If there is a sector that has been hit hard by COVID19, it is the entertainment sector. This is mostly because artistes, musicians, actors and actresses for visual art, writers of educational and other forms of literature, fashion designers, comedians and other creatives rely heavily on audiences to perform or showcase their work.
Now that this is impossible due to the ban on mass gatherings, concerts cannot be organised, theatres are empty, no one is hitting the runway, and schools who would consume educational literature are closed, not forgetting that bars out of business.
Hundreds of thousands of people who are employed directly or indirectly in the culture and creative industry are basically unemployed and uncertain of the fate of their industry for it is not yet in the discussion when their business will resume.
This is why artists under their umbrella body the National Culture forum have petitioned the Minister for Gender and Culture Peace Mutuuzo for government to provide a Creative Industries Fund to enable them invest in new digital platforms, digital payment systems, boost product quality, and expand markets amongst others.
The petition notes that incomes from royalties have dwindled on account of noncompliance by broadcasters, education institutions and other users of copyrighted products. There has been a rapid growth of online piracy without a private copy levy to ensure that users of gadgets pay royalties for the free downloads of music, film, art and books.
It should be noted that Culture and Creative Industries were contributing 3% to GDP.
