Managing Arts in Times of Recurrent Crises : The Case of Puerto Rico

The arts and cultural sector have always had to navigate in a scenario of uncertainty, scarcity, and lack of institutional support. The pandemic of COVID-19 represented a unique crisis that affected cultural and creative production and made the sector reflect on how to address changes in the long-term. Although the impact was mainly negative, in some cases, it became an opportunity to promote disruption in philanthropy and other support structures. The main objective of the essay is to present the case of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States located in the Caribbean that for various reasons has faced a scenario of recurrent crises in the last 15 years. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic, beyond being a disruptive phenomenon, turned out to be an additional event in a long list of natural, economic, political, social and health crises. This paper includes the discussion of two innovative initiatives implemented on the Island: a management services program through grants and a cultural employment program to provide salaries and benefits for artists.