Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Tiers: Performing Arts

Thursday 10 December 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assessment indicates that performing arts venues in tiers 1 and 2 are open with social distancing measures.
  • Venues in tier 3 are transitioning to broadcast performances without in-person audiences.
  • The Culture Recovery Fund has provided financial support to cultural institutions, including over 7 million to Sheffield Central.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Blomfield Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Following the introduction of regional tiers for COVID-19 restrictions, venues in tiers 1 and 2 are open to audiences with social distancing measures. Venues in tier 3 have adapted performances to broadcast without audiences.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effect of the tiered system on the performing arts?

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

Following the recent introduction of regional tiers, venues in tiers 1 and 2 are open to audiences, subject to social distancing and caps on capacity. Venues in tier 3 are adapting their performances to broadcast without audiences. The Government continue to work with the performing arts sector to assess the impact of the tiers and to develop proposals for how venues can open with fuller audiences when it is safe to do so.

Answered
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Q2 Paul Blomfield Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The culture recovery fund has been a significant support for cultural institutions. However, over 70% of the theatre workforce consists of freelancers who have been excluded from business support measures.

Question

Sheffield theatres have welcomed the culture recovery fund. However, freelance workers make up about 70% of the theatre workforce and have been shut out of the current support measures—more than 200,000 people in total across sectors. Will she recognise this problem for freelancers and press the Treasury to provide them with support?

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the culture recovery fund has been a lifeline for cultural and artistic institutions up and down our country. Sheffield Central has received over £7 million in funding in 2020-21. The Crucible theatre in Sheffield, which is in tier 3, continues to rehearse its panto with the aim of performing it live if restrictions are lifted in time; otherwise, they will record and stream their work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for additional support for freelancers was not addressed directly.

How: Continuing To Produce High-Quality Cultural Content

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