Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Covid-19 Tiers Performing Arts 2020-12-10

2020-12-10

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Paul Blomfield
▸ 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.
What assessment has been made of the effect of the tiered system on the performing arts?
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.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Paul Blomfield
▸ 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.
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?
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.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The specific request for additional support for freelancers was not addressed directly.
Continuing To Produce High-Quality Cultural Content
Response accuracy