By J. KELLY NESTRUCK

“The Arts Response Tracking Study – which will release all its results free and piggybacks on an omnibus poll of Canadians that Nanos regularly conducts – made public its first tranche of results on Tuesday.

Its clearest finding is that there will be two waves of returning culture goers – and that theatres and galleries do not need to prepare for a single reopening, but for two.

About 39 per cent of respondents said they will return to such events – say, concerts in public squares or festivals held in parks – “immediately after institutions are open and following public-health guidelines.” Physical distancing and masks will help many of them to feel comfortable doing so.

Meanwhile, only about 30 per cent of museum and gallery goers and 26 per cent of those who frequent other indoor cultural activities (such as the theatre or opera) say they will return “immediately” under similar circumstances.

These culture goers will be the first wave to return – and the results suggest that arts institutions will have to figure out how to function, and if they can, from a financial point of view with just 26 to 39 per cent of their regular attendance. This will depend, among other things, on the amount of their budget that comes from donors and government funding versus ticket sales.

How long will they have to function with that reduced audience or attendance? That will depend on the second wave of returning culture goers, those who say they will wait longer to return – an average of five months longer, according to the survey results.

… Another interesting set of results from Tuesday’s survey results: About half of Canadian culture goers have turned to digital alternatives during the COVID-19 pandemic – at-home experiences such as live-streamed performances or virtual gallery tours. Meanwhile, nine out of 10 culture goers say they are willing to pay at least part of what they would for a ticket in order to see cultural performances digitally.”

Source: The Globe and Mail