This page will be regularly updated with resources in response to the pressures COVID-19 has put on the creative sector.
COVID-19 BOP Creative Sector Response
In late March 2020, Creative BOP issued a survey to understand the initial impact of COVID-19 on the Bay of Plenty’s creative sector. We had 38 responses, which revealed initial and immediate impacts of the crisis on the arts sector.
Unite against COVID-19
Why is it useful?
Refer to this NZ government website for everything you need to know about COVID-19 in one place. Learn the simple steps you can take to unite against the virus and slow its spread. Find out what help is available and get the latest updates.
Tauranga City Council – COVID-19 information
Why is it useful?
Providing updates and information around the actions Tauranga City Council are taking due to COVID-19, including facilities and event cancellations.
Western Bay of Plenty – COVID-19 information
Why is it useful?
Western Bay of Plenty District Council is guided by the Ministry of Health on all decision making around COVID-19. The page below provides useful links and updates from Council in relation to the pandemic.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council – COVID-19 information
Why is it useful?
The page below provides updates and information around the actions Bay of Plenty Regional Council are taking amid COVID-19.
Financial support during COVID-19
Why is it useful?
Work & Income NZ provides the different avenues of financial support available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information and applications
– COVID-19 Wage Subsidy 2021
– Help for individuals, families and whanau
– Short-term Absence Payment
– Leave Support Scheme
Ministry of Health
Why is it useful?
This section provides the latest updates, information and advice on COVID-19.
BOP District Health Board – Vaccination Roll Out
Why is it useful?
Provides information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the Bay of Plenty.
Bay of Plenty Civil Defence – COVID-19
Why is it useful?
Refer to the page below for information around safety during this pandemic.
Mental Health Resources for the Arts Community
Why is it useful?
The following are ideas for artist and arts workers to help manage through the mental health difficulties faced during COVID-19, compiled by arts psychologist Chris Cheers.
Looking after your mental health during the new lockdown
Why is it useful?
Coronavirus is back in our community, bringing with it anxiety, fear and uncertainty. If you’re feeling like you can’t face going through it all over again, here are some coping strategies.
A Step-by-step Guide To Hosting Meetings & Events With Zoom
Why is it useful?
If you’ve heard all about virtual meetings, and hosting events online but have not been sure how or where to start, then this practical and in-depth step-by-step guide can help you set up your first virtual event or meeting space with Zoom.
8 artist hacks to adopt the ‘new normal’
Why is it useful?
Creative Waikato have put together a list of creative ways to bring people together while keeping a few extra meters apart.
Digital Tools for Artists to Run a Remote Career During Coronavirus
Why is it useful?
Artwork Archive have rounded up their favorite tools that make it easier to run an art business online.
How to Support Artists and the Arts During COVID-19
Why is it useful?
The widespread cancellation of in-person events has affected many businesses—independent artists included—who rely on events, workshops, gigs, and physical locations to pay their bills. Now, more than ever, it’s important to offer support to impacted groups if you are able.
Here are just a few ways that you can continue to support the arts and contribute to a healthy cultural community, even while practicing social distancing.
Looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19
Why is it useful?
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand has formed a page of tips and resources to keep you mentally healthy during this tough time.
Aotearoa Arts and Events during the COVID-19 Crisis – Facebook group
Why is it useful?
This is a group of – and for – artists, creative thinkers, arts and event managers and workers, arts organisations, producers and arts and cultural workers from all over Aotearoa. This a platform in which to come together to share ideas, resources, responses, strategies and experiences as we face down the COVID-19 crisis together.
Remote Work: The
Ultimate Guide for Managers & Employees
Why is it useful?
This is all you need to keep the productivity flowing while working remotely. Whether you’re managing a remote team or you’re an employee new to a more flexible work arrangement, this guide has the info you need to do your best work from anywhere, at least for the time being.
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
Why is it useful?
This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. This includes, but is not limited to, actors, designers, producers, technicians, stage managers, musicians, composers, choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, craft artists, teaching artists, dancers, writers & playwrights, photographers, etc.
Pānui: Info Hub for Arts Freelancers During Covid-19
Why is it useful?
The Pantograph Punch (NZ) have created a page for updates, news and announcements that affect and support the freelance (and salaried!) arts workforce.
Using mindfulness to cope with COVID-19
Why is it useful?
In this article, author Caroline Welch discusses how purpose, pivoting and pacing can help us deal with the coronavirus pandemic and the threat of acquiring COVID-19.
Creating a Business Continuity Plan
Why is it useful?
A business continuity plan (BCP) pinpoints the most important parts of your business, identifies potential risks to these critical pieces and prepares you to recover as quick and easy as possible. Tauranga Chamber of Commerce has put this plan together for you…
HelpTank – Volunteers available
Why is it useful?
Charitable trust HelpTank that matches volunteers to good causes has launched help for those running errands during the coronavirus outbreak.
Jobseeker Support
Why is it useful?
Jobseeker Support is a weekly payment that helps people until they find work. This page provides details around eligibility and how to apply.
Survival tips for the art galleries in a time of pestilence
Why is it useful?
Facing fear in our new climate of coronavirus, gallerist Michael Reid offers tips to get on with the job, and to survive the forthcoming market dip.
Screen Sector COVID-19 Action Group
Why is it useful?
The Screen Sector Covid-19 Action Group (NZ) have created a website, designed to be a one-stop hub that will help you find screen-specific health and safety resources, wage and earning subsidy assistance and information, key updates on COVID-19 as well as relevant news and updates from screen guilds and industry organisations.
Seven ways to support local musicians during COVID-19
Why is it useful?
New Zealand composer, and Director of Member Services at APRA AMCOS, Victoria Kelly, has compiled some tips on how we can support our favourite local musicians during the COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19 Resources for NZ Music/Film Production Industry Pals
Why is it useful?
This is a work-in-progress collection of resources available to those in the NZ production industries facing unprecedented pressure as a result of COVID-19 prevention measures. It is an open-source document; additions welcome! If you have anything to contribute, please add to the relevant section and provide a brief description.
COVID-19 Information and Support for Kiwi Music People
Why is it useful?
To help you access useful information and find sources of support, this page will provide information on where to check for the latest advice on COVID-19, detail on how MusicHelps may be able to support you and useful links to help you in the weeks and months ahead. Check back to keep abreast of updates to the information provided here.
Mana Moana Creatives Group
Why is it useful?
This is a COVID-19 relief page for Mana Moana Creatives in Aotearoa, Te Moana nui a Kiva and the world. Artists supporting artists. This group page has been set up to support our creatives who may need day to day, emotional, mental, spiritual support throughout this period.
Dance Aotearoa NZ – Covid-19 resources
Why is it useful?
DANZ is working with counterpart NZ sector bodies and other industry parties to urgently identify shareable resources of relevance to the dance sector in responding to the evolving COVID-19 situation. Information and links will become available via the page as it is updated.
Coronavirus Preparedness for Theatres
Why is it useful?
This Coronavirus Preparedness Webinar provides a holistic take on preparedness for theatres, including preparedness strategies, forecasting budget shifts, navigating insurance, and more.
Sample Emergency Plans
Why is it useful?
Planning for emergencies is vital for the survival of performing arts organizations. Planning will aid an organization in preventing emergencies, reducing their impact, and will speed recovery and resumption of operations following an emergency.
These sample plans are made available for organizations to use as models for their own plans. While the content and structure of these samples may not exactly match your organization’s needs, you may find it valuable to use elements from several to help develop your plan.
Teaching Theatre Online: A Shift in Pedagogy Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak
Why is it useful?
With the coronavirus spreading across the globe, many universities across the world have moved their courses online. While this may seem to be easier for business, math or science majors, we are all on the same boat. This rush to move online has left us scrambling for ideas, especially for performance courses. Going online can seem difficult and challenging for theatre or/and dance practitioners but it can be done.
In a rush to help, Dr. Daphnie Sicre of Loyola Marymount University has created this google doc with references, resources, ideas and more.
Art in Isolation
Why is it useful?
What can an art writer do in a pandemic? A personal essay from Lana Lopesi on the place of the arts during Covid-19.
Innovative practises close to home & around the globe
My Tauranga – Event Livestreams
Why is it useful?
Just because we’re in a lock down, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on events. For as long as the lock down is in place, My Tauranga will be bringing you some of the best home grown and international live streams, workshops and gigs from all over the internet directly to you.
If you are live streaming an event, don’t forget to submit it.
The Social Distancing Festival
Why is it useful?
The Social Distancing Festival is an online artist’s community made to celebrate and showcase the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing that has come about due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Met Opera To Launch Free Nightly Streams
Why is it useful?
A day after canceling upcoming performances due to concerns around the coronavirus, the Metropolitan Opera announced that it would stream encore presentations from the award-winning Live in HD series of cinema transmissions on the company website for the duration of the closure.
Coronavirus – a catalyst for better digital programming and online projects
Why is it useful?
Every day more arts organisations announce digital programming in response to COVID-19. Here’s some advice on how to go digital.
Digital art guide to beat coronavirus closures
Why is it useful?
From virtual exhibitions and livestreamed concerts to online art auctions, this is ArtsHub’s guide to how art is going digital in the age of COVID-19.