions must once again adapt to a new reality. One of the first to reopen was the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art in Beijing, which welcomed back the public on 21 May after nearly four months closure.

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Header image: REUTERS/Juan Medina TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY / Weforum.