School of Creative
Industries
Zainulrahman Bin Motalif
Zain’s passion for the arts was started by his experience as a stage crew, eventually rising up as a festival programmer in school. Over the years, he has taken a holistic approach in developing his passion, in the areas of festival operations, media relations and project management. A strong believer in lifelong learning, Zain sees the need to constantly evolve himself to be an all-rounded arts manager. During his time in LASALLE College of the Arts, Zain was part of the organising team for Rock and Indie Festival 2019 and ARTWALK Little India 2020. An internship with The Storytelling Centre Limited and MoonShadow Stories further developed his skills in project management and digital content creation. Through his work, Zain hopes to break new boundaries and further his capabilities as an arts manager.
Thesis abstract
Understanding the adaptation of arts organisations during COVID-19: case study of The Storytelling Centre Limited and MoonShadow Stories
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way we live our daily lives and how we consume content, particularly the way we consume and experience the arts. The sharp rise in infected cases have forced governments to implement various restrictions, causing temporary closures in many establishments and institutions and putting their citizens through temporary isolatory lockdowns. This has caused arts organisations to cease operations and cancel their programmes and shows for the rest of the year.
The purpose of this study is to understand how arts organisations have pivoted during the pandemic, using The Storytelling Centre Limited and MoonShadow Stories as case studies. Through the use of semi-structured interviews and a literature review, the study delves into the initiatives done during the circuit breaker period and explores the challenges faced by artists and arts managers during their digital transformation. Research findings indicate that there were initial challenges faced when the storytelling shifts digitally. It also traces how the organisation has slowly adapted the art form to digital festivals. Other findings also include gaps in copyright and questioning the effectiveness of governmental grants such as the National Art Council’s Digital Presentation Grant. This study can help other arts organisations to find possible solutions in their own initiatives while pivoting during the ongoing pandemic. The study also provides insights and experiences for future arts managers.