After years of slowly developing a conventional way of how we experience art and culture, 2020 brought a drastic change. What change will the future bring?
If you are enthusiastic about art and culture, you need your weekly dosage. You probably love spending free time visiting different museums and art galleries. For you, outings with family and friends involve some kind of exposure to art.
The pandemic brought most of the world to a standstill, hitting the cultural and creative sectors particularly hard. We got locked inside our own houses and visiting public venues was out of the question.
Despite the lockdown, various organizations have found creative ways to bring the art and culture experience right to the comfort of our home.
Forced to change, people have found alternative means of keeping art and culture close, starting a new era of how we experience them.
Changes in How Various Organizations Work
How The Pandemic Affected Them
Since the pandemic started and people were urged to stay home, various organizations that are in charge of helping us experience art and culture had to remain closed for the public.
This brought about a heavy loss in the art and culture industry. These institutions mostly run with the revenue they generate from their services, such as admission fees, membership fees, etc, or government fundings and donations.
Private art galleries run by the independent artist also had to remain closed. Pandemic made a lot of people related to this and many other industries lost their livelihood and the general public lost their main source of experiencing art and culture.
How They Are Surviving
Even as efforts have been made by the governments and philanthropists to supports the museums, art galleries, and heritage sites, they are still struggling.
However, many of these places, particularly, museums have found creative ways of bringing art and culture to the public. Many of the famous museums and heritage sites are providing free online tours for the public, making their rich collections available to a global audience.
What Is Happening With The Art Galleries?
Like everything else, art galleries have also gone digital due to the pandemic. Many art galleries are providing virtual art exhibitions on their websites.
People are buying and selling art online, based on online art auctions, art fairs, and live stream exhibitions. Blue-Chip Art is also being bought and sold online, and the art business has benefited from it, as it has reduced some of the running costs.
Many independent artists are taking this time as an inspiration, using their time at home to create complex artwork, some of these are inspired by the pandemic.
Keep Art And Culture Alive
Many of these organization have gone digital providing narrated videos, documentaries, virtual tours which may be available as video or VR.
Many of these sources are providing very detailed visuals of precious artwork or artifacts that we may not even get to see if we went there places in person. Most of these experiences are available online for free. Some museums are providing separate sections for children, to aid with their learning during the pandemic.
These initiatives have not only helped keep art and culture alive but also brought it right into our homes. They have also made these experiences available for free to those who wouldn’t have been able to afford the time or money needed to visit these places in person.
Pandemic Collections
Despite the hardship, various museums and galleries are collecting artifacts and artworks to preserve this extraordinary time. Photos, paintings, various artifacts such as face masks, protective gear, etc, to record the memories and experiences of the pandemic.
Art And Culture From Home
Bringing It Home
Art and Culture enthusiasts are finding new ways of bringing the experience home. They are not only enjoying all the virtual experiences available but are also taking their time to help their children understand and appreciate the value of these experiences.
As people are spending almost all their time at home, they are trying to enrich their house with art and culture. Many people taking this time to redecorate the interiors of their houses, to give it a more culturally enriched environment.
They are either finding artwork or artifacts available online or going as far as to make them at home.
The D.I.Y Era
During the pandemic, people have taken it on themselves to virtually do everything at home. Some of these projects started because of either unavailability of the products or excess free time.
Since restaurants were closed, people tried making their favorites recipes at home. People have taken the same approach with art and crafts.
Many people who love painting as a hobby, but didn’t have time, revived their passion. People who have always wanted to paint, are using their free time to learn at home.
D.I.Y crafts videos have become some of the most-watched content online. People are crafting things like home decor, face masks, etc, and involving the family, with parents taking this time to teach children about their culture.
Virtual Communication
Although social distancing has made face to face meeting of people impossible, the art and culture society has thrived online. With more free time, people from around the world are coming together through the internet, to discuss art and culture.
Online groups, discussions, seminars, and general interaction of communities have kept art and culture alive for all. People are taking this free time to get involved with the community, helping each other cope with the constraints and tragedies of the pandemic.
Even if people are miles apart, the pandemic has given them the time and a common cause to come together.
How Will The Future Be Different?
Many museums and galleries are opening, as lockdowns are easing. They are trying to bring back the public by following the social distancing and protective protocols.
Due to the pandemic, the art and culture industry and community has become very digitized. This will carry on into the future, as virtual tours and online exhibitions will be available besides the conventional modes.
The communities have become more global and communication has become better. As the art and culture community recovers from this difficult time, the stakeholders will only benefit from the positive developments of the pandemic.
Final Thoughts
The changes that occurred to the art and culture community has drastically changed how we experience both. The future will be global and much more digital than the past, making art and culture available for more people around the world.