Not according to children’s author Swapna Haddow, who says the pandemic proved children still wanted to read.
The impact of Covid-19 on creativity was among the topics of a panel discussion with the 2022 University of Otago Arts Fellows held at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Saturday.
Artist Sorawit Songsataya, composer Sean Donnelly, writer Swapna Haddow and dancer Michael Parmenter fielded questions from Dunedin Arts Festival founder Nicholas McBryde, while art enthusiasts also had the chance to ask questions.
Swapna Haddow said there was a "mini-boom" in her industry over the pandemic.
Parents and teachers adapted quickly to the online world and virtual communication, allowing her to visit more schools than she would have done otherwise, in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
"People think that we’ve lost [children] to YouTube and TikTok and all sorts of things, but we haven’t — they needed books."
Michael Parmenter said the pandemic dramatically affected dance, as it thrived on the same thing as Covid-19 — intimacy. He learned Appalachian flatfooting, a predecessor of tap, while at home in lockdown, but was keen for the social aspect of dance to return.
"What I’m trying to do with the fellowship at the moment is so perfectly timed.
If there is any therapy that’s needed coming out of the Covid era, it’s getting together and dancing."
Songsataya said the pandemic had not impacted their practice, but funding for the arts was scarce before the pandemic and artists were worried about support when facing a recession.
However, Donnelly said it had been a difficult time, as the anxiety caused by the pandemic was not conducive to creativity.
