UK Government Announces £1.57 Billion Rescue Package For The Arts

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/5/20 at 6:06pm

This is such great news!!!!

[binau]

Posted: 7/5/20 at 6:24pm

Amazing. I know they have their critics but the conservative UK government has been surprisingly liberal in their response to covid, with the furlough schemes for employees who get 80% of their wage paid for by the government if their company keeps them on the payroll, strictish lockdowns (even if it was a bit late), support for the public health system and temporary hospitals (though they didn’t get much use), mandating use of masks on public transport, and now an injection into the Arts. There are responses that Bernie Sanders complains for on social media.

Watching Hamilton I couldn’t help but reflect on these lyrics when comparing the USA right now to the UK.

“ You’re on your own
Awesome. Wow
Do you have a clue what happens now?

Oceans rise
Empires fall
It’s much harder when it’s all your call

All alone, across the sea
When your people say they hate you
Don’t come crawling back to me”

Updated On: 7/5/20 at 06:24 PM

[A Director]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 4:06am

qolbinau said: 

Watching Hamilton I couldn’t help but reflect on these lyrics when comparing the USA right now to the UK.

“ You’re on your own
Awesome. Wow
Do you have a clue what happens now?

Oceans rise
Empires fall
It’s much harder when it’s all your call

All alone, across the sea
When your people say they hate you
Don’t come crawling back to me”"

Don't get cocky! I can imagine the EU singing these lyrics to Great Britain about Brexit.

 

[ImaginaryManticore]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 5:51pm

A Director said: "qolbinau said:

Watching Hamilton I couldn’t help but reflect on these lyrics when comparing the USA right now to the UK.

“ You’re on your own
Awesome. Wow
Do you have a clue what happens now?

Oceans rise
Empires fall
It’s much harder when it’s all your call

All alone, across the sea
When your people say they hate you
Don’t come crawling back to me”"

Don't get cocky! I can imagine the EU singing these lyrics to Great Britain about Brexit.

"

Ha! EXACTLY!

I'm not letting the UK government off the hook for their general handling of the situation (and their furlough scheme and unemployment support left out a huge number of theatre workers), but this was a really pleasant surprise. I wonder if their vanity got to them? I'd been considering sending letters saying 'Think of Shakespeare Think of Shakespeare Think of Shakespeare'.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 6:33pm

This is good news, but let’s put it in perspective- it’s a small amount of money compared to the money the industry brings in for the economy, and its pales into insignificance compared to Frances £7billion to their Arts industries.

Also the UK government have handled this crisis dreadfully. Probably equally as bad as Trumps administration.

BUT.. this money is a start.

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 6:45pm

It’s obviously very welcome news but the reality is that it will only save the theatres from closing this year. It will help venues dodge going into administration, for now but if the venues can’t open until 2021 it’s still a very, very scary looking future for the industry.

This is breathing space but it is by no means an ‘out of the woods’ moment

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 6:51pm

Totally. It also doesn’t help the hundreds of thousands of freelancers who are left high and dry when the furlough scheme ends. Hopefully that will be extended

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 6:51pm

Totally. It also doesn’t help the hundreds of thousands of freelancers who are left high and dry when the furlough scheme ends. Hopefully that will be extended

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 8:27pm

Good start but yes, we’ve got a loooooong way to go.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/6/20 at 9:18pm

Sam Mendes is starting a fund for the arts backed by Netflix and Spielberg in the U.K.

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/coronavirus-outbreak-sam-mendes-launches-fund-to-support-theater-artists-in-the-uk-backed-by-netflix-and-steven-spielberg/ar-BB16nma4