UK: Responding to the UK government’s announcement on March 16 advising that members of the public should avoid social gatherings, Caroline Norbury, CEO of the Creative Industries Federation and Creative England, has issued a statement criticising what many in the sector have deemed a damaging half measure.
“The advice issued by government today is a crippling blow to the UK’s creative industries,” said Norbury. “As the social distancing measures announced this afternoon are only advisory, rather than an outright ban, we are deeply concerned that creative organisations and cultural spaces will find they are unable to claim compensation for the huge losses they will experience as a result of COVID-19.
“Public safety remains the top priority for everyone in the creative sector. However, these measures have the potential to devastate the UK’s theatres, museums, cinemas, venues and other cultural spaces reliant on audiences, visitors and participation, as well as the huge array of creators and freelancers who work within these industries. For the sake of our £111.7 billion creative industries, it is vital that government puts in place support to ensure that our world-leading creative sector is able to survive COVID-19.”
