In the wake of their 10th anniversary celebrations we ask Chloé Nelkin, director of Chloé Nelkin Consulting a leading arts PR, marketing and consulting agency, her view on how these unprecedented times will affect the arts and heritage industry.
This must be the biggest threat to theatres in several generations, what can small arts organisations be doing now, while theatres are closed?
Many organisations are already championing amazing ideas – whether sharing their back catalogues on social media, streaming performances or commissioning new works. No one is sitting back and doing nothing and it is this presence which I think is so vital in these troubled times. Even if an organisation doesn’t have the resources to join the digital outpouring, they should make sure to be part of the conversation even in a small way. The arts knows how to survive in the face of adversity, it will get through this with its spirit intact.
What new ventures have you seen in terms of streaming and online arts?
There are so many amazing ventures. We’re involved in All the Web’s a Stage which will see artists come together online to raise money for those in the arts who have been affected by the pandemic. Performances will be live streamed on Shakespeare Day, 23rd April, a date marked to celebrate the Bard and the performing arts.
We’re also proud to be working with HighTide again on their ‘Lighthouse Programme’. One element, Love In The Time of Corona, will see five new monologues created by five of the UK’s most exciting writers: BAFTA nominee Dawn King, Olivier Award nominee Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Ben Weatherill (Jellyfish, Bush Theatre and National Theatre, now in development with BBC), Aisha Zia (No Guts No Heart No Glory, national tour, BBC4, Fringe First Award winner) and Debris Stevenson (Poet In Da Corner, Royal Court and national tour, Evening Standard Best Newcomer nominee). Digital productions of the monologues featuring some of the most exciting actors in the UK will be made available and we’ll share more information with you soon.
In our own small way, we’ve also been pioneering #CNConnect on Fridays where we’ve asked artists to record messages of positivity and hope, which we’re sharing on our social media platforms. And on Tuesdays we’re running #TalkToUsTuesdays on our Insta Stories where we ask questions and lend advice to anyone who wants to send in a question or concern.
How do you imagine the creative industries will respond when this is all over?
One of the things I love about the arts is the power of the people involved and it’s their positivity and hope which is already galvanising others. It’s a tough time right now, for us and for all those who work in the arts and creative industries, but I have no doubt that we are going to come out of this fighting, producing better and more exciting projects than ever before.
What would be your message of hope to theatres around the country at this time?
This won’t last forever! It’s hard right now and many feel they are living a nightmare, unable to find a way out but it will end. When it does we will be closer as an arts community than ever before - better placed to work together, to help each other and to produce amazing arts projects that the world will be eager to receive.
