The events surrounding Covid-19, and particularly the global lockdowns we have seen since March 2020, have affected the live events sector in ways that would have been unimaginable even weeks prior to the pandemic. This of course is not limited to the live events sector, but it is one of the global sectors – along with aviation, travel and hospitality – that has been particularly hard hit.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the live event and major event industries as they were in 2019 no longer exist today, and it is questionable as to how and when they will recover to pre-Covid conditions, if at all.
Although we appreciate that governments across the world have faced challenging decisions in terms of balancing the needs to control Covid-19, to manage the public health impacts, to maintain economic activity and then to take into consideration a multitude of other issues – education, mental health, public support, vulnerable communities, etc – the response to Covid-19 has, to a large extent, been characterised by a lack of long term and strategic perspectives, and a lack of understanding as to how a response can be developed that is realistic, proportionate, achievable and sustainable.
One of the clear issues that has emerged from the Covid-19 response has been the lack of consultation with the economic sectors affected, and the development of a ‘large tent’ approach that would allow all sections of the community to be seen as both supporters and enablers for Covid-19 responses, and as well as offering themselves to take on ownership of specific aspects of the Covid-19 response programmes.
Live events play a critical role in any community, whether it is sporting, musical, festivals, conferences or theatre, from the largest global events to the local community activities that are part of what makes communities the vibrant, thriving social groups that they are. However, besides that, the live events sector brings a wide range of skills and capabilities, all deeply rooted in the communities that they are based in. If this global presence can be seen as a global network that would allow innovative responses to Covid-19 management and control to be field tested in live conditions, in ways that would support and enhance government programmes, then that can only be of benefit to every part of our society, supporting Covid-related learning and development in ways that would perhaps not be possible in any other context.
This Manifesto is offered as a platform for the global live events community to come together, and to act as a strategic partner to Covid-19 management programmes on a global, national and local level.
