As an artist and member of the cultural workforce in the UK, watching
@RishiSunak coldly insist that jobs that are lost will no longer exist, and we should look for permanent alternative careers... well, it cuts to the core. 1/

There is no reason jobs in the cultural sector can’t be preserved beyond this crisis. The last few months have shown just how desperate people are to experience theatre, music and live art. Viewing figures have been through the roof. 2/

If they are supported through the next few months, I predict that when the moment comes, cultural institutions will be packed to the rafters with people who didn’t know what they had until it was taken from them. 3/

But artists, creatives, administrators, technicians need to eat. Our jobs are not jobs like any other. There are few jobs in the developed world that are so highly skilled but so poorly remunerated. We are not economically resilient, and we cannot support ourselves. 4/

For those of us who rely on international work, not only is this government seemingly winding our industry down at home, but they are removing the right of our workers to seek employment in EU member states. 5/

It’s a double whammy: despite high demand, we *can’t* do our core work at home, and from January, many of us have no clue under what conditions we will be able to travel to work in countries where the creative industries are being supported and we could find employment. 6/

I am lucky; I have dual nationality. Most of us do not and are becoming stranded in a system which won’t preserve our hard-won, highly-skilled and irreplaceable employment in the UK, AND now won’t allow us to travel to work, without moving away from our homes for good. 7/

And you know what: it’s getting desperate now, and many of us are just choosing the latter option. If they expect our cultural work force to trade in hard-won, highly-skilled employment for an entry level desk job, they are mistaken. 8/

I feel distraught for those of us who don’t have this option, but since posting about our move to Germany, I‘ve had SO many messages from people that are considering doing the same, or have made the decision but don’t want to ‘go public’ for fear of excluding themselves. 9/

It’s becoming clearer and clearer that a huge cultural brain drain is on the horizon for the UK. People are being forced out by this government’s refusal to acknowledge specific sectoral circumstances, and tailor support accordingly. 10/

The UK is my home, but I, and many others, will not sacrifice the careers we have been training for since childhood in order to stay here. We will not exchange our lifeblood for the promise of ‘new opportunities’ which don’t exist. 11/11

PSA: incase you didn’t know, under the withdrawal agreement, a large number of EU countries will preserve your working rights in that specific country if you move there and register before the end of the transition period (31st December this year)