The Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan is “light on action” for the performing arts sector, the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Caroline Dinenage has warned.
The plan, published on Tuesday (23 June), sets out the aim of nearly doubling business investment in the sector by 2035 – from £17bn to £31bn – in a bid to “cement the UK’s position as a global creative superpower”, and comes with £380m in new funding.
A significant amount of that is going towards the development of new technologies and support for the film and video games sector.
Dinenage said that while she welcomed a number of the measures, including the appointment of a freelancer champion, the plan is “light on detail” when it comes to action and investment in some areas.
‘Vital talent pipeline’
Dinenage cited fashion and publishing and “crucially the small and independent performing arts sector, which acts as a vital talent pipeline for production further up the chain”.
“It’s crucial that the government has a comprehensive strategy in place that allows the creative industries to unlock their full potential and drive innovation and growth for years to come,” she said.
“The question is whether the plan – branded as a direct response to what the sector says it needs to thrive – is ambitious enough and truly addresses the many challenges we hear are faced by the talented people working across the creative industries.”
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will question arts minister Chris Bryant on the plan at an evidence session being held on 8 July.
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre said that while the government’s designation of music, performing arts and visual arts as one of the UK’s “frontier industries” with high growth potential is positive, there are “no new interventions to address the sector’s most pressing challenges”.
“Theatres are facing rising costs, ageing infrastructure and workforce challenges. Addressing these pressures must begin with a renewed commitment to creative education in schools as the foundation for closing the sector’s growing skills gap, alongside capital investment in theatre buildings as part of the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy.
“We look forward to further discussions with Government on how best to realise the potential identified in this Plan – ensuring theatre continues to thrive and lead as part of the UK’s creative future.”
Freelancer champion
Freelancers Make Theatre Work said the establishment of a freelancer champion role is the realisation of something that has been called for over the past five years.
“While we are pleased to see it finally acknowledged, important questions remain about the scope of the role, what powers it will carry, who will be appointed to the role, and how the freelance community will be involved in shaping it,” the organisation said.
“The plan also includes commitments to strengthen rights and protections for freelancers, including work on tackling late payments, ensuring contracts are issued, and improving health and safety support for the self-employed. These are longstanding concerns for freelancers, and if delivered well, these changes could make a meaningful difference to people’s working lives.”
While the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) also welcomed news of a freelance champion, it said “serious questions” remain around copyright and AI.
“This plan covers the next decade, a decade when we will not just see the march of AI, or charter renewal for the BBC, but a whole host of challenges we have not yet dreamed of,” WGGB general secretary Ellie Peers said.
“As ever, the devil will be in the detail, and it is vital that this government stays true to its pledge to protect and nurture the creative industries and the workers who power it. Listening and engaging with WGGB and other trade unions, as the Government has done here, is the most important thing it can do.”
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