For wondering if people GAF that the UK's arts industries are about to be lost?

[Babamamananarama]

I work in the arts so I've got a significant amount of skin in the game.

Venturing out of my bubble, I'm wondering if people who don't work in the arts know and/or care that there is real, significant risk that the UK's arts industries - arguably some of the best in the the world - is at risk of total collapse?

• major theatres are going under
• 450,000 jobs at stake
• hundreds of grassroots music venues across the country are about to close forever
• every level of the industry affected, from local community and participatory arts right, regional venues and companies through to the National Theatre and west end.

• the music industry has asked for £50m to save venues. For context, Wetherspoons got a £48m bailout.

If it goes, we won't get it back.

So: AIBU to wonder if most people are concerned about it? Or do people feel like the arts are a luxury/not for them/unimportant at this time?

Lots of live performance people, drama, film, none of that is dying nepotism industry. Glastonbury would have been hugely this successful each year if allowed to run. The demand for live performances, art, theatre -- remains extremely high.

But It's all choked by social distancing.

I care. But my income level is such that I cannot afford to make charitable donations to all the things I care about that have been affected by the pandemic.

If local theatres could find a way to deliver outdoor performances within the law I would support that.

I think government support is needed.

It's really really heartening to hear that it is important to people.

The most important thing you can do right now is not put your hand in your pocket. The important thing is to sign petitions, write to your MP, sign open letters, go on social media to let the government hear that you value the arts and don't want them to go under.

There's the petition above.

Also: www.campaignforthearts.org/?fbclid=IwAR38KvGLTDVAjhDeSJ8BO1pOzDEnojXrx8vXQfwEgQ3yknibKTMHl8oVH-0

The theatres nearest to me, and they are still a considerable distance away, didn't seem to be too keen on making their shows accessible to everybody before they were in trouble so I think they will have a hard time persuading people who are struggling with redundancies, loss of housing and income to support them now. It doesn't matter how many theatres in large cities do workshops or programmes to include/help/support children from disadvantaged backgrounds, the fact is that a huge proportion of the country have never had anything to do with the theatre. Not in small part because of the very high costs involved. It might be a shame to lose this sector but industries need to change and evolve to remain successful. It's a higher priority to make sure museums and parks and places that families can access for free, and are therefore accessible to everybody, remain open. People who work in the arts are obviously more concerned about it but to the majority of people it just isn't a priority I'm afraid.

I have let tickets be shifted to “the future” instead of asking for refunds, but I’m not convinced the shows will ever happen in the current venues. The idea of sitting shoulder to shoulder for entertainment is unthinkable right now. I do wonder if we will need a complete reimagining of venues.

It's a shame if the industry gets reduced, but it's not the highest priority right now!

I had bought over half my tickets for 2020 before covid (including hard to get tickets for concerts and my local theatre season ticket). I haven't taken a single refund and hope that I will instead see them in 2021.

I do not have the energy to campaign more than signing an single petition.

I don't think most people realise and it makes me very sad

The Arts scream for money, money, money like a greedy chick and is self-absorbed.

I love art, but the only pieces I treasure or I have bought have been by painters, ceramists and musicians who work on their own, have struggled, yet believe in themselves with no desire to join the elitism.

I know where my money is going.

Banksy won't give a fuck either.

I don't think a lot of people get it and in some towns and cities its not just the theatres that will go under, its the shops and other trades that rely on that footfall.

Not to mention all the backstage staff that will still not be able to work

if it goes we won't get it back

A lot more luxury flats then.

@Pelleas

One issue is that theatre and the arts are very London-centric in this country. Of course, there are theatres, galleries and concert venues all over the UK but nothing like the amount of funding goes into them.

It can be quite difficult, if you're nowhere near London, to find things to go and see at a time you want to see them - the play you're interested in is only on on a Wednesday night and it's an hour and a half's drive away and you won't finish work on time to get there - that sort of thing.

So I don't think there will be a wave of nationwide concern about this simply because people won't miss what they've barely had.

Pelleas said it all so much better than I could. I quite like the theatre, but I live rurally, and there isn't a major city within 2 hours drive of me. This means that any comedian, play or live production I'd be vaguely interested in seeing just isn't really accessible. London is something like 4 hours drive away and there isn't a train link anywhere near. The cost of perhaps having a weekend in London with a trip to the West End is just so much money - and frankly I'd probably rather do something else.

I'll be vaguely sorry if the 'arts industries' go down the pan, but as @Pelleas said I won't miss what I've barely had.

The arts industry isnt just for the enjoyment of the elite. It employs a huge amount of people in festivals, events, technical production, catering etc. Right down to gigs in pubs and wedding bands. DH works in this field and basically my job is keeping us going and will be for the rest of the year.

There are huge sections of this area where companies and performers generate good profits and can weather this storm.

The squillions of third rate stuff churned out by the surplus drama school crowd will not survive. I know a couple of small scale actors ticking over a meagre living in crap stuff a level up from am-dram, they have been hard hit by this but its imho the wake up call they needed.

I'm ok with that. If people want it they will support it. High quality theatre, music and art will always survive.

For me “the arts” are everything from Beyoncé in concert (using stage and lighting design/sound designers and technicians /musicians/choreography/costume design etc etc) to the BBC proms with music, film, theatre, visual art, dance and television in between. All of this is under threat if the wider sector goes under or is further diminished as the training grounds and entry routes into the creative industries at all levels will disappear.

While public subsidy in the sector does exist, so it does in agricultural, technology and so on. Why should the creative industries not receive public subsidies when they provide much to export and to drive tourism as well as local employment across the UK, pay business rates and taxes/NI.

Many of the high profile venues at risk of closure generate at least 85 to 90 per cent of their own income and the capacity to do so has disappeared over night. They aren’t relying on free money from gvt but in a global crisis, like any industry the creative industries needs help to recover.
Secondary spend by customers at arts events, from festivals, gigs to venues generates huge income for the hospitality sector. The knock on impact of the industry being closed is huge.
The issue is that unlike other countries, there is no detailed or feasible plan in the UK to reopen the sector safely.
While I understand some perception of elitism, my personal experience is that the reality is different - lots of people from all income backgrounds enjoy going to see a Panto or a having a big night out at their local regional venue to see a west end transfer or Strictly stars perform. It’s all part of the same broad spectrum as more traditional theatre.
Why can a private sector single business owner like Wetherspoon receive millions and our creative industries can’t? Why worry about getting people on a plane to spend their hard earned cash outside of the UK rather than getting local industries of all kinds back up and running.
I’m worried about education and health too but the loss of other sectors forever should be getting more thought and airtime.

Think that can't happen here? That large parts of the country won't become a cultural wasteland??

Theatre is not the only thing that culture comprised.if it disappears its because our culture is evolving in a different direction. There isn't room for everything.

the fact is that a huge proportion of the country have never had anything to do with the theatre.

It might be true that a huge proportion of the country has never seen a live theatre performance, but it is not the case that they have never had anything to do with theatre.

Fleabag - started off as a one-woman play. Became one of the biggest TV shows.

Most comedians do the rounds on the live stand up circuit before getting their TV big break.

Actors such as Hugh Jackman started their career in the theatre.

@SkepticalCat - I mean this politely but so what? Do you think watching Fleabag or Hugh Jackman will put food on the table?! Have they saved or changed people's lives?
As for @MelindaGordon claiming that people from all income brackets enjoy a night out at the theatre - this is categorically not true. You can't magic up £150 go spend at the panto when you can't afford to buy your kids food

This link illustrates just the economic reason to support the arts. Whether you personally enjoy the theatre etc isn’t really the point. A good percentage of UK income is from creative industries. www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-creative-industries-contributes-almost-13-million-to-the-uk-economy-every-hour

The theatre is sooooooo London centric that I don't feel inclined to fret as I am a long way from London.
I used to look to see when a play was coming to Glasgow or Edinburgh but often they never do.
I think once this is passed they will come back fast as everyone will be wanting something to see and I agree they made a big contribution to tourist income but everything needs money now.

It's a bit like asking people to support protection of womens sport - which is a no brainer to me - but if people are not into sport they don't care.

I'm very sorry and worried for everyone facing uncertain times, redundancy or business closures, and I do appreciate the diversity of the cultural and arts industry and its social as well as economic contribution, so I'll sign the petition.

But inn
this crisis my thoughts turn first to essentials, food, housing, care for vulnerable people, meeting immediate health needs. The Arts is further down the list of things for me to worry about or donate to. I didn't really access theatre, gigs, cinema etc before the pandemic, but we have always enjoyed visiting local museums, libraries and art galleries and used the free craft sessions with our children etc, so I realise that's a bit hypocritical of me and a short term view! But I feel like essentials have to come first, enrichment activities will have to slowly return in the coming years.

@Ohtherewearethen

I mean this politely but so what? Do you think watching Fleabag or Hugh Jackman will put food on the table?! Have they saved or changed people's lives?

I was responding directly to the point that although many people have never been to the theatre, they have still benefited from it. If the theatre industry disappears as we currently know it, where will all the up-and-coming actors/comedians/singers who start out in the theatre and live venues then graduate to film/TV come from?

The industry will have to evolve and adapt like every other industry. Not having performed in theatres doesn't mean people can't act in TV shows/films. In fact, I'd say really good actors are a minority anyway so clearly performing in theatres doesn't guarantee you'll be any good! Just need to be pretty enough to be on bloody Hollyoaks or some such shite.

There are huge sections of this area where companies and performers generate good profits and can weather this storm.

No weirdly it's the opposite. The more of the revenue comes from the door, from actual ticket sales, the more vulnerable an organisation is right now. The places that will make it are the ones largely propped up by ACE, that no one goes to; they suffer the least hit from being closed. The more popular a venue, the more likely it is to go under during this time, as it's losing the largest proportion of its income.