Equity has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy asking her to prioritise improved access to Europe for performing artists and creative workers in Monday’s EU-UK Summit, being held in London.
The Summit is the first such gathering to be held in the UK since Brexit, when the UK exited the European Union. Since Brexit, restrictions have been placed on the number of days that Britons can be in Europe, impacting touring artists in particular. The restrictions mean that UK citizens can only be in Europe for 90 days in a 180-day period. Many shows tour for longer periods than that, while some artists have a concentration of work over certain periods which are constrained by the limit.
In the letter, Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming urges the Minister to “facilitate urgent improvements to the ability of performing artists and creative workers to access EU markets.”
He goes on to say: “The ability of our artists and creatives to be able to tour work is a necessary step to realising the growth potential of our industries.”
Commenting further, Paul W Fleming said: “The Tory Brexit deal has failed performers and creative workers. The previous government outright rejected European proposals which would allow for continued exchange by creative workers; proposals which the Labour government put at the heart of their manifesto last year.
“Monday's Summit is an important opportunity to address the barriers and bureaucracy which is holding back our creative industries and placing restrictions and red tape on touring. It's time Britain stood up for creative workers."
The full text of the letter is contained below.
Full text of letter sent to Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Dear Secretary of State,
I hope this finds you well.
I am writing in relation to the upcoming EU-UK Summit in London on 19th May, to express the desire of Equity members that the government will facilitate urgent improvements to the ability of performing artists and creative workers to access EU markets.
At the General Election last year, Labour’s Plan for the Arts, Culture and the Creative Industries committed your government to introducing an improved framework for touring in the European Union “to open up the freedoms and associated income for British artists that were denied in the Tories’ Brexit deal.”
I hope that during this round of negotiations, the government will pursue critical changes to our relationship, such as:
- Amending the 90-in180 day limit for UK performing artists, entertainers and creatives, to allow them more time to tour work across the European Union
- Introducing a reciprocal Visa Waiver Agreement that would allow UK performing artists, entertainers, and creatives to move freely between the UK and EU for professional purposes.
The UK government has recognised the huge potential of our creative industries to drive growth and extend our soft power. The ability of our artists and creatives to be able to tour work is a necessary step to realising the growth potential of our industries. I do hope therefore that you will take this issue forward at the coming Summit.
Your sincerely,
Paul W Fleming
