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?

The local art centre here is a huge asset, and I'm worried it will close. There are some travelling shows that perform there on a run, but it's mainly an affordable cafe, free panto for children at Christmas, accessible cinema for just a few £s (subtitled, baby friendly, or audio description); they also buy the rights now and then to stream theatre from across the world, bringing somewhat of the experience to those who otherwise would never see it. Plus they have plenty of interest groups that can use the space for free- crochet for teens (hugely popular), for children in the hols, and knitting which provides a social space for people who can go all week without seeing anyone. They are unlikely to get a government grant I'm guessing due to the fact they aren't prominent and don't bring much money in, but I'm looking for ways to support. The arts are so broad but people seem to focus on the west end etc. There are also music venues that have been showcasing upcoming talent for decades, and it would be a real loss to see them go.

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.

But I feel like essentials have to come first, enrichment activities will have to slowly return in the coming years.

But theatres and live venues can't yet re-open safely due to social distancing. That's why they need financial support now as otherwise they'll go under and there wont be theatres to re-open once all this has passed.

Do people remember a few weeks ago when it looked as though zoos and wildlife parks weren't being allowed to re-open and even the likes of Chester zoo were facing possible permanent closure?

I was also deeply upset about that, although I haven't visited a zoo for about 20 years, and signed petitions etc. Thankfully the government saw sense and allowed zoos etc to re-open, but indoor theatrical venues are a long way off that.

I just think that given how much economic revenue the theatre and related industries generate, it is very short-sighted of our government not to be providing short-term financial assistance until venues can safely re-open.

there will be a harsh reality check for lots of businesses during the looming recession and jobs that contribute will be the safest, some will have their wages cut and I think that we will all have to learn to not waste money

Maybe the answer is for the Arts sector to look at itself in the whole and address issues such as some celebs being paid millions whilst others are on zero hour contracts etc

I'm very concerned about the future of the arts in this country, not least as most of my immediate family are (were) employed in the industry. Could you link to information re the Wetherspoon bailout please? I can't find any information on it anywhere.

mollokoy yes that’s the impression I’m getting too. The arts council for example is offering emergency grants but only if you’ve had one from before.

Amateur theatres are actually getting grants though so they will be ok.

I don’t understand why theatres aren’t receiving grants as businesses if places like pubs are? Does anyone know?

Also part of the problem in terms of workers is that theatres don’t like putting people on the payroll so many workers in the industry are self employed and slipped through the net with furloughing etc - that is something which also needs to be looked at.

The problem for lots of people is that theatres are very London centric. I'm in central Scotland so not accessible to me. Travelling productions that I would love to see are still at least an hour away and so expensive.

For lots of people the arts is a luxury. People have commented that it shouldn't be seen as a middle class pastime, but many families just can't afford the ticket prices.

I do care about people's jobs and would hate to see any sector go under, but for me there are sectors I worry about more. Charities, many who work with vulnerable people, food banks etc are all under threat too. And if they disappear the vital support they offer will really be felt.

Schools etc are also above the arts on my list of priorities.

I'm quite surprised at the number of posters saying they have no access to theatres.

I live near the south coast and almost every one of the coastal towns In Sussex has a theatre, some have 2. Further inland, there's the Hawth at Crawley, a theatre at Tunbridge Wells and, iirc one at Horsham (too lazy to google). There are also other performance venues like the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill and Clair Hall in Haywards Heath, both of which have comedians on tour (we have tickets for Stewart Lee at the De La Warr and the combination of filthy Stewart Lee and genteel Bexhill is amusing in itself).

When I think of regional theatres, there are some really successful ones, like the Royal Exchange in Manchester and Bristol's Old Vic and lots of smaller places like Harrogate and Buxton have theatres. It would be really sad to lose them.

It may well be different in Scotland, Wales and NI, where the population is much more spread out, but in England loss of regional theatres would be a real loss to our cultural life. And how will kids get to appreciate Shakespeare if they can't go and see it?

I'm less concerned about music, because I think it's easier to find alternative venues for all but opera and full-scale orchestral stuff. Pubs, clubs and bars will be able to go back to having live bands eventually, and for most of them the music is an add-on to the business of selling beer. Comedy's the same.

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.

I'm not saying it's right but the image of the "arts" is often elitist, upper mc etc & people think it's not for them. I also think people forget about the struggling actors & musicians that get paid peanuts & think the arts don't need help because X is a multimillionaire & doesn't pay taxes.

Well, the biggest chunk of ticket sales is panto and the next is musicals. That's what we're really talking about. Not Brecht. 3 million panto tickets are sold a year. If panto is cancelled that revenue is gone and those venues are sunk. A lot of them won't make it to panto season.

www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/crunch-time-the-nations-funded-theatres-on-their-struggle-to-survive

YANBU.

I love a bit of panto!

I dont visit the theatre often despite being close to London because for me, it is too expensive to go more than maybe once a year (if that)
But I have family that work in the theatre and can see the impact and how far reaching it is.(and not just limited to the actual theatre building)
Before lockdown people were encouraged not to go to crowded places and football was postponed. For an individual missing 1 (or several) matches might not seem like a massive sacrifice. But as well as stadium staff there would be nearby cafes who make a large part of their income on match days, printers who print the tickets and programmes, merchandise vendors, caterers who supply the stadium, coach firms who transport fans etc, as well as loads more . All this will be replicated with the theatre as well - it has such a knock on effect.

I wonder if part of the issue is that many people only think of famous actors, musicians, artists etc and therefore assume that not only do they not need to be bailed out but that they should be able to help theatres etc..
I'm not saying that I agree with this view but I can see this being a slant that the press makes when those worth millions ask for support for the arts.

It’s worrying.

Dh works in arts education, Dd is currently at vocational dance school & Ds is an aspiring musician.

Dd is taking extra online courses on anything she can such as voice over, self tapes, anything that can make her more employable.

We’ve done what we can. Donated our ticket money to a cancelled Southwark Playhouse show, donated to Acting for Everyone and Hull Truck Theatre. Bought online tickets for Curtains & The Last Five Years streams and bought Theatre Tokens as presents.

But so many of our friends are out of work.

That's a really good article, thank you @mollokoy

I would be really surprised if Wetherspoons had a grant. If they got anything (beyond furlough etc) it would have been a loan

My DH is one of those people who work in the arts on short term PAYEs and now has had no income for 4 months, no self employment assistance, no furlough and no light a the end of the tunnel for this whole year. I can’t earn enough to support our family.
So it does matter to me.

But equally I can see the arts are an expensive luxury. And compared to saving lives and essential services, not a priority.

I particularly hate the comments about it being a ‘middle class’ preoccupation. If it is, it shouldn’t be, it I really don’t think it is

But you do need to have quite a bit of spare cash to go to the theatre. I only have 1 child so luckily we get to go 2/3 times a year.

But dd was desperate to see Hamilton. We live in the north west so to make it happen, we had to get the train at 5.30am, and return home after 7pm to afford train tickets and theatre tickets. All in all think the day cost us about £400, which we really saved up for. It was an extra special treat.

We do go to theatres in the NW, but a decent seat and you're looking at £75 per ticket minimum.

So it is predominantly for the middle class and please don't pretend that it isn't.

It's really not worth going if your paying £20 for a seat up in the gods, where you can only see the top of the actors heads.

If I’m honest, I know next to nothing about the theatre. But I do know a little about live music.
Music venues have been closing at an alarming rate for a few years now - we already only have a fraction of what we had ten years ago.
In some areas it’s been suggested there’s been a concerted effort to shut them down. Many of those that were still open pre-Covid were already concerned for their futures. In addition, people are concerned about the impact Brexit will have on touring musicians.

Many gigs were already rescheduled from March-April to Oct-Nov, and now we don’t know whether these rescheduled dates will even go ahead. Venues still have to pay their bills, whether they’re earning or not. And with the furlough scheme ending, will have to pay their staff too (or more realistically let them go).

Then there’s all the bands who aren’t touring now - for most bands, touring is how they make their money. And I don’t mean a lot of money, most just about break even.

Then there’s the wider employment issues - for most of the bands I’m talking about, their members have other jobs too. These jobs allow them the money to buy equipment and studio time. If general employment rises, people won’t be able to afford to be in bands any more, so many bands will fold.

The combination of all of this does indeed make me very concerned for the future of live music. I was already concerned pre-Covid, now I’m just feeling rather despondent about it all.

The least that should happen is the government supporting venues - they’re forced to stay closed, it’s not by choice. So the government either need to let them open and allow people the choice of attending or not (I can’t see how you can have a gig with social distancing though!) or preferably support them financially.

If it can't survive without life support from government funding, I'm not sure it deserves to survive... I believe that if it has enough value to society, it will find a way to survive or will evolve and reemerge in a slightly altered form.

We live in the north west so to make it happen, we had to get the train at 5.30am, and return home after 7pm to afford train tickets and theatre tickets. All in all think the day cost us about £400, which we really saved up for.

I feel your pain - that's exactly why I hardly ever go to the theatre.

No, they can't survive without government funding when the government have closed them all down.

Nobody can. That's why furlough happened.

There are no businesses that can survive without trading.

Someone mentioned the Royal Exchange - they've just started redundancy procedures for 80% of their staff and will close permanently if they can't find some way of getting an income urgently.

I don't know what "new ways" people can think the arts can find to make money if it isn't safe to have live performances.

Most industries are struggling right now. Why should we care more about the arts than the travel industry for example?

If it can't survive without life support from government funding, I'm not sure it deserves to survive... I believe that if it has enough value to society, it will find a way to survive or will evolve and reemerge in a slightly altered form.

The live venues that are most at risk of permanent closure are the ones that would normally make most of their revenue through ticket sales (plus secondary income such as merchandise, ice cream and drinks in the interval etc). If no performances are able to take place then that is basically all of their income gone. They wouldn't have to ask for financial support from the government in normal circumstances.

It's kind of like saying that pubs can open, but aren't allowed to serve alcohol and if they can't find a way of adapting and surviving then they don't deserve to.