The word “gig,” now commonly applied to any informal form of paid work, as in “gig economy,” was originally specific to musicians. Shorthand for “engagement,” a gig was a paid performance in a club or other performance venue: the working musician’s bread and butter. It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that performing artists were the first to feel the sting of the enhanced community quarantine resulting from Covid-19 outbreaks in all Member States. Overnight, the entire gig economy, on which their fragile livelihoods depended, collapsed. While writers and painters can continue to create in solitude the musician’s art and that of other performing artists like dancers and actors comes to life only in performance. Not being able to play live is a double whammy: It hurts the wallet, and it hurts the artist. Living with Covid-19 demands that all performing artists really have to get creative and build resilience. The performing arts have an inherent power to promote humanitarian values. They enable citizens to break out of the increasingly predominant simplistic us-against-them discourse and develop free room of accepting and understanding different points of view which are essential for a healthy democracy. Today, performing arts remain one of the few mediums of critical thought on the complexity of the environment we are living in. In this context, it is crucial and timely to highlight, promote and strengthen the power the performing arts to underpin the social component of the European project and the arts’ genuine value for the sustainable future of the EU. GIGGING-4-LIVING will work with adult educators to build business acumen within the performing arts sector. The range of opportunities now open to performing artists to build sustainable careers in their chosen artistic discipline has been profoundly increased by the rapid growth of technology based platforms and social media channels. National and international markets are now open to almost every individual artist on a scale that has only previously available to a very small, select few. While project partners are aware of these opportunities they are also aware that performing artists are not an homogenous group. Within the performing arts sector there are different sub-sets that will have different needs and different potential opportunities to exploit. Covid-19 has also had a significant impact on the mental health and well being of performing artists for whom live performance is their 'raison d'etre', the oxygen that flows through their life-blood. IO1 - GIGGING-4-LIVING will develop a bespoke training curriculum that will have specific modules tailored to the needs of 3 distinct groups, namely; Musicians; Dancers; Actors. The 12 modules will be tailored to suit the needs and address the opportunities for each of these sub-sets of the performing arts sector that still pertain despite the impact of Covid-19. IO2 - GIGGING-4-Living will provide a toolkit of resources that focuses on building resilience to promote positive mental health within the performing arts sector. The 4 modules will address issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, loneliness and self-confidence. IO1 and IO2 will be presented in a series of 12 (IO1) and 4 (IO2) EduZines that are specifically designed to provide learning through smartphones and tablets. Each EduZine will comprise a range of different interactive learning resources that are built around the following 5 stage education and training cycle: 1. Introduction – Expert presentation to set the scene and outline the aims and objectives 2. Assessment of Prior Knowledge – Using an online gamified diagnostic tool 3. Formative Assessment – Setting questions and challenges that are designed to spark reflection or research 4. Peer Assessment – Submitted responses shared between peers to elicit feedback 5. Validation – Summative assessment through self-reflection after the peer review stage IO3 - As the key training and education channel for aspiring performing artists adult educators will be supported with a comprehensive in-service training programme that looks at 3 distinct elements, namely; (1) Building an understanding of opportunities for performing artists in today’s digital economy; (2) Building the skills of adult educators to promote resilience within the performing arts sector; (3) Building the digital skills of adult educators to work in remote learning environments and to develop interactive resources for online use. IO4 - All resources will be available on a MOOC specifically designed with both sets of target groups in mind. Target groups for GIGGING-4-LIVING are (1) performing artists working in the “gig” economy; (2) Adult educators.
By implementing the Gigging4Living project, our primary goal was to provide performing artists with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to navigate the challenges of the performing arts sector and develop sustainable income streams. We wanted to empower artists to take control of their careers and enhance their financial stability. Additionally, we aimed to foster a supportive and collaborative environment among performing artists, facilitating networking opportunities and knowledge-sharing, through the Community of Practice. Lastly, we sought to promote positive mental health and well-being within the performing arts sector. We aimed to provide resources and strategies to help artists build resilience, manage stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Our core objective was to contribute to the professional growth and success of performing artists, promote the sustainability of the sector, and improve the overall well-being of artists within the project's scope.
We applied for Gigging4Living as an adult education project with the aim of empowering performing artists to develop the necessary skills and confidence to run successful businesses. Recognising the unique challenges faced by artists in the performing arts sector especially with the pandemic, we saw a need to provide targeted support in areas such as entrepreneurship, and business development skills, but also to build the confidence of performers to take the next step in their careers, by supporting their well-being. Through this project, we sought to bridge the gap between artistic talent and business acumen, equipping artists with the knowledge and tools to navigate the industry effectively. Our goal was to empower performing artists to take control of their careers, enhance their professional development, and build sustainable livelihoods in the ever-changing landscape of the arts. As a consortium, we also recognised the pressing needs within the performing arts sector to address mental health and well-being needs, and to build resilience among performing artists during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. This project provided an opportunity to address these needs and contribute to the well-being of performing artists.