‘Now is the time for a bold vision and firm action’ says ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts
The Incorporated Society of Musicians has responded to the UK government’s five-stage ‘roadmap’ for the return of the performing arts.
‘It is welcome news that the government has now provided some detail on its plan for getting the performing arts back on their feet,’ says ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts.
‘Clarity on when each of the five phases can begin is urgently needed, so venues and performers can start preparing in the safest way possible.
But the central issue remains the same: without considerable financial support and investment, music and the performing arts will suffer long-lasting damage from COVID-19. The government must expand the coverage of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, maintain its current furlough contributions, and accelerate discussions on a wider support package. Now is the time for a bold vision and firm action.’
The government’s roadmap consists of the following five stages:
- Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences and adhering to social distancing guidelines)
- Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposes (adhering to social distancing guidelines)
- Stage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience plus pilots for indoor performances with a limited distance audience
- Stage Four - Performances allowed indoors/outdoors (but with a limited distanced audience indoors)
- Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors/outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors)
Read: ISM urges UK government to provide emergency funds to musicians
Read: ISM calls for full sick pay for teachers affected by COVID-19
Countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and New Zealand have all intervened to protect creative industries. The German Government unveiled a €50 billion (£54 billion) aid package for artists and cultural Businesses hit by COVID-19. ISM is calling for a long-term financial support package for the UK creative industries, in particular the music sector, making use of tax reliefs.
With thousands of music venues requiring near full capacity crowds to turn a profit, the ISM has written to the Chancellor to ask him to reconsider his decision to scale back the government’s contribution to furlough payments, which risks the long-term health of music industry. Read the letter here: https://www.ism.org/news/expand-the-seiss
The ISM has also written to the Chancellor on multiple occasions calling for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to be revised, in order to accommodate the musicians and music professionals who have fallen through the cracks and are not eligible for any financial support.
The ISM recommends that the government:
- Lowers the threshold of income from 50% to 25%;
- Removes the £50,000 cap;
- Allows graduates, those who have been on sick leave or maternity leave, or those who have returned to work in the past three years to discount years that do not reflect their current position;
- Extends eligibility to individuals who have been self-employed for less than a year or provide equivalent meaningful support to these workers;
- Extends eligibility to individuals who operate under a Limited Company and take dividends as a source of income or provide equivalent meaningful support to these workers.
A detailed briefing on the impact of coronavirus on the music sector can be found here: https://www.ism.org/images/
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