Culture in Crisis: Policy guide for a resilient creative sector

"COVID-19 has had a sweeping impact on the cultural and creative industries, affecting livelihoods but also the innovation and traditions that comprise the cultural fabric of our societies. In response to this new reality, UNESCO recently launched a new publication "Culture in Crisis: Policy guide for a resilient creative sector".

In this new publication, UNESCO provides guidance to policy-makers on how to respond to the most pressing needs in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. It also offers advice on how to induce structural changes needed to strengthen the resilience of the cultural and creative industries and to prepare for the “new normal”.

Drawing on the examples of policies and measures that UNESCO Member States have been implementing since the start of the pandemic, the guide presents a sample of good practices from different regions, all of which illustrate the role of culture for collective resilience. 

Three types of interventions can be found in this practical guide:

             1) Direct support for artists and cultural professionals

             2) Support for sectors of the cultural and creative industries

             3) Enhancing the competitiveness of cultural and creative industries

The guide also lays out actions to consider for the implementation of each suggested measure and highlights specific pitfalls to avoid when adapting the measure to local contexts."

The publication can be accessed in English, French and Spanish at Culture in Crisis: Policy guide for a resilient creative sector.