WIREDGOV

The TUC yesterday (Monday) issued a joint call with its culture sector trade unions calling on Oliver Dowden to urgently set out plans for distribution of the £1.5bn financial rescue package for the arts.

• Culture & tourism worth £21bn to region’s economy, employing quarter of a million people
• Yorkshire’s culture sector unions issue call to government
• Priority must be supporting smaller, regional outfits that add value to local communities

The joint call follows sectoral discussions between unions and the tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire about the future of the industry and the imminent danger of closing for many smaller cultural organisations.

The tourism sector and culture sectors are jointly worth £21bn per year to Yorkshire’s economy, according to recent figures, and unions urgently want to avert jobs losses among the quarter of a million people employed in the sector in our region.

Concerns have been raised that smaller operators, such as regional theatres, music organisations and tech providers, as well as self employed artists would miss out in favour of big institutions.

Support is needed for venues to open outdoor spaces, to allow for more social distancing, and provide an experience that can extend open air events into the winter months.

TUC Regional Secretary Bill Adams yesterday said:  

“The £1.5bn rescue package is very welcome, and a sincere relief to our members whose jobs are hanging in the balance.

“But a now two week delay in announcing how the money will be shared out, and a lack of clarity about who will be eligible, means that employers are still having to consider redundancies, and self employed artists are facing bankruptcy.

“This deal has got to work for the whole sector, from printmakers in Sheffield and the York Theatre Royal, up to national galleries.

“The Minister must issue details about how the aid package will be disbursed immediately, and ensure no creative is left behind.

“The importance of keeping these jobs, as well as the benefits of artistic consumption for mental health and wellbeing, as working people take more staycations, is incalculable.”

Theresa Easton of Artists’ Union England yesterday said:

"Our members are experiencing real financial hardship in a sector already suffering precarious self-employment and low pay.  It is imperative any rescue package includes all jobs in the sector, particularly those that have the least financial cushion and economic security".

Dominic Bascombe of Equity yesterday said:

“The announcement of government support for the arts was rightly welcomed. However each day that passes without its distribution means another nail in the demise of the creative and cultural sector across Yorkshire. We urgently need to see how the proposed £1.57bn will be distributed so that more venues are not pushed into making their staff redundant or simply closing.

“It is particularly important that this money also reaches the freelance and self employed creatives who were the driving force in campaigning for this support. Support for the arts cannot be restricted to the largest producers and venues, but must include the actors, dancers, stage management, singers, comedians, variety artists, directors, designers, choreographers and many other highly skilled workers in our talent base that contribute to the £21bn Yorkshire economy.”

Notes to Editors:

• Figures for the GVA contributions of culture and tourism to the economy can be found in the following studies:
• Arts: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/The%20Economic%20Value%20of%20Arts%20and%20Culture%20in%20the%20North%20of%20England%20report%204th%20July%20.pdf
• Tourism: https://www4.shu.ac.uk/mediacentre/tourism-report-reveals-%C2%A39-billion-boost-yorkshires-economy?filter=Society#:~:text=The%20value%20of%20tourism%20to,grew%20by%20%C2%A31%20billion.
• The trade unions that make up the TUC’s culture, leisure and hospitality sector are: Artists’ Union England, BECTU – a sector of Prospect, Equity, GMB Union, the MU, UNISON, Unite the Union
• The TUC convened a sectoral meeting of trade unions representing culture, leisure and hospitality workers, with Welcome to Yorkshire on Thursday 16 July.
• The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

Contacts:

Bill Adams (weekend)
badams@tuc.org.uk 
07867788856

Gareth Forest (Lewis)
glewis@tuc.org.uk  
0113 200 1075
07810 374976

To speak to an Equity representative, please contact:
Dominic Bascombe
dbascombe@equity.org.uk
07798752056

TUC national press office 
media@tuc.org.uk   
020 7467 1248