New York City’s arts, entertainment and recreation industry took the greatest hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, losing a larger percentage of jobs than in any other economic sector, a new state comptroller report has found.
The city saw more than a 60% drop in employment across the industry last year, from around 87,000 total jobs in Feb. 2020 to around 34,100 jobs in April 2020 — losses that lasted through the end of December, the report says.
“COVID-19 outbreak … has forced facilities to close, thrust thousands into unemployment and pushed businesses to the brink of collapse,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
“Direct relief from the federal government, and state and local programs to create safe venues for artists and entertainers are steps in the right direction, but more help is needed to keep the lights on,” he added.
The City Council passed legislation in December allowing some organizations host free or ticketed arts and cultural events at outside public venues from March to October. Gov. Cuomo has also announced reopening of movie theaters March 5 with 25% capacity, along with a new Arts Revival initiative aimed at jumpstarting the performing arts through pop up events. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — the federal stimulus package passed in December — also includes $15 billion for shuttered arts organizations across the country.
Yet the state comptroller urged all levels of government to extend unemployment relief, especially for freelancers and those who are self-employed, and to better facilitate the flow of federal funding to firms and not-for-profit organizations.
“Who’s going to pay enormous amounts of money to live in a tiny apartment on a noisy street, unless there’s terrific theater, poetry, music and comedy right down the block?” Nuyorican Poets Cafe Executive Director Daniel Gallant told the Daily News.
“The efforts of underpaid artists and arts professionals have always powered NYC, but in an ongoing crisis, NYC is turning its back on them,” he added. “Our city and state officials are simply not doing enough to support the primary sector that can help NYC rebound from COVID. That strategy is catastrophically short-sighted.”