A Sheffield Artist has spoken out on the ‘compromise’ the creative industry has had to make as a result of the pandemic.
Michael Borkowsky, curator and owner of Fronteer Gallery in Castlegate explained the finical burden artists faced due to the cancelation of events and closure of exhibits.
The 34- year-old was unable to showcase his work for over a year as the pandemic took hold of the city.
He said: “We’ve not been able to open so it’s been very difficult because we haven’t been able to provide the opportunities we want to.
“There was a big impact suddenly the work dried up, the money dried up and your sort of left thinking what can I do.
“You think, do I need to do other things away from the arts world in order to survive, it became a bit more about survival.”
Mr Borkowsky hoped-for future government intervention to support local artists by receiving more funding to keep galleries open.
He added: “Art is generally underrepresented within the government in terms of receiving funding opportunities to artists and establishments.
“Galleries were in a bad sort of way before the coronavirus, there were a lot of closures in the city and the impact of the pandemic means there needs to be funding for those kinds of galleries to still exist.”
Despite the substantial impact of the pandemic on art venues, Mr Borkowsky remained hopeful about the future of the creative industry.
Mr Borkowsky said: “I like to think we’re sort of at rock bottom right now and we can start developing post lockdown and post coronavirus by creating more spaces and more opportunities for artists.”
He added: “There is a light at the end of the tunnel”
Art galleries and indoor venues are set to reopen in the second stage of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown from the 12 April.