COVID Chronicles with John Andrews

In Episode 7 of COVID Chronicles, Josiah sat down with John Andrews from Creative Collective.

For more information on resources for the creative economy, check out:
creativecollectivema.com/covid19-resource-and-info-page

Josiah Bedrosian interviews John Andrews, founder of Creative Collective, on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the local creative community. Creative Collective an organization based in Salem, Mass. The organization consists of three "prongs:" 1) offers a business program (220 businesses related to creative industries); 2) produces events that are appropriate to the creative industry; 3) provides marketing services to members to give them access to consumers. The pandemic has created the need for Creative Collective members to pivot multiple times. Members are responding in different ways, such as creating face masks instead of other items; moving business online; and creating online classes. The organization is livestreaming to give people free access to their platform. It is also targeting resources and informational webinars to its members to help them navigate issues like unemployment, the CARES Act, etc. Creative people have lost jobs, but are still sharing their talents. The Mass Cultural Council, MASS Creative and the Essex County Community Foundation have all been advocating on behalf of and supporting the creative -- and larger -- community during the pandemic. The Creative Collective is hosting a variety of online events featuring local artists and performers, from "Open Mic" nights and flower arranging classes. People are learning to use tools now that will be able to use going forward. For example, instead of cancelling a live event due to bad weather, the event could be offered online and performers still paid. Mr. Andrews encourages the community to fill out surveys provided by advocacy groups because this data helps to direct legislative efforts. He urges the community to "Keep making; keep creating," as creative thinkers will help us get through this.

Institution: Peabody Institute Library, Peabody

Massachusetts--Essex (county)--Peabody

Bedrosian, Josiah

Andrews, John

04-16-2020

video/mpeg

eng

Peabody Access Telecommunications

Creative Collective (Salem, Mass.)

Business organizations

COVID-19 (Disease)

Epidemics

moving image

0:15:52

MPEG-4

8091 kb/s