Empty promises over post-Brexit crisis won’t cut it, sector says

300 organisations are calling on Boris Johnson to fix the crisis facing the creative industries in the aftermath of the Brexit trade deal.

An open letter coordinated by the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) demands the Prime Minister deliver on a promise he made to the Parliamentarians Liaison Committee on March 24 to take action in relation to visas, work permits, moving goods and people.

"The creative industries need you to deliver on this pledge otherwise work will be lost and businesses will go under," the letter says. 

In the absence of a clear plan, the Government is being urged to negotiate a bespoke creative sector visa waiver agreement, establish bilateral agreements with individual EU member states, provide funding to compensate for the additional costs of creative work in Europe, and reduce the adverse impact of road haulage and cross-trade ruleson pan-European tours.

Signatories to the letter include One Dance UK, the Royal Shakespeare Company, British Arts Festivals Association, Glyndebourne Productions, the Association of British Orchestras, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and UK Music.

Deborah Annetts, ISM's Chief Executive, said it is “extremely frustrating” there has been no real progress towards fixing the crisis facing creative businesses. 

"Unravelling the huge bureaucratic obstacles preventing touring musicians and other creative workers from working in Europe is now an urgent priority as we look beyond coronavirus… empty promises will not cut it."