THE Government’s newly-announced support for the arts has been widely criticised by the sector as “inadequate” and “bordering on the insulting”.
The Treasury announced on Tuesday that cultural organisations in England can access a further £30 million funding during the winter via the culture recovery fund.
The £1.57 billion CRF was launched in July 2020 with the objective of protecting Britain’s cultural, arts and heritage institutions.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive around £150m of funding through the Barnett formula as part of the support announced, the department added.
This includes around £80m for the Scottish Government, £50m for the Welsh Government and £25m for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Arts groups criticised the extent of the £30m support and the decision to distribute it through the fund, saying a system of emergency support packages is instead needed.
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Rishi Sunak's announcement follows a string of cancelled theatre performances, with The Lion King and Life Of Pi among the West End shows having to dim their lights due to Covid-enforced staff shortages, as well as a fall in attendance at grassroots live music venues.
Mark Davyd, founder and chief executive of Music Venue Trust, said: “We will need to see further details on the £30m package announced to support the cultural sector.
“Our initial response is that this funding seems detached from the reality.
“If correct, it would be inadequate to deal with the scale of the problem – we note that grassroots music venues are not even mentioned in the statement despite DCMS having all the evidence they need that losses in this sector alone will run to £22m by end of January.”
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, described the newly-announced support as “far too little”.
He said: “Businesses are failing, people are losing their livelihoods and the industry is crippled.
“Mixed messaging, coupled with additional restrictions, have had a catastrophic impact on our sector over the last two weeks. At this critical point, we need strong leadership and a clear pathway from Government with a long-term strategy for new Covid variants.
“The open/close strategy is crucifying businesses. Every pound of help is much needed. But this package is far too little and borders on the insulting.”
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Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan welcomed the announcement of mandatory grants.
He said: “The additional mandatory grants of up to £6000 are also welcome and will be particularly helpful to smaller theatres.
“We hope that both funds are distributed as quickly as possible to help protect theatres.
“Theatres across the country are already struggling with shows being cancelled due to infections and falling ticket sales, as audiences follow Government advice to be cautious, so this support is very much needed.”
Paul W Fleming, general secretary of Equity, the trade union for performing arts workers, said: “The lack of financial support for the creative workforce in today’s announcement from the Chancellor is a shocking example of Government negligence when Equity members are staring into a winter of cancelled shows, bookings and performances.
“Many producers, workplaces and artists are ineligible for Cultural Recovery Funding.
“Instead of another inadequate, vague, headline deal for bosses and buildings, we need an urgent plan to protect all those working in theatre and entertainment industries during this critical Christmas season.”
He said these should include a new furlough scheme for performers and stage management, increasing statutory sick pay and extending it to self-employed taxpayers, and targeted support for creative team members, entertainers and variety artists through new grants.
Head of theatre workers union Bectu, Philippa Childs, said the support would arrive too slowly if it was distributed through the CRF.
She said: “The Culture Recovery Fund is not equipped to deal with the rapid response necessary to alleviate the current Covid crisis for theatres and live events.
“It is focused on buildings not people, is too cumbersome and too slow.
“We need an emergency support package for our members who are facing another Christmas of work cancellations and uncertainty.”
Greg Parmley, chief executive of Live, which represents music industry venues and the entertainment sector including companies, artists and backstage workers, said: “We welcome the news that the Government has started to deliver much-needed financial support, but with the live music sector teetering on the brink, the package falls short of the urgent cash injection businesses need to keep them afloat.
“The amount of money pales in comparison to the mounting losses faced by the sector and the process will add layers of complexity at a time when businesses are already struggling with skeleton staff rotas and huge losses.”
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Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said on Twitter: “This is vital support that won’t just help protect our cherished theatres, museums & heritage sites, but the tens of thousands of people who work in them.
“It’s important that we give as much support as we can to creative institutions and ensure that they are still there, standing strong to keep people employed, informed and entertained.”
Following the announcement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon retweeted an SNP staffer who cited a BBC report pointing out that this is “not a huge amount of money coming to Scotland” – and added it’s not new money either.
It comes after a row over Covid support cash announced by the Treasury last week, which turned out to be an advance on already budgeted cash for 2022.
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