Read on Twitter
THE ARTS MATTER (PART ONE)
A THREAD DIVING INTO RISHI SUNAK’S CLAIMS THAT CREATIVES SHOULD RETRAIN AND FIND NEW JOBS
A THREAD DIVING INTO RISHI SUNAK’S CLAIMS THAT CREATIVES SHOULD RETRAIN AND FIND NEW JOBS
If you’re like me, yesterday you were stopped in your tracks by Rishi Sunak, telling the creative industry to simply retrain and ‘adjust to the new reality.’ Shocked, it made me reflect on the mistreatment of the arts this pandemic.
So, let’s start with music. Last year the UK industry contributed £5.2 billion to the UK economy, with the live music sector amounting to £1.1 billion of that. Employment in the industry had even hit an all-time high of 190,935.
This year however COVID hit, and national lockdown struck mid-March. The government announced a furlough scheme, paying workers 80% of their paycheck when they couldn’t go to work (not you though Tesco employees, you must face the hounds).
Great, you must think? Well, for those in music it was a different story. Freelance writers, photographers, and musicians were left wondering how they would put food on the table as the furlough scheme did not apply to them.
In an interview in April, an artist recalled to me that he knew people who sold their houses just so they could keep their studios.
The silence from the government was slightly tuned out by the saviours of the @musicvenuetrust, announcing a nationwide #saveourvenues campaign, that raised money for suffering grassroot venues across the UK.
It wasn’t until July that a £1.57 billion Cultural Recovery Fund was announced to aid creatives, which by the way has been delayed even further until October 15th, leaving many still at risk. https://www.nme.com/news/music/delays-culture-recovery-fund-leaves-venues-at-risk-2768703
Nearly 6 months later, it's clear to see the government has left the music industry just like a Spartan child would be left on a mountain to see if it’d survive the night. Surprisingly enough, like the ancient greek babies, it hasn’t gone swimmingly.
Many calls for action felt like they had fallen on deaf ears, with countless letters and campaigns being penned for the Chancellor, Oliver Dowden and the DCMS.
https://twitter.com/musicvenuetrust/status/1310584922843893760 https://twitter.com/CounMusicMakers/status/1310538223161139201
https://twitter.com/musicvenuetrust/status/1310584922843893760 https://twitter.com/CounMusicMakers/status/1310538223161139201
Personally, seeing the community rally to save venues by buying virtual pints, donating to live streamed gigs, and compilation albums, the public has backed the industry in the way the government has not. (tonight I'm posting a thread of these resources) https://saveourvenues.co.uk/resources/
It seems like yesterday it was announced that venues and theatres could in fact open… but with no live events. Meaning venues had to open, lose their customers and lose any funding from the government. Can you see why that might be an issue?
But when it comes to the music industry, it isn’t just those on stage that suffer. Sound, lighting, events planning. Even one of the largest touring companies in the country was forced to close. ( @HarryParslow) https://twitter.com/HarryParslow/status/1297109590698590209
Baring in mind, this lack of care for live industry was prominent pre-COVID, with the No Deal Brexit making it basically impossible for both starting acts to tour outside the country and bring foreign acts into the country. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/03/no-deal-brexit-may-make-touring-europe-simply-unviable-for-uk-artists
But isn’t just our amazing artists and musicians on stages that have been left. Live performances from our actors and actresses in plays, musicals and pantomimes are also not supported.
“But theatres are dying anyway so why should I care :(“
You see, in 2018 alone, as stated by the Financial Times, theatres across the UK played to a collective audience of 34 million people (around the same number that attended Premier and English Football League matches).
Even our dear friend Rishi said that our film and TV industry is the envy of the world. https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1288373004230066176
He even said he loved Star Wars so I wonder what would have happened if someone told George Lucas to retrain. Maybe he’d be a roof thatcher. Or a barber? https://www.rishisunak.com/news/rishi-sunak-spot-george-podcast#:~:text=On%20a%20lighter%20note%2C%20it,Roald%20Dahl%20and%20William%20Wilberforce
This 'retrain' comment is not the first time the government has failed theatres during COVID. In July, theatre workers were being asked to pay BACK the furlough they received when shows resumed. Yes, you read that correctly. https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/coronavirus-theatre-workers-being-asked-to-pay-back-furlough-contributions
What’s most upsetting about this, is the 2012 London Olympics had an extravagant opening ceremony, showcasing just how amazing the creative industry is. The staging. The actors. It was amazing.
It’s aim? To ‘inspire a generation’. But less than a decade later, the new generation of performing is being told to give up ://
A great account that's stood in the theatre's corner is a campaign created by students to save our theatres. A new generation, a new hope, a new chance at live performances. @SaveOurTheatres
https://twitter.com/saveourtheatres?lang=en
https://twitter.com/saveourtheatres?lang=en
Museums and Galleries have also fallen victim to COVID. Socially distanced tours and lack of funding has put some galleries in precarious situations. Either keep 150 jobs, or lose a Michelangelo which will make hundreds flock? https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/sep/20/royal-academys-cruel-dilemma-sell-a-michelangelo-or-lose-150-jobs
But then again “meh surely it doesn’t impact the economy that much :(” Well yes it does, as the economic benefits of the UK's major museums and galleries are estimated to be £1.5 billion per annum.
