The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst form any changes around the world, both positive and challenging, but the survival of institutions will depend on how they can weather this emergency situation. All countries around the world took whole-of-economy measures, and specifically focused on cultural and creative sectors to support creators, institutions and in some cases audience as well. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have profound and lasting structural effects on how culture is produced and enjoyed as well as how education and research are undertaken. The analysis of reports produced by national and international organizations, academic articles, books and newspaper articles as well as exchanges with experts, clearly demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on cultural and creative industries worldwide. However, the current crisis has revealed a serious lack of consistent and equal response capacity across the sectors in both developing and developed countries.To survive in this difficult environment, stakeholders needed to react rapidly and develop new, more resilient ways of functioning. The rapid implementation of digital tools in their functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic (on-line tours, exhibitions for museums, etc.) enabled some institutions to partially overcome the closed doors. The switch to the online context was easier for some  organizations due to the nature of their activity and the presence of investments to accomplish the digital shift or by the fact that the digital shift was already part of their program of development, therefore the pandemic just accelerated its implementation.