Artists have hope in the midst of Covid-19 storm

There is a saying among artists that ‘art is life’ because it allows one to share their creative thoughts to provoke different emotions.

Sadly, since the outbreak of Covid-19 artists have not been sharing their work.

Like many industries, the entertainment industry has been negatively impacted since the lockdown began.

Artists are struggling because many rely on shows and concerts.

Even some TV sets have been closed for shooting because of social distancing.

The GCN chatted to actor and writer Bonginkosi Mashilo about the struggle the entertainment industry is facing during these times.

Mashilo said most artists fear the unknown and are anxious.

“Most of the fear and anxiety comes from the financial side of things because we as artists make money through bookings and gigs, especially performing artists.

“If the pandemic forces the country to be on lockdown, we will suffer even further because we won’t be able to pay our bills,” said Mashilo.

He said even though visual artists have the option of online, it still does not guarantee success.

“Some artists may have the option of selling online, but have difficulty running online sales or setting up online shops if they don’t have the means, like Wi-Fi or data,” said Mashilo.

He said although times are tough for artists, the bright side is that artists will never lose their talent and can only get better.

“We try to be positive.

“We might not be getting paid for our crafts, but we will never lose it.

“It’s a God-given talent, there is no way that we can lose it.

“In fact, it’s the perfect time to sharpen our skills, write more, practise more, paint more, recite more with the hope that when this is all in the past we can hit the stages of the globe with new content and powerful creativity,” said Mashilo.

On the future of the industry, Mashilo said there will be a number of changes.

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“Artists have realised the possibilities of online sales, so many will not see the need to open up a shop or studio to sell their crafts,” said Mashilo.

He said artists will have to work hard to rebuild and get the industry going again, especially those who are still new.

“Up-and-coming artists are going to have to rebuild from scratch because if they were about to blow up before the virus chances are that after the virus they will be long forgotten, as we work with momentum as artists.

“For those who had already booked shows and printed material for marketing and paid for billboards, it’s a loss,” said Mashilo.

He said the survival of the industry will depend on how artists support each other.

“The industry will recover as long as artists support each other more than before.

“They should make sure venues for shows are sold out, music is streamed and albums are bought.

“We will recover as long as we support each other before we can get any support from the masses. It starts among ourselves,” said Mashilo.

He said artists are doing different things to survive and letting their supporters know they are working at their crafts.

“As artists, we are connecting more with our audience and with each other via social media, and most artists are mastering their crafts.

“I am writing my book and publishing unedited versions of the book on social media and other platforms while other artists are hosting online shows and sharing crafts and skills. We are being creative as usual.

“Most importantly, we are keeping the spirit of art alive,” said Mashilo.

He said one thing the industry should learn from this pandemic is that they have to change how it operates.

“The industry is forced to adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“We need to look at different ways of sharing our work and ensure we can survive in any situation,” said Mashilo.

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