- University of Sheffield-commissioned report reveals the economic impact of Covid-19 on the UK's arts, culture and heritage sector
- Report reveals the sector suffered from a 60 per cent decline in output due to social distancing rules and lockdowns
- Restrictions led to 55 per cent of jobs being furloughed in the sector - the second highest in the UK
- Impact of restrictions varied within the sector - computer games, software, book publishing, TV broadcasting and libraries grew or had modest declines, whereas cinemas, performing arts, museums and historical sites were badly affected
A major new report revealing the economic impact of Covid-19 on the UK's arts, culture and heritage sector, has been published by researchers at the University of Sheffield.
The report, commissioned by researchers from the University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Faculty of Social Sciences, working with Chamberlain Walker Economics and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, has revealed that the sector suffered from a 60 per cent decline in output - gross value added (GVA) - due to social distancing rules and lockdowns over the past 18 months.
Covid-19 restrictions led to 55 per cent of jobs being furloughed in the sector - the second highest sector in the UK behind the accommodation and food sector - and was well above the national average of 16 per cent.
More than 80,000 claims were made under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) by people in the arts, culture and heritage sector - 68 per cent of the eligible population in the UK.
