Why musicians are rallying against Brexit
mainFrom Aliye Cornish:
‘Musicians need Freedom of Movement to survive. Touring bands like Led Zeppelin and Queen began with European tours. No promoter will carry the burden of the extra cost of a work visa, and neither can the artist. It’s the same for classical musicians, composers, actors, dancers and all freelancers.’
The words of Dame Sarah Connolly CBE, who will be rallying with a display of solidarity from musicians across the spectrum on Monday, from noon at Parliament Square in London. The government’s own Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport estimates “a major increase in the value of the UK’s creative industries from £94.8 billion in 2016 to £101.5 billion in 2017. Jeremy Wright MP says: ‘Our creative industries not only fly the flag for British creativity but they are also at the heart of our economy.’ As British composer Howard Goodall puts it “100s of 1000s of people’s work depends on their being able to work some or all of the time in the EU. That’s what their businesses do & have done for decades. Without the ability to take your van of goods/skills/whatever & work in the EU they have no job, no livelihood. Some of those people are musicians. By & large they are not rich or famous or an ‘elite’ but ordinary folk with a sellable skill. Right across the creative & services sector of our economy the same inescapable reality is true.”
Many UK bands, orchestras and choirs leave to tour the EU on and after March 29th 2019. At this point they still don’t know if they will have to apply for visas (a costly exercise for small organisations) or if the current rules will still be in force. The current Withdrawal Agreement suggests that Freedom of Movement will be lost for subsequent generations, which will inevitably deplete the contribution that this sector makes to our economy year on year. The last word goes to Dame Sarah:
‘Imagine Womad or Glasto with no new acts, or the entire classical music industry bankrupted by visa costs as our young musicians have no chance of working abroad. Let’s keep the doors open for them and remain leaders in our field.’
Amen to that.
London is full of statues that honour heroes from the past. People that are remembered for having done the right thing at the right time. I wonder who is going to be immortalized in the same way in relation to Brexit.
It’s a good question for a referendum.
Both Queen and Led Zeppelin toured in Europe before we joined the EFTA. I’m a Remainer, but using those two bands as an example just makes our protest look stupid.
I thought the same. And surely British Orchestras toured before the UK joined the EU (or whatever it was called at the time)
@MartiG and Anon: Exactly. If that’s the most potent argument available to keep freedom of movement then it’s a pretty poor show.
The current prophets of doom want us to believe that the UK was a banana republic before the Maastricht Treaty… 3:)
would that be a straight banana republic or a curved banana republic?
Yes, but since then times have changed and systems are now in place (both tax and visa)that simply didn’t exist 50 years ago! EU membership means that working in the EU as a freelance musician generates no more paperwork than working in the UK. Double taxation systems …blah blah blah…not to mention the EU initiatives for young artists that generate collaborations that young brits will now be barred from taking advantage of. Leaving the EU will be like wearing clamp-ons or a straightjacket.
Exactly, that was my first thought! How did they do BEFORE (sighs)…
All possibly true, but the time for making the case against Brexit was before the referendum. Presumably all those now protesting voted?
Exactly. Funny how the only times “democracy is in danger” for these sort of people is when they didn’t get what they want. The vote happened. Move on.
Orchestras from other countries have learned to deal with it. The UK will have to too, unfortunately.
Here we go again ! Lebrecht likes to espouse the same old nonsense ! Who cares!!!
Of course the big rock bands will still tour, but orchestras might find it especially difficult. They tour on extremely tight budgets, with 80-100 musicians and instruments to transport every day, sometimes between countries. Even a seemingly tiny or insignificant change in circumstances could make not viable, or even impossible.