Support the four pillar plan for recovery in the performing arts & entertainment

Government must implement the 4 pillar plan for recovery in the performing arts & entertainment: 1 Workforce Protection: financial help for all creative workers 2 Safe Opening: including ticketing subsidies 3 Protecting Infrastructure: beyond the mainstream arts 4 Equality: no one left behind

Creative workers, in their tens of thousands, lobbied for, and welcomed, the Government’s rescue package for the arts but it is becoming increasingly clear that the £1.57bn promised may not directly help them. Re-opening the sector is not enough. The reality of the phased return to work is that work opportunities will remain severely limited for tens of thousands of self-employed creatives. The performing arts and entertainment cannot recover without investment in both workplaces and workers.

The Government recognises the huge contribution the arts and cultural sector makes, not only to the economy and international reputation of the United Kingdom, but also to the wellbeing and enrichment of its people.

We appreciate this is an incredibly challenging time and that there are many cultural organisations and professionals who are currently facing difficult and uncertain circumstances.

To help protect cultural organisations and creative workers on 5 July, the government announced a major £1.57 billion support package for cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

These funds will protect cultural assets of international, national and local importance, including supporting the levelling up agenda by preventing the loss of valuable cultural fabric from our towns and regions.

The Fund will cover charitable and private organisations of all sizes in the arts, museums, heritage sectors as well as music venues, festivals and independent cinemas. As a result of these grants and loans, organisations will be more able to resume cultural activity, albeit in a socially distanced way, which will help to protect existing workforces and increase employment opportunities for freelancers.

One of our core objectives for this funding is to support the cultural organisations that are crucial to places across the whole country. We will ensure that funding is distributed fairly, and that smaller organisations and cultural venues that are at the centre of their communities are protected. As well as creating jobs, investment in these kinds of projects have positive benefits for local communities, attracting inward investment and visitors that in turn help to create jobs and economic benefits.