Early statements from the UK arts sector today (24 June) on the Referendum result that will see the UK begin the process to leave the EU
‘Our country is a creative powerhouse and we know for sure that the creative economy will continue to be at the centre of our economic future’
Creative England
‘The UK is full of great businesses fuelled by enormous creativity and the free movement of ideas, goods and talent. Our country is a creative powerhouse and we know for sure that the creative economy will continue to be at the centre of our economic future; maintaining our competitive edge in the light of increasing global competition is vital. It is important that all parties pull together to ensure our vibrant arts, creative businesses and creative institutions are not impacted negatively by the uncertainty and turmoil of the next few weeks and months. And it is vital we build sustainability for our long-term future rather than short term expediencies.
‘But creativity is not only a driver of our economic prosperity: it’s also at the heart of how we express ourselves and pull our communities together. As the UK looks to build a new relationship with Europe and the rest of the world safeguarding the institutions, funding and ecosystems that support creative talent and creative businesses to thrive will be of huge importance.’ – Caroline Norbury MBE, CEO of Creative England.
‘The ABO’s next step is to build on our existing good relations with the government and engage positively with whichever Ministers take responsibility from here on, to ensure the best possible outcome for our members’
Association of British Orchestras (ABO)
Following the Referendum decision to leave the EU, the ABO is deeply concerned at the potential impact on its members.
The prospects for the nation’s public finances are worrying, and may affect the implementation of Orchestra Tax Relief, which has not as yet received Royal Assent, and lead to further reductions in public funding for the arts and local authorities.
We will need the new leadership of this country to give us guarantees as to continued freedom of movement across Europe’s borders for our orchestras, artists and orchestral musicians, and whether the many pan-European regulations that currently affect our sector, from VAT Cultural Exemption to harmonisation of radio spectrum, Noise at Work to the Digital Single Market, will still apply.
The worst outcome for our members will be additional uncertainty, bureaucracy and expense, allied to a worsening of their financial viability. The ABO’s next step is to build on our existing good relations with the government and engage positively with whichever Ministers take responsibility from here on, to ensure the best possible outcome for our members – Mark Pemberton, director, Association of British Orchestras
International Artist Managers’s Association (IAMA)
‘If there are things we can do to support our members, we will do what we can’
Clearly, the result of the referendum will raise many questions from the artist management community who deal with the rest of Europe on a daily basis, a common concern with all businesses in the same position. Quite what the outcome will be remains to be seen. If there are things we can do to support our members, we will do what we can – Atholl Swainston-Harrison, chief executive, International Artist Managers’s Association (IAMA)
