Rooms closed almost from the beginning of the infections. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jason Franson
Cultural workers are among the most economically and psychologically affected by the situation they have faced in the face of the pandemic, says a study that has just been published.
According to the Canadian Association of Arts Organizations, 43 percent of survey participants said they had experienced symptoms of severe depression since the start of the health emergency.
The return of the public occurs with numerous restrictions. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Marissa Tiel
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The report produced by the entity, which represents about 26,000 art and culture workers, maintains that employment in the sector contracted last January for the fifth consecutive month, with a decline of 9.6 percent. The most recent data show a contraction of 37.8 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.
The total number of hours worked in the arts, shows and entertainment fell 5.8 percent in January and 39.7 percent compared to the same month in 2020.
The union is one of those that is furthest from the figures that the activity registered before the arrival of Covid-19.
If the data for all of 2020 is compared with 2019, the number of jobs reached 336,100 compared to 450,500, respectively, while the hours worked fell 36.6 percent, a loss that extends to 60.7 percent for the specific segment of performing arts companies.
Of the 43 percent of those surveyed who said they had suffered from depression, 11.7 percent also acknowledged having experienced suicidal thoughts.
Many artists doubt they can continue their careers. AP Photo / LM Otero.
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Due to the fact that numerous halls and spaces for cultural diffusion have had to remain closed for most of the year, many art and entertainment workers question their future and 41 percent of them consider the possibility of abandoning their career and dedicating themselves to other activity.
Both the Association and other organizations related to the sector maintain the need to work with the government and the rest of the political parties to design a plan to relaunch the sector, which allows artists to recover their activity and the source of income that it provides. it means.
Among other points, the entities are calling for a reform of the current law, in order to include self-employed workers in the unemployment insurance system, as well as to analyze an eventual reform of the artist’s statute.
In a statement released this Monday, the Canadian Association of Artistic Organizations stated that “it takes more than money (…) You have to listen, maintain a continuous dialogue, because without artists, there is no culture.”
Fuentes: The Canadian Press / Canadian Association of Arts Organizations.
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