Member Article

Media, music and performing arts facility welcomes government support to save the arts

Following sustained lobbying from music, performance and arts businesses across the UK, the Government has announced a £1.57bn support package for Britain’s arts and culture sector. The package covers funding for Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues. It includes a £1.15bn pot for cultural organisations in England, comprised of £270m in loans and £880m in grants. Chancellor Rishi Sunak will confirm the expenditure in a mini budget on Wednesday as he unveils the country’s economic strategy going forward amid the pandemic.

Richard Wallace, co-founder of media, music and performing arts institute LMA, which is co-owned by global superstar Robbie Williams, said the funding was a welcome relief for the industry: “At LMA, we teach and inspire the next generation of artists, musicians and performers and have seen first-hand the impact this crisis has had on our young people.

“But despite the pandemic, their passion, creativity and love for the arts has continued to thrive and the Government’s announcement will make a huge impact on ensuring the industry that we love so much will be saved for future generations like theirs.

“While the funding is a huge step forward, we’re still waiting for details on how it will be distributed which will be key to its success. It is vital the funding is spread across the country and not disproportionally allocated to London or larger cities, for example. Every community benefits from having the arts on their doorstep and we would like to see that not only major theatres and galleries, but also grassroots venues and independent theatres across the country are given the support they need to survive.

“These community venues often provide up-and-coming artists with that all important stepping stone to get into the industry and help them develop the confidence they need to nurture their talents. At LMA, we offer students hands-on, practical experience and have always worked closely with local theatres and music venues to ensure our students have real-life experience of working in the industry. It is essential these venues are not forgotten about if we want to truly safeguard the sector for future generations.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Williams .