The UK will become a cultural desert. From Nick Cave to Anish Kapoor, artists call for industry supports

A letter from more than four hundred British artists calling on the U.K. government for measures to support culture, or else the country will become a “cultural wasteland”-this is what is written in a missive drafted by the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), signed by personalities such as Nick Cave, Anish Kapoor, PJ Harvey, Simon Callow, Johnny Marr, Katie Melua, Sophie Dahl, Jonathan Pryce and others, and addressed to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

“We, creative professionals and institutions,” the letter reads, “call on the government to protect the UK’s creative industries. Our culture and creativity sector is in crisis. A CIF survey of two thousand organizations and professionals in the sector found that 1 in 7 will be able to go on until the end of April relying on their own strength alone. Half think they cannot last beyond June.”

“We cannot allow the UK to lose half of its creative businesses and become a cultural wasteland,” the letter continues. “The creative industries are one of the UK’s greatest success stories, a sector that was growing at five times the rate of the economy. The creative sector will also be critical to jump-starting the UK economy-and transforming our lives for the better-when we rebuild.”

“We must act, and act fast,” the artists conclude. “We call on the government to implement urgent support for creative and cultural businesses affected by the consequences of Covid-19.”

Currently, the resources allocated by the government amount to £160 million given toArts Council England, which will provide grants of up to £2,500. However, that may not be enough to cope with the severe crisis in the sector. “With venues, museums, and cinemas closed, film shoots postponed, and festivals cancelled,” said Caroline Norbury, chief executive of CIF, “the UK’s creative industries, a world-class performer, are in serious trouble. Creative businesses and professionals need, and now, liquidity. Government measures to support businesses and professionals are welcome, but we know that there are still thousands of businesses and creative professionals who are suffering, and who will not be able to survive the crisis without urgent cash injections. Creativity is an intrinsic part of the UK’s cultural identity, and one of the things in which the country excels globally. It is by sustaining this creativity that the UK can begin to build a new future. For our health, for our culture, and for ourselves, it is imperative that the UK’s creative industries are supported financially during the crisis.”

Pictured: the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London

The UK will become a cultural desert. From Nick Cave to Anish Kapoor, artists call for industry supports

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