The DCMS Committee is urging the government to take immediate
action to enable the cultural and sporting sectors to recover
from the impact of Covid-19. It is calling on the Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to use the pause created by the
latest Covid-19 restrictions to implement a number of
recommendations that would enable venues and stadiums to plan a
return of audiences to capacity when it is safe to do so.
Many theatres and venues have been unable to reopen because the
requirements of social distancing for audiences have made it
financially unviable to do so, with more closures of arts venues
and organisations expected. Theatre producer and composer Llord
Lloyd-Webber has spoken of the arts sector having reached “a
point of no return.”
The Committee has warned that a sector which contributed £32.3
billion to the UK economy in 2018 is facing mass redunancies
without an extension to the job retention scheme for the arts and
leisure sectors.
DCMS Committee Chair said:
“We recognise that rising cases of Covid-19 mean that plans for a
limited return of crowds to sporting events have to be put on
hold.
“However this has created an opportunity for ministers to develop
a robust strategy that will allow for the safe return of
audiences to events – particularly in our theatres and
performance venues - when the time is right.
“We know that without the ability to get in audiences in greater
numbers, many theatres simply can’t afford to keep running. The
collapse of such vital pillars in our cultural landscape would be
devastating.
“That’s why I plan to urge the government today in the House of
Commons to acknowledge the dire prospects facing this sector and
commit to its support, firstly by acknowledging the specific
recommendations made by this Committee and secondly by providing
sector-specific funding to allow them to be implemented.”
ENDS
Recommendations to government:
- Repeats call for DCMS Department to publish a ‘no earlier
than’ date for stage 5 of its plan to reopen performing arts
venues with at least 3 months’ notice to enable sectors to
remobilise.
- Calls on Ministers to provide greater clarity with clear
guidance about the public health conditions that would enable
stage 5 reopening and the safety, hygiene and testing measures
that will be required in venues for audiences to return without
social distancing.
- Urges further government funding to equip venues to reopen at
full capacity, preceded by sector-specific schemes to make it
economical for venues to reopen and to encourage audiences back
when it is safe to do so.
- Calls for better coordination between DCMS, other Departments
and Public Health England with DCMS using its convening power to
ensure the interests and expertise of the performance and event
sectors contribute to the Government’s work on mass testing
programmes, and that those sectors are closely consulted
regarding any resulting mass testing frameworks.
