Theatre Network Australia’s Post

A review of the state of the arts in the UK has been published in a new report by Campaign for the Arts and The University of Warwick. The report - launched at Westminster with speeches by speakers including new Department for Culture, Media and Sport minister Christopher Bryant - examines five ‘health metrics’:  funding, provision, education, engagement and employment. It found that while there is high public engagement in the arts, the UK has one of the lowest levels of government spending on culture among European nations. Other findings included: • Tax relief for the creative industries increased by 649% between 2009-10 and 2022-23. In 2017-18 this investment exceeded the DCMS’ core funding of cultural organisations for the first time.  • The income mix of Arts Council England’s ‘National Portfolio’ changed, with public funding decreasing 10%, while contributed income (from private donations/ sponsorship) and earned income both went up by 5%. • Extra-large venues saw the biggest drop in event numbers in 2020 but made the strongest post-pandemic recovery, while also increasing ticket prices as inflation rose.  By contrast, in 2018 and 2019 growth in event numbers was driven entirely by small venues, but in 2023 there were 24% fewer events in these venues and average ticket prices were 22% lower in real terms. • Films and cinemas generate the biggest share of arts attendances in all four UK nations. • Since 2010 the share of GCSE entries in arts subjects has declined by 47%. • The Cultural Sector generally grew faster than the UK economy over the 2010s, but the drop in Gross Value Added (GVA) as a result of the pandemic (10.6%) was more than double that of the Creative Industries (4.9%). • Despite significant growth in GVA, median (PAYE) earnings in the Cultural Sector are consistently below the UK median for every sub-sector with the exception of Film, TV and Music.

Major new report from Campaign for the Arts and University of Warwick: The State of The Arts. It shows that things are pretty bad for arts and culture in the UK at the moment: - Recent government spending on arts and culture is among the lowest in Europe - Since 2010, local government culture funding has fallen by 48% in England - GCSE and A-level entries in arts subjects have decreased by 47% and 29% respectively in the last 14 years. Arts and creative courses at English universities have suffered a 50% funding cut from the UK Government. Arts education is in crisis. - The earnings of arts professionals in the Cultural Sector are consistently below the UK median (with the exception of Film, TV and Music), with significant regional and gender pay disparities within that. Hopefully the report will have some impact when it reaches current decision-makers - things need to change. The arts make life better, and everybody should have opportunities to access them. #CultureMatters

Another highly positive report of the work we do and the value the creative sector brings Please read, take note of its findings, but action is required from policy makers to ensure we are thriving in 10 yrs (….and not just surviving!)

Calling all EJN Members! ☎️ The deadline for the fourth round of Green Pilot Tours, supported by Creative Europe, is coming up: Apply by Sunday, 5 May 2024. 🌳 What is it? A Green Pilot Tour is a tour of a SINGLE artistic project/band between at least four different venues or festivals and involving at least two EJN members. It should focus on innovative touring models based on the principles of sustainable touring and fair and balanced practices in the music sector. 🌳 When is the deadline? 5 May 2024 🌳 What are the objectives? 🍃 Increase collaboration and exchanges between the EJN members 🍃 Foster trans-national mobility of artists 🍃 Envisage and implement more sustainable ways of touring; 🍃 Encourage a more diverse and gender-balanced programming 🍃 Develop communication and dissemination strategies to promote environmental sustainability in the music sector 🌳 How much money is available? The maximum contribution which can be granted to each Green Pilot Tour is € 6.000,00 (VAT included). 🌳 Who can apply? Applications must be presented by a single active EJN member. There are further requirements for your project - please download the guidelines from our website. https://lnkd.in/d3efbARj We are looking forward to receiving your application! Find more information and the guidelines here: https://lnkd.in/d3efbARj

🎶 The Power of Music in Crisis Recovery 🌍 Pleased to share this UNDP Development Futures Series policy brief co-written by Anas Abdulmoumen, Carlo Ruiz Giraldo and CME Executive Director Shain Shapiro PhD Shapiro shedding light on the transformative impact of music in aiding recovery in crisis and post-crisis environments, underlining the unique role of music in fostering resilience and offering a roadmap for sustainable livelihood recovery. In recognizing music not just as an art form but an ecosystem with immense economic potential, we can advocate for embracing music and cultural production to empower communities and drive economic diversification, not least via the unharnessed potential of IP and related systems, the lack of which presently keeps so many artists around the world in precarity... #musicpolicymatters https://lnkd.in/e4aMTK9z

https://lnkd.in/dwFTvNJC The policy brief proposes an innovative approach: to incorporate music and cultural production into programmes and strategies to support affected communities for livelihood recovery.

ICYMI: Budget 2024-25: what’s in it for the arts? Arts education, live music and screen content for children are among the areas targeted for investment in Tuesday’s Federal Budget. 15 May 2024, Richard Watts https://lnkd.in/gUnWbfH3 "National peak body Live Performance Australia (LPA) has welcomed the Government’s latest investments in the nation’s creative and cultural training institutions. Evelyn Richardson, LPA Chief Executive, said in a statement: ‘Our training institutions, known as the “ARTS8”, play a vital role in developing the potential of our next generation of performers, creators, production and technical workers. ‘A vibrant, diverse and successful Australian creative and cultural industry requires a workforce with the skills to take up current and emerging opportunities to create, produce and present work that engages and entertains audiences at home and globally… We warmly welcome the Albanese Government’s strong budget commitment to our national training bodies,’ she said. While LPA has also welcomed the new investments in contemporary and classical music, Richardson urged the Government to also consider boosting investment in the nation’s live theatre sector through a scheme of tax incentives to offset production costs. ‘Australia’s live theatre-makers and producers are competing with the US and UK for investment capital,’ she explained." Read more 👇

Available now: Strength in Numbers 3: Sketches of Resourcefulness - a comprehensive statistical profile of the EJN membership in 2021. 🧮 If you are curious about the state of the #jazz, #creative and #improvised #MusicSector in #Europe, start here. 🎶 The first two editions of Strength in Numbers are from 2012 and 2016. This third instalment, commissioned by EJN and researched by Phyllida Shaw, highlights the remarkable #resilience, #adaptability, and #resourcefulness of creative music organisations across Europe in the face of the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 #pandemic. 📝 The #report is based on data from 111 respondents in 30 countries and we will share key findings in the next weeks. If you can’t wait, click the link below to find out more, read the report on #Issuu or download it now. https://lnkd.in/d4TJitUU . . . Creative Europe

The independent landscape looks very different to ten years ago. No longer is it just traditional labels but now we have the most forward thinking labels and self releasing artists collaborating to create new pathways to success. Rubin is someone who is extremely forward thinking understanding the importance of tech to an ever evolving industry while putting investment at the forefront of the sector. Understanding that with investment talent, rightholders and the industry thrives. It is vital that the AIM board is representative of the ever changing landscape of the independent sector. Whilst there are many exceptional candidates running in this years election including those from more traditional labels it is vital that the sectors breadth is represented. Voting for Rubin will do that. So if you are an AIM member consider him when voting for who should join the board.

The Arts should not be the preserve of the wealthy. However, the Arts also require facilities, dedication, specialist instruction, a culture that encourages and rewards creativity. This is not easy to find and it’s very expensive. Unfortunately, attempts to broaden access to the Arts (such as the ongoing review of the HSC’s Music curriculum in NSW) often lower the standards for the sector and damage it, rather than increasing inclusion. There is no easy fix, other than publicly funded, accessible tuition through conservatoriums, drama academies and specialist arts schools. Keep the standards up or you risk killing the Arts you want to support.