Innovations in COVID times: which lessons to learn for the cultural industry?

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown of populations and businesses that followed, disrupted the operations of many industries. It also paved the way for a large number of innovations and for an overall technological acceleration, both from companies and from consumers. More than other sectors, culture was largely affected by the crisis through the closing of theatres and of borders and had no other solution than adaptation and innovation in order to survive. This paper discusses a number of such innovations, both in terms of technology and of business models for the cultural industry (i.e. performing arts). Consumers’ evaluation of such innovations is assessed through a quantitative survey involving streaming experiences with theatre programs and broadcasted concerts.