How arts and culture have been betrayed by Ministers – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Tim Appelbee, King’s Arms Coach House, High Street, Sutton in Craven, Keighley.
By YP Letters
Published 20th Apr 2021, 11:32 BST
York Theatre Royal is preparing for its first post-pandemic production.York Theatre Royal is preparing for its first post-pandemic production.
York Theatre Royal is preparing for its first post-pandemic production.

YOU have invited comment as to whether there has been sufficient support for the arts during the pandemic (The Yorkshire Post April 15).

The answer is no.

This Government has failed to understand the importance of the arts and their role in supporting the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has responsibility for the arts.Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has responsibility for the arts.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has responsibility for the arts.
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The Government’s own figures put the economic contribution at £111bn in 2018. (In the same year the motor industry contributed £18.6bn.)

Freelancers, who are the backbone of the industry, have been tossed aside quite ruthlessly and left with little or no opportunity to get support.

The support there has been has been mainly directed at building-based companies and organisations. This is window dressing. We will have buildings but no one to work in them.

The pandemic, together with the disastrous effect of Brexit on touring artists and production technicians, has given us a sad legacy.

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