BOSTON – In March 2021, one year into the pandemic, Mass
Cultural Council shared data defining a
cultural sector in economic crisis. Today, more than two years after
COVID-19 first affected every facet of life in the Commonwealth, Mass Cultural Council releases
new economic impact data collected from Massachusetts artists, cultural
sector workers, and cultural organizations.
This is the sixth COVID economic impact survey of the cultural sector
hosted by Mass Cultural Council since the pandemic forced gathering limits,
closures, and cancellations across Massachusetts in March 2020. The
data reported today represents a cumulative total for every respondent of
each prior survey since March 2020: 1,084 cultural organizations and 3,048
artists and cultural sector workers.
“Mass Cultural Council’s charge is to bolster the Commonwealth’s cultural
sector,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural
Council. “Massachusetts’ artists, sector employees, creative
individuals, and organizations have been doing their best to hang on, and
we are hopeful that this spring and summer the public will enthusiastically
and safely reengage with them. This survey reports devastating losses – but
there is hope. In the coming fiscal year, Mass Cultural Council anticipates
administering a historic level of state funding in grants supporting arts
and culture in every community. Together, our creativity, passion, and
perseverance will help the cultural sector to vibrantly thrive once
again.”
Economic Impacts
Reported by Cultural Organizations
A total of 281 cultural organizations located across Massachusetts
responded to the sixth impact survey, which sought information on the
period between March 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. These organizations
reported $192,691,951 in lost revenue during that period. Significantly,
ninety (90) percent -- $172,550,608 -- of these losses stem from earned
revenue that never materialized.
“It’s clear that while cultural organizations have reopened, audiences have
yet to return in large enough numbers for the hosts to rely upon earned
revenue to support their work or achieve revenue goals,” said
Bobbitt. “Mass Cultural Council’s grant programs and services offer
relief and assistance, but the need is always greater than our available
resources.”
These organizations also identified almost $20 million ($19,299,389) in
costs experienced over the past year that were necessary to reopen, remain
open, or attract patrons. These costs, which include capital expenses like
HVAC improvements, air purifiers, and seating changes, and non-capital
expenses, such as cleaning and sanitation, signage, supplies, and staff
training, are ongoing items organizations must now budget for.
Fifty-one (51) percent of survey respondents with employees reported that
they laid off, furloughed, or reduced the hours and/or wages of their
employees in the past year – impacting 3,504 cultural sector employees.
Cumulatively, throughout Mass Cultural Council’s six COVID economic
impact surveys issued between March 2020 and March 2022, 1,084 cultural
organizations reported a total of $781,026,030 in lost revenue and 33,513
impacted jobs.
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