What are the long-term societal effects of COVID-19?

This evidence has been written by Dr Sarah Price and is submitted on behalf of a group of researchers at the University of Sheffield who are engaged in a UKRI-funded 12 month project focused on the recovery of the Sheffield arts and cultural sector following the devastating impact of COVID-19. The research team is led by Professor Vanessa Toulmin, with academics specialising in arts engagement from Music and English Departments, and specialising in local planning and governance from within the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. This evidence focuses specifically on employment in the arts and cultural sector, with consideration of the impact of COVID-19 on inequalities on employment in the creative sector. Evidence comes from a survey of freelance or casual arts workers in south Yorkshire (Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster) gathering information on how COVID-19 has impacted the availability of work, income, wellbeing and their thoughts on the future post-COVID. Responses were collected 27 October - 19 November 2020. The survey is still collecting responses and evidence in this report is from an interim analysis.