300 arts organisations warn time running out to solve EU working crisis

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Hundreds of high-profile cultural organisations in the UK have warned time is rapidly running out to solve the EU working crisis, criticising the government for a lack of progress in fixing the problem.

The Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, English National Ballet and Shakespeare’s Globe are among 300 signatories of an open letter to the prime minister expressing "deep frustration" over the failure to make progress, despite promises to address the issue.

"We are extremely concerned by the lack of progress that has been achieved over the last three months to unravel the mountain of costly bureaucracy and red tape that now faces the creative industries," the letter says.

At present, creatives are facing hundreds of pounds in costs and lengthy application processes to gain access to the EU for even short stints of work, cutting off crucial opportunities for UK-based talent and prompting concerns about the long-term impact on the creative industries.

Prime minister Boris Johnson told parliament’s liaison committee last month the government was working "flat-out" on the situation, and committed to address issues relating to visas, work permits and goods movement that are preventing UK-based creatives from working in Europe on a freelance and short-term basis.

The letter directly addresses "the promise [Johnson] made to fix the crisis”, but warns that unless this is delivered on, "work will be lost and businesses will go under".

"With scheduling already underway for creative work later this year, you have a limited window of opportunity to resolve this crisis, which is threatening our industry," it adds.

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Also among the letter’s signatories are entertainment unions Equity, BECTU and the Musicians’ Union, as well as associations representing sectors such as circus, dance, independent theatre, arts festivals and hauliers, as well as groups including Freelancers Make Theatre Work and #WeMakeEvents.

The letter, organised and penned by the Incorporated Society of Musicians, is also backed by organisations including Glyndebourne, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and Opera North, and theatres including London’s Jermyn Street, Manchester’s Hope Mill and touring company Talawa.

The signatories warn the government’s "immediate focus", which they described as offering guidance around entry and requirements, is "not sufficient to deliver frictionless mobility for our sector, which was a commitment during the Brexit negotiations".

As part of the letter, the ISM has proposed four measures to "guarantee the survival of the sector".

A bespoke visa waiver agreement with the EU for the creative sector, which would not require renegotiation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, but would be "hugely beneficial" for the creative industries.
Bilateral agreements with individual members states that do not currently offer work-permit exemptions for cultural work or which are the most financially important for creatives.
An emergency-funding package to support creative workers with the additional costs they currently face.
Reduce the impact of new haulage rules, which are preventing UK-based companies from organising pan-European tours.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has been contacted for comment.

A government spokesperson said: "As the prime minister has said, we are working flat-out with the industry on plans to support the creative sectors tour in Europe.

"We have already produced guidance to help artists understand what’s required in different countries and are exploring proposals to provide further practical help, as well as engaging directly with EU member states."