Top Ten Things Arts Organisations Can Do for their Stakeholders during the COVID-19 Crisis

While this might not be the ideal time to proactively fundraise, it’s certainly a good time to share positive messages with your audiences, supporters and friends Our RAISE participants and the wider arts and cultural sector can play a pivotal role in raising the spirits of the nation by showing solidarity and sharing uplifting messages, videos and content with the public. Instead of asking what your stakeholders can do for you, focus on what you can do for your stakeholders and how you can support them.

Remember people may sometimes forget what you did for them but they will never forget how you made them feel. So now is your opportunity to help Raise the Spirits of communities across Ireland and further afield by sharing the extraordinary breadth and depth of your work. You and your organisations have amazing artistic and creative skills to share. So find ways of connecting and sharing what you have in an online environment, be that live streaming content; sharing recordings; uploading visuals and positive messages or simply checking in with friends and supporters by email, phone or video call. Adopt the mindset of “What can I do for you?”, showcase your artform where possible and above all help to show solidarity and spread hope into as many lives as possible by raising their spirits - #RAISINGSpirits

1. Communicate – show your audiences, friends and supporters that you are there for them at this time – the more personal the contact the better! You can check-in by phone, video call, email, or on social media. Make sure you are clear on who is leading on your communications strategy and make sure the message is consistent organisational-wide. Respond quickly and effectively to queries. Ask the question “What can I do for you?”

2. Create & Share – use all avenues available to share existing work and create new work; be it delivering readings, sharing music, performance or art, providing digital tours, encouraging intergenerational connectors – use all digital platforms to share this work. Strengthen relationships with existing friends of your organisation and make new friends.

3. Plan – use this time to plan – to build back better as an organisation, work with your team and harness this time to strategise for the future.

4. Support – your partners and donors, even if they need to pause their sponsorship or donations, this is a difficult time for everyone but they will remember how you support and communicate with them now and how you make them feel. Focus on how you can help and support them and how you can make a positive impact on society at this time of national need.

5. Inspire – your artists to keep producing, keep ideas knocking back and forth, keep innovating, keep communication lines open as much as possible and come up with new creative ways of reaching your audience.

6. Focus – on the older generation and those who are most vulnerable and at risk, deliver work that raises their spirits and takes away fear and anxiety. Focus on showing the impact you are contributing to Irish society in particular at this time of national crisis.

7. Breathe – in – the world has become a very small place as we all tackle the same issue, take solace from other art forms, help to keep their conversations going as well as your own.

8. Prepare – for different restrictions, this is an ever changing situation and things may get stricter – how can you keep messaging positive as we enter new phases and continue to keep your stakeholders motivated. How can your art and creative talent be delivered remotely?

9. Reassure – your team, staff and audience that you are there with them, if even in an altered reality, listen to their thoughts and ideas and let them know you’ve got their back. At this time, your priority is to help others.

10. Investigate – companies and funders who are still doing well, these companies and foundations will be in a position to approach for relevant, well researched, well fitting asks now and in the near future and will appreciate your selfless actions of helping to raise the spirits of others and make a real impact.

Remember how you communicate and support your audiences, friends and donors in these times of huge challenge will make all the difference in the longer term – by offering a supportive, warm and reassuring presence. We can’t change the direction of the wind but we can adjust our sails to deal with it.

Contact your RAISE mentor to discuss and review action plans around these recommendations.