UK arts institutions facing two-year ‘hiatus’ post-Brexit

Cultural organisations across the UK face the prospect of a two-year artistic hiatus following the end of the Brexit transition period, with setbacks expected due to increased regulations and a loss of funding, a report has concluded.

Researchers from the University of Manchester are warning that collaborations between British organisations and European artists are likely to drop off for some time and could "undermine many years of work".

Losing EU cultural funding and uncertainty over future regulations such as visas, movement of goods and insurance will all play a role in this, the report said.

A "hiatus" of at least two years is likely to occur after the transition period ends at the end of next month, but could be exacerbated by the ongoing impacts of Covid-19, according to the study by the university and Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy.

Charlotte Faucher, the report’s author, warned the combined effects of Covid-19 and Brexit could make European collaboration too difficult to organise for many.

"There’s too much uncertainty – some institutions haven’t made plans with European artists or cultural organisations based in the EU because they cannot afford to plan something, and then to have to change it according to whatever legislation might come in December or January," she said.

The report, titled The Arts After Brexit: The impact of the UK’s departure from the European Union on its cultural relations with European Union member states, suggests medium-sized organisations are likely to be hardest hit.

They will bear the most burden of maintaining independent ties with EU partners because they may not have the capacity to adapt to new regulations, the study says. It also suggests that despite a keen appetite to keep working together, British standing in the EU will also go down, as UK organisations will no longer be able to lead on EU-funded projects or hold leadership positions in EU schemes.