The Arts in the UK, Abandoned and Alone
- Johnny Neal
- Sep 30, 2020
- 6 min read
Since the Corona Virus struck the UK and lockdown was enforced many industries have been hit hard. The food service industry came to a standstill, sports events cancelled, offices full of clerical workers and managers alike were left abandoned as home working became a surreal norm. But no industry in the UK, as vital to its economy as it is it's spirit, as the arts industry is, has been put out to pasture more.
Since March anyone working in the arts industry in a self employed capacity, which all artists are (except in the case of rare PAYE contracts for TIE or some tours) was left unemployed. And that's not to mention those working behind the scenes, some of whom were furloughed, and some found themselves in exactly the same position as their more outgoing counter parts.
If you'll allow me to go gonzo for a moment, it is a frequent occurrence as a member of the arts community to have your chosen profession not only questioned, but derided by members of the public. Some of my favourite quotes upon revealing I am an actor include:
"No but, what's your job?"
"How do you make money?"
"If you're not famous, what's the point?"
And my personal favourite:
"If it's so hard just quit and get a proper job."
Etcetera, etcetera, but all this is made worth it, because becoming any kind of artist, whether it be in a performance or creative capacity is as much a calling as it is a series of carefully honed skills that take years to perfect. This dedication should neither be underestimated, nor discounted from any discussion of the viability of a career in the arts.
However now it seems that it is not just your Great Aunt Ethel, who has never seen your work, but maintains that a real job is one that is solely designed to pay the bills and not fulfill any part of you as a person. Which is why Great Uncle Bill worked at a coal mine instead of pursuing his dance career... #billyelliotaltending.
Side Note: This is not to say that other jobs aren't just as fulfilling, but this is about individual perspective and right now we are talking about a specific section of people.
Back to the point, the British government now seems to have weighed in on the subject with a clear, albeit, passive aggressive consensus that the arts in Britain simply aren't as important as many other industries.
Now don't get me wrong, as a performer and a citizen I am all for the enforcement of social distancing in the name of protecting our public from the dangers this virus presents and spending 2 hours sat in close proximity to others is not exactly conducive to the reduction of infection. However we currently still have airplanes leaving Heathrow on an hourly basis, pressurised tin cans where the air is constantly recirculated through the cabin as hundreds of people are tightly packed into seats together. Sporting events have reopened with fans drinking and cheering on their teams in close proximity to one another, that's not to mention the bro hugs. All the while pubs and restaurants have been open since July, with loose rules put in place in a vague attempt at maintaining the illusion of safety in a naturally social environment. Many of these industries are a big part of the UK's cultural identity, but have we forgotten that some of history's greatest artists, including playwrights, poets, painters and musicians, came from the UK. If art isn't a cornerstone of British identity then what is?
The arts industry in the UK isn't merely a nice cherry on the top of a country with a long and varied cultural history, it is, or was, in fact a thriving and vibrant source of income both for those fortunate enough to work within its realms and for Britain as a whole. In 2019 the Arts Council England published its report that found as an industry that we contribute over £10 billion a year, with a £390 million growth since 2018. Add to that a further £2.8 billion in tax per year and another £23 billion through other means, also accounting for 363,700 jobs. Between 2009 and 2016 it was even found that the arts industry had a greater impact on the country than any other industry with "gross value added per worker at £62,000 for arts and culture, compared to £46,800 for the wider UK economy." (Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), 17/4/2019).
Now let's look at pubs as an example as I feel that these are the biggest port of contention in the ongoing COVID-19 safety cruise. per year the pub industry contributes roughly £22.9 billion to the UK economy per year. (Beer Day Britain) With that amount having been set to rise in 2021, according to a 2018 survey (Statista, 2018), a fair contribution, if still under that of the arts, that should not be sniffed at (I wouldn't mind reporting that on my income tax each year). However as we are all well aware alcohol is well known for its adverse effects, both on individuals health and on the mindsets of those punters that are feeling more than a little rambunctious after a night on the Bacardi Breezers.
In 2016 the Guardian reported a loss of £52 billion per year to the UK, caused by, you guessed it, alcohol related illnesses, injuries, and crime. In 2017 The total percentage of alcohol related thefts confirmed due to alcohol were at 12.4% with a 20% rate of thefts from a dwelling and criminal damages were at 20.6% (Office for National Statistics, 2018). In 2017 reported violent incidents topped out at a massive 39%!!! Add to the crime factor the health risks posed by alcohol, which include 7,551 alcohol related deaths in 2018 (the highest number since 2001), and the fact that "Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49 year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages" (Burton, R. et al. 2016) and you have a hefty strain on an already thinly spread NHS for which we all went out and clapped in the summer months for their sterling job at battling the virus.
On the counter point of this during the 2020 lockdown streaming services have reported a explosion in usage and subscription with Netflix's services being rendered up to 50% as much as people fight the boredom, isolation and the inevitable mental health problems that lockdown has seen arise throughout the summer. You could almost make the argument that art has become the cure to the lockdown blues.
The message is pretty clear, industries must reopen in order for the economy to keep flowing, but why has the arts sector in particular been picked out as the single group that can be left out of the discussion of industries that shouldn't open? Theatres are traditionally tame places where minimal interaction between punters takes place and although pubs can open, serve as many drinks to patrons as they deem appropriate and could, until recently, stay open as long as their license allowed, live performance, bizarrely, still has a strict ban on it? This all speaks to the unified identity of artists in Britain that we are second to industries that are thought of as wholly British and/or "contribute" to the wealth and prosperity of the country as a whole, whilst conveniently meandering around the above quoted stats. And that we as the "pansy-ass, lay about, fairies" should get over it and find "real jobs" to pay our bills, not that we don't struggle anyway. I mean when was the last time you heard of an out of work builder going and working a bar job until they could get their big brick laying break?
In my opinion it is about time something be done, and I'm not talking about a mere bailout, we're not bankers. I mean a real and open discussion on how to move forward with reopening the arts industry, with a plan on how to implement social distancing rules and keep our public safe whilst allowing hard working artists and crews to get back to what they do best, entertaining and invigorating the souls of the British public.
Feel free to tweet me your responses and thoughts, I am interested to hear what you all think.
TTFN
Johnny Neal
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