The NCA’s Open Space event, held on 26th June in partnership with King’s College London, the Creative Industries Federation and Arts Emergency, set out to explore what we need to do to ensure the UK arts sector survives and thrives beyond COVID-19.

The event was triggered by the launch of the latest Arts Index which charts a steep decline in public and private investment in the arts over the decade since the 2008 financial crash, with the sector now more reliant than ever on earned income from box offices, cafes, bars and gift shops – all of which have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following quote from the Barbican’s Chief Executive Nicholas Kenyon was used as a further springboard for a series of provocations and conversations:

 “Only through radically rethinking the ambitions we have to serve communities and audiences are we going to be able to recover”

Around 100 people attended the session from across the UK.  Some were representing organisations, others attending as freelancers or independents. The event kicked off with introductory provocations delivered by NCA Chair Samuel West and producer Tobi Kyeremateng, followed by the agenda that was created by the event’s participants. Conversations from the agenda were carried out in breakout rooms and these sessions were scribed by mentees from Arts Emergency and members of the NCA Board.