Few in the Arts industry believe last summer’s £1.6 billion government support package is enough to secure a vibrant futureDuring the first Covid-19 lockdown last April, the economic output of the UK was 25 per cent lower than it was before the pandemic began. That enormous hit to output was the result of large swathes of the economy being put into forced hibernation due to government-imposed restrictions. Economic activity picked up in the spring and summer as restrictions eased and even though national and local lockdowns returned at the end of 2020, as Covid-19 cases rose again, there was optimism that 2021 would bring a recovery as vaccines were approved and rolled out. Instead, 2021 has begun with another national lockdown. Not only does this mean many businesses now face going back into hibernation, but they do so loaded with the damage caused by

Source: The Times January 06, 2021 17:07 UTC