Arts organizations and venues, museums, theatres and more stand to lose big as the Coronavirus pandemic rages on.
In this week’s Arts Playlist - Delaware Division of the Arts director Paul Weagraff discusses the impact Delaware’s arts’ community is feeling.
Many arts organizations and venues, museums and theatres in Delaware are closed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Delaware Division of the Arts director Paul Weagraff says the closures are concerning because the arts - in a good year - generate million of dollars in the First State,
“The arts - according to our last Economic Impact Study - the non-profit arts sector generates almost $150 million of economic activity in the State of Delaware," said Weagraff. "And that is a little over $100 million of economic investment by the arts organizations themselves and then another $50 million in investment by the patrons who attend arts events.”
Weagraff notes while those numbers do notcount the costs of tickets, they do include restaurant business, parking, paying babysitter, and hotel stays.
Weagraff says the “ripple effect” is considerable - and arts groups will need help to stay afloat.
“The challenge for both museums and performing arts organizations is that cancelling a show has all sorts of ripple effects for the organization, as well as the performers and the artists who might be exhibiting their work,” Weagraff said.
He says simply postponing a show is not always an option for some because the artist and/or performer may not be available at a later date.
Weagraff says the Division of the Arts is reaching out to First State arts organizations to assess the changes they are facing - and expect to face down the road.
