... I'm sure Rishi Sunak has announced a huge boost to the arts in England. After the promises made to the area, during and after the election, I'm looking forward to seeing what percentage of this £1.5 billion goes to the NE. “Our world-renowned galleries, museums, heritage sites, music venues, and independent cinemas are not only critical to keeping our economy thriving, employing more than 700,000 people, they’re the lifeblood of British culture,” Sunak says in a statement.“That’s why we’re giving them the vital cash they need to safeguard their survival, helping to protect jobs, and ensuring that they can continue to provide the sights and sounds that Britain is famous for.” https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.artnet.com/art-world/uk-culture-sector-bailout-1892438/amp-page
Once all the massive London based arts theatres and venues have taken their cut, I'd be very surprised if they'll be any change to spare for the NE and beyond. What boils my piss is the Tories call this 'bail -out' amount 'world beating'... it's a ****ing joke! When you look at France it is has provided a 7 billion bailout, plus that includes a stipend to cover all those that out of work within the arts/ culture for 1 year. Germany also has provided similar - both countries had done this early on during start of the pandemic outbreak. It's only because continued and sustained pressure from our cultural sectors that the UK arts/culture has only just received this 'bailout'. Then no doubt they'll be a Tory led by 'Advisory Group' to dole out the money mostly to the millionaire theatre owners or the Saatchi & Saatchi kind of agencies etc who don't need bailing out! I work both as a self employed musician and an artist, the prospects for the majority of creative freelancers like myself - who work within the cultural aspects and well being of our communities the immediate future is bleak.
They're talking about grants and loans ... ... I wonder who'll be given loans 'at world beating interest rates' I hope things improve for you mate, I do think about you and your family quite often.
Never have to apologise for that mate! As you know I’m suffering to the tune of around £1000 a month on income. Luckily I have my day job with the NHS which covers my bills but I’m starting to struggle at this amount of cash lost from not gigging.
Thanks Marcus, Q. Given that one of the reasons that venues cannot have live music atm is that singers project minuscule saliva droplets into the air. I know, over the years, that I've been inadvertently 'sprayed upon' plenty of times by the vocalist in my bands and often ended up catching 'their' lurgy of sorts. Can you envisage a way out of this? For example singing inside perspex booths has been suggest by some performers/venues (I've been put inside (the ignominy) of these stage- booths for being too loud lol) Do you think it's a plausible way forward that bands play in perspex shielded booths at venues? And add to that the music volume has to be 'set' not so loud so that the audience can also speak without raising their voices. What are your thoughts? Do you see yourself gigging any time time soon inside a venue? Would you wish to gig with safety restrictions? Maybe just 'safer' outdoor gigs? I have cancelled all my (3) bands bookings for the foreseeable future - I'm also getting a few wedding enquiries for next year, the way it's looking I cannot commit to anything, as I wouldn't want to put my colleagues in any jeopardy.
