The show must go on-line! Covid-19 and the digital pivot
COVID-19 has been an accelerator for many things that were already underway, and after more than 2 years of pandemic it seems like the digital mindset, videoconferencing and remote working/learning experiences are here to stay.
This massive digital migration has resulted in artists and creators having to translate their work into a new medium, adopting new ways to connect with their audiences and communities, and facing new challenges that can be both exciting and stressful at the same time.
During our research, we found that this was the case for creators like Salma Hindy, an Egyptian-Canadian comedian who has been able to build a supportive audience on her Instagram and Tik-Tok where she brilliantly combines comedy with important topics such as mental health and interpersonal relationships. Or Sonja, a DJ, writer, and musician who runs her own independent music label, Biblioteka Records who was able to find new ways to keep going after the abrupt closure of nightclubs by performing on live streams and creating new content for her social platforms.
Regardless of the obstacles they had to face, we found inspiring examples of creative people thriving during this time by experimenting and coming up with completely new ways of working online. Which is good, because according to different experts in the field, and the digital rise we have been seeing, more and more things will continue to go virtual.
If the digital world becomes even more inescapable, what does that mean for creators and their work? We will need to keep an eye on this transition and the changes that are yet to come and, even more importantly, start focusing on technological accessibility, providing the proper training or set of skills needed in order to thrive on a digital arena and find ways to support creators as they enter a social and work life that is even more digitally mediated.
