Crisis, what’s a crisis? Some methodological reflections on evaluating the impact of Covid-19 on Australian arts and culture

Figures & data

Table 1. Interview meta-data

Table 2. Summary of interview responses

Q6 Did you feel the government supported your organisation in dealing with the challenges of COVID-19? How did (do) the three levels of government – local, state and federal – compare in this respect?
Majority positive
flexibility and support
more listening than before
some more funding than before
Negative responses from private/commercial/small businesses (Abunai/Brad Weeks; Blank GC/Samantha Morris)
Typically one level of govt most helpful, other/s less so or nil or offensively unhelpful. But specific levels that were helpful/unhelpful varies with org and its nature/relationships. In a few cases, all positive.
Many tales of unsuccessful applications. Sense of muddling through, try everything, whatever sticks.
Criticisms relate to opacity, complexity, difficulty
Implicit theme of recognising own value – deserving - and wanting govt to recognise this with varied results. Returns more explicitly in final question 13.
Q13 Is there a particular action or intervention that the government or industry could make that you believe would significantly help your organisation in dealing with the challenges you’ve discussed?
More funding, fairer funding
Recognition/awareness of value (from govt and community) – comparisons to sport
Majority spoke to need for coordinated national cultural policy

Table

Table 3. Performatives