The Government’s £1.57bn For The Arts Could Still See Creatives Forced Out
The government’s announcement of a £1.57bn support package for the arts and culture sector has been enthusiastically welcomed by theatres, music venues and galleries alike.
But some within it are raising alarm bells that without money for freelancers, parts of the industry could vanish completely, and leave many of its most underrepresented workers left out in the cold.
“We’ve already had 36% of freelancers find themselves without any financial support,” Paule Constable, a Olivier and Tony Award-winning lighting designer, told HuffPost UK.
“When we’ve looked at our figures around who is leaving the industry, who can’t afford to stay, then of course it’s the most vulnerable who are disproportionately hit.”
Britain’s creative industries have been among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 lockdown, as venues have been forced to close down around the UK.
Statistics published by the government in February 2020 stated that the sector contributed the equivalent of £306m every single day to the economy, but until Sunday night there was no sign of any tailored help to support creatives.
But while the announcement has come of something of a relief to many, there are still serious concerns that in a significant number of cases the support has come too little, too late – particularly for the freelancers who support much of the sector but were not specifically included in the announcement.
Boris Johnson said on Sunday: “From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK’s cultural industry is the beating heart of this country.
“This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.”
The government has said that decisions on awards will be made in conjunction with expert independent figures from the...
