Government faces fresh calls to support EU touring after Brexit deal blow

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Musicians and creatives are being dealt a double blow by Covid-19 and Brexit and now face a "mountain of red tape" when seeking work in Europe, industry bodies have warned, as they intensify calls for a visa-free travel arrangement that covers touring artists and crews.

It comes as nearly a quarter of a million people sign a petition to the government demanding that a free cultural work permit be negotiated for creative professionals on a reciprocal basis with the European Union, after specific provisions for cultural workers were not included in Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal agreed last week.

The government has since said that a more ambitious agreement for business travellers, which would have covered musicians and other creatives, was rejected by the EU during negotiations.

The Musicians’ Union said the present trade agreement made with the EU, which was passed by parliament on December 30, provides no clarity for performers. An amendment seeking to allow musicians to tour without visas – which was also tabled on December 30 – was defeated, a move described as "hugely concerning" by the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

"Given the massive impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the UK music industry, this is another devastating blow," MU general secretary Horace Trubridge said.

As of January 1, touring creative workers will now face new rules when working in the EU. Visas will not be required for stays under 90 days, but activity restrictions will be in place within this and different work permits may be needed for different countries, meaning significant paperwork will be required for work in multiple states. Meanwhile, costly carnets for the movement of instruments and equipment will also be implemented, the MU warned.

Deborah Annetts, ISM chief executive, said it was "crucial" the government ensures that musicians and creatives can travel and work freely in the EU, arguing that the current status quo could make UK-EU working impossible.

"Musicians will face a mountain of red tape – from CITES to carnets – which threatens the future viability of working in the EU. Very few musicians will be able to afford this extra cost which can run to thousands of pounds, harming not only the value of the music industry (which generates £5.8 billion a year to the UK economy) but also individual livelihoods," she said.

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Annetts urged the government to "make good" on assurances that the creative industries would be supported post-Brexit and promises that reciprocal mobility arrangements would be negotiated with the EU.

Trubridge added: "We have been calling for a reciprocal arrangement – we understand that EU-based performers and crew will want to work here, by including the UK on an international tour for example, and many of our members rely heavily on working in EU countries. It is extremely disappointing that no such arrangement has been agreed."

A petition requesting the government negotiate a free cultural work permit that offers visa-free travel across the 27 EU members states for creative workers, and a carnet exception for equipment, has now reached 220,000 signatures.

It argues that the live events touring industry has "suffered immensely" as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and that the continued absence of an arrangement for creative workers will make EU work impossible due to cost and time constraints.

Shadow culture minister Alison McGovern said creative professionals have already had the worst year "in living memory" and that the UK will "only lose if people cannot perform in EU countries", as she pledged Labour would campaign to secure an arrangement for the sector.

A government spokeswoman said: "Short-term visitors to the EU can continue to join business meetings, receive training and attend sporting and cultural events, among other permitted activities, without requiring a visa. Some member states may allow other types of business travel visa-free, so people should check the rules of the country they are travelling to.

“The UK pushed for a more ambitious agreement with the EU on the temporary movement of business travellers, which would have covered musicians and others, but our proposals were rejected by the EU."

She added the government recognised that "there could be some additional processes for those working in the creative industries", but said the visa process for longer-term business travel "will be transparent to provide certainty and clarity".