A resource about coronavirus / covid-19 in relation to:
artists and art education / exhibitions / fairs / galleries / schools /  societies

CONTENTS

• Updates
• Risk Management
• Financial Assistant (WIP - new section)
  
• Practical Measures & Solutions
• Innovations / Good Ideas

NEW PAGES

• Closures of Art Galleries & Museums 
• Cancellation / Postponement of
  • Art Fairs
  • Art Exhibitions
  • Classes, Courses, Workshops
  • Art Schools

This page aims to highlight

• issues which many people in the art world will need to deal with during the Covid-19 Pandemic - over the next few months
  
• what might be potential solutions to the challenges being faced.
  
• Plus updates on the current situation for planning purposes
  

Nobody is an expert and all information and advice on here is given freely but without any liability.

Please let me know if you have any good ideas or ways of tackling the current situation which work for you.

It's the most dangerous pandemic in our lifetime.
Epidemiologist Larry Brilliant - the doctor who helped eradicate smallpox

UPDATES and future topics

UPDATES by me (on Making A Mark and Botanical Art and Artists)

• Coronavirus, Courses and Cancellations (27 February 2020) - written before the Pandemic was declared
• Coronavirus & Art #1: Risk Management for Artists & Art Events (6 March 2020)
• Coronavirus & Art #2: Thoughts and recommendations on the implications of a pandemic (12 March 2020)
• Covid-19 and Art #3: The timeline for cancellations and postponements?
• Coronavirus and Art #4: Art Galleries, Museums and Auction Houses close in London

UPDATES by others

• Coronavirus Covid-19: Information and guidance for artists and arts organisers | Artists Network (a-n) UK
• Coronavirus Cancellation Watch: An Up-to-the-Minute Guide to How the Global Health Crisis Is Rewriting the 2020 Art Calendar [UPDATED] | Art Net News - updating every day, but slowing down as most events now cancelled

FUTURE POSTS will cover

• the legalities of marketing and selling art online: resources and tips. In the meantime see this website's p[age about e-commerce for artists
• issues around cancellation of art events and art courses
  

RISK MANAGEMENT for Artists and Art Organisations

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”

Coronavirus & Art #1: Risk Management for Artists & Art Events

• my first blog post on this topic which looked at
• what are the practical implications 
• what are the potential risks
• what mitigating action can be taken.

Risk Management for Artists - a section on this website which

• explains Risk Assessment and Risk Management and
• provides a link to a FREE Guide which walks you through the systematic process
  

PRACTICAL MEASURES & SOLUTIONS

Useful Resource Guides for Artists

UK

• Coronavirus Covid-19: Information and guidance for artists and arts organisers | Artists Network (a-n) UK - Support and advice via links to information and guidance for artists and arts organisers across the arts sector, plus wider government and NHS guidance, following the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak. Collated by Artists Network and available to all. Commitment to update regularly as the situation changes.
• The Artist's Union (England) - its Facebook Page and Twitter account are both communicating what it is doing in terms of formal lobbying and records of what action is being taken to support artists
• Coronavirus - Useful info and resources | Seb's Art List - a useful set of resources to help the London Arts Community stick together and come back stronger over the coming weeks. Includes a Forum based on Slack.

USA

• ​Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Centre | Americans for the Arts - Up-to-date news and resources for the arts and culture field
• Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Artists | Springboard for the Arts (based in Saint Paul, MN) - has created a Springboard for the Arts Personal Emergency Relief Fund and has lots of links to other useful organisations, information and advice for artists in need.
• COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources - This provides useful links for artists (in the widest sense) - including including local relief and emergency grant opportunities. 
• Cerf+ The Artists Safety Net - 
• CERF+ Emergency Assistance (non-profit) - their assistance programme is now focused on cases specifically related to coronavirus and artists who require intensive medical care.
• Emergency Funds – All Art Forms | Women Arts - Emergency Funds for Artists in All Disciplines
• The Stayinghome Club - a list of TECH employers who are encouraging working from home and restricting travel, visits or events involving employees. Worth a look at if you need context for why your art organisation employer should be thinking likewise

OTHER ART BUSINESS WEBSITES

• Financial Relief Resources for Artists During COVID-19 | Artwork Archive - a list of emergency resources for artists as well an ongoing list of crowdfunding efforts to provide financial relief for artists.​​

ART NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS

• Coronavirus | The Art Newspaper - access to all their articles about the impact of coronavirus on the art economy

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR SELF-EMPLOYED AND SMALL BUSINESSES
​

UK: Financial Assistance
​

GOV.UK OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS & GUIDANCE PUBLICATIONS

• COVID-19: support for businesses introduction
• COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses - Guidance for employees, employers and businesses in providing advice about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
  • Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
  • Support for businesses through deferring VAT and Income Tax payments
  • Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees
  • Support for businesses that pay business rates
  • Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates
  • Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
  • Support for larger firms through the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility
  • Support for businesses paying tax: Time to Pay service
  • Insurance​ .

This guidance also provides details of support available to businesses including:
​

• - statutory sick pay relief package for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• - a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England
• - small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
• - grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• - the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance
• - the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme to help with tax

ARTICLES IN NEWSPAPERS

• Self-employed in the UK? Here are the chancellor's new measures to help | Guardian

INNOVATIONS & TRIED AND TESTED GOOD IDEAS

To be updated as and when I spot them or you tell me about them!
Use the form at the bottom to tell me about good ideas which work - and how/why they work

MAINTAINING AN ART CAREER
​

• Digital Tools for Artists to Run a Remote Career During Coronavirus | Artwork Archive

IDEAS FOR ART FAIR PEOPLE

If trying to come up with an alternative for art fairs

• create a group of compatible artists / crafts people who can create a virtual art fair
• create a virtual art fair online
• set up your stand and take a video of it
• create videos about individual pieces so people can see them in a domestic context and can appreciate what they look like in 3D

If still booked for art fairs

• book accomodation using an agency and accommodation provider which indicates/allows late/no penalty cancellation eg. booking com offers some. (That way you won't lose on the cost of the accommodation if the event is cancelled late)

IDEAS FOR ART SOCIETY ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS

If trying to postpone and reschedule

• READ Covid-19 and Art #3: The timeline for cancellations and postponements? - which suggests the next 6 months will be dominated by the coronavirus. Those who move fastest now get the pick of the best dates and venues in the autumn.
  

If trying to mitigate fewer people travelling to see the exhibition (an absolute certainty)

• create a good-looking virtual art exhibition online - with decent sized images for review by potential purchasers
• ensure you're aware of and comply with all relevant legislation relating to
  • distance selling online (see E-commerce for Artists) and
  • data protection of personal data (UK: see Data Protection for Art and Artists)
• promote the art in the exhibition via social media - tell stories about the artwork or the artist (as you might do at a PV)
• make videos of the art with the commentary or subtitles by the artist telling the story of the piece - and promote via social media

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CANCELLATION AND/OR POSTPONEMENT
OF
ART EXHIBITIONS & ART FAIRS

Updates on how Covid-19 is turning the art fair calendar upside down as (most) organisers err on the side of caution

In the context of the cuurrent Viral Storm, the risks for artists and art galleries with stands at Art Fairs is that:

• the event may be cancelled at the last minute
• it may not be postponed to a later date at the same or a different venue
• if the art fair goes ahead there will be poor attendance by the public
• your art business insurance may not cover the cost of cancellation of events / accommodation etc
• your sales of product / business income will be decimated in 2020

LIST OF CANCELLED AND POSTPONED ART FAIRS

Below I've listed various art fairs where there have been announcements about

• either CANCELLATION
• or that it has been POSTPONED to a later date

I've also indicated in italics those where I think the organisers have not yet grasped how long this will go on for and hence why the postponed date is likely to be rescheduled again.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Your contract for costs of travel and/or accommodation provider have nothing to do with your contract with (most) fair providers and they will NOT cover any losses incurred.
  
• You can get insurance to cover the cost of cancellation of events
  
• check the terms and conditions of your booking. If you do not get reimbused for a cancelled event and you paid by credit card then you may be able to get a refund that way. (Does not apply to postponed art fairs.)
  
• it is possible to book accommodation at the last minute through agencies which provide late availability accommodation - if you're prepared to take the risk that nothing is available

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR ARTISTS AT ART FAIRS

• Create a small groups of artists and get ready to promote your own virtual art fair online.  (see Innovations and Tried and Trusted Ideas ABOVE)
  

Art Fairs in the USA

• Frieze New York CANCELLED - nothing on their website though
  
• The Affordable Art Fair - New York Spring - (26 - 29 March 2020) POSTPONED until later in the year
• Dallas Art Fair in Texas (April 16-19) POSTPONED until October 1–4.
• The Other Art Fair - Los Angeles, at Barker Hanger, 16 - 19 April POSTPONED
• The Other Art Fair - Brooklyn, at Expo Center, 30 April - 3 May POSTPONED
• The Other Art Fair - Dallas, at Dallas Market Hall, 7 - 10 May POSTPONED
• The Other Art Fair - Chicago, at Skylight at the Chicago Board of Trade Building, 27 - 30 May POSTPONED

NOT YET POSTPONED OR CANCELLED but in my opinion may well have to

• Tefaf New York Spring (8-11 May) 

"We are looking at all options at this point in relation to the New York fair and will evaluate what is the best next step."

Art Fairs in the UK

Major Art Fairs and ones based in London

• The Other Art Fair - London, at Truman Brewery, 19 - 22 March POSTPONED
• Eye of the Collector fair at Two Temple Place, (mid-May) POSTPONED until 8-11 September
  

NOT YET POSTPONED OR CANCELLED but in my opinion may well have to

• Affordable Art Fair - London Hamsptead (30 April - 3 May 2020) - due to be held during Co-Vid 19 peak months - which seems unlikely. Verbal rumours that this is being cancelled / postponed BUT nothing online as yet
• London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy of Arts (1-3 May)
  

Local Art Fairs around the UK

• Craft Festival Cheltenham - POSTPONED until August 14-16th
• Cultural Enterprises Conference and Trade Show 2020 (19-20 March 2020) - CANCELLED. Next one at Harrogate Convention Centre 10-11 March 2021
  

Art Fairs in Australasia

Australia - New South Wales

• The Other Art Fair - Sydney, at The Cutaway, 19 - 22 March  POSTPONED
  

Australia - Victoria

• The Other Art Fair - Melbourne, at The Facility, 21 - 24 May POSTPONED
  

Art Fairs in Europe

• Art Brussels - (originally 23-26 April) now POSTPONED until 25 to 28 June
  
• Affordable Art Fair Brussel’s 12th edition - (originally 20 - 22 March 2020) POSTPONED until 11 – 13 September 2020 (Vernissage, 10 September) at Tour & Taxis
  
• Art Cologne – POSTPONED from April 23–26 to November 19–26.
• Art Paris – POSTPONED from April 2–5 to May 28–31. (very optimistic - likely to be moved again)
  
• Artmonte-carlo - CANCELLED UNTIL 2021
  
• Drawing Now Art Fair, Paris – POSTPONED from March 26–29 to May 29–June 1. (They're being optimistic. My guess is this will be rescheduled again - depending on when the virus peaks)
• Miart, Milan – POSTPONED from April 17–19 to September 10–13.
• Lille Art Up! – POSTPONED from March 5–8 to June 25–28.

NOT YET POSTPONED OR CANCELLED but everybody is wondering why not!

• Art Basel in Basel (scheduled for 18-21 June)
  

Art Fairs in Asia

• The Affordable Art Fair - in Hong Kong - postponed until to 20 - 23 August 2020, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
• Art Dubai 2020 - (scheduled for 25 – 28th March 2020) postponed indefinitely
  
• Art Basel Hong Kong – (scheduled for March 19–21) - CANCELLED offering online viewing rooms
  
• Art Central Hong Kong – (scheduled for March 18–22) - CANCELLED
  

Art Exhibitions

ART SOCETIES

• Society of Botanical Artists - now has an announcement on its home page. Still planning to go ahead - but recognises issues re. timing.

CORONAVIRUS & ART: Do you have an update or a query?

USE THIS FORM TO TELL ME about:

• closures of important art galleries / museums
  
• closures / postponement of important exhibitions
  
• queries - for which you can find no helpful info online (and you have already looked)
  

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• E-commerce for Artists
  

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