Outside the NHS and social care sectors, the arts have been ground zero for COVID-19, part of the economy in which groups, mingling and interaction are vital. From orchestras and theatres to festivals and nightclubs, this sector involves performers and the crowds watching them. In a world where crowds are banned, how can the arts be revived? Will the era of packed performances ever return? If not, what are the implications for the funding of the arts?

The panel includes Giorgio Fazio (Newcastle University), Liz Harkman (Bristol Festivals Network), Ruth Towse (Bournemouth University), Penny Warner (Team Love) and Andrew Kelly (Bristol Cultural Development Partnership).