Orchestras and other UK arts organisations are calling on the
government to give visiting musicians similar tax breaks to those
being made available to visiting sports stars.
The demand comes in response to the government's decision to give
tax exemptions to athletes competing at this summer's London Grand
Prix athletics meeting. Non-resident foreign footballers playing in
the UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley on 25 May will also have
a tax-free dispensation, in accordance with a UEFA directive to
host countries.
Writing in an open letter to
The Telegraph, 35 managers and directors of UK orchestras,
venues, conservatoires and artist management agencies said:
'International tax conventions adopted by the British Government
arbitrarily treat artists and musicians as well as sportsmen and
footballers differently from other categories of taxpayer. However,
this is compounded by the Government choosing to exempt foreign
sports personalities from withholding tax, to encourage major
sports events to take place in Britain, while leaving in place an
aggressive tax regime for visiting musicians and artists.'
They added: 'Our major cultural events and festivals are no less
relevant than the Champions League Final or the London Athletics
Grand Prix. If we are seeking to establish a legacy from the 2012
Olympic Games, we should be doing all we can to sustain the legacy
of the Cultural Olympiad as well.'
The signatories represented orchestras including the London Mozart
Players, the Hallé Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra (pictured) and the Britten Sinfonia.
photo: Neil Pugh
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