.@CommonsDCMS evidence session on the impact of COVID-19 on theatre and live music is on now! Starting with evidence from @uk_theatre. Find out more and watch live > musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2020…
.@uk_theatre has three asks of Government:
• the workforce, extending support and closing gaps in SEISS
• theatre recovery, including the thousands of small companies that make up the sector, and
• safeguarding the industry for the future
• the workforce, extending support and closing gaps in SEISS
• theatre recovery, including the thousands of small companies that make up the sector, and
• safeguarding the industry for the future
.@julianpbird notes that donations for streams of theatre productions so far is "remarkably low", making creating a show and putting it on for the sole purpose of being filmed is too expensive without additional support in the long term #SupportOurTheatres
"Christmas for theatres is absolutely essential, it’s a time when most theatres are at maximum capacity... it’s the lifeblood for most theatre across the country" - @julianpbird and @KevinBrennanMP discuss the potential impact of a cancelled Christmas on regional theatres
“All the work, live work, studio work, orchestras, everything just fell off a cliff... It’s had a devastating effect on the profession” - MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge on the impact of COVID-19 across the music industry @CommonsDCMS 
“So much of our industry is dependent on audiences” explains Horace - and we don’t know when audiences will be able to go back. Our industry has unique needs, which other countries are recognising through Government support.
“The #SEISS was a real lifeline for a lot of our members. The Government Job Retention Scheme was useful a well. What we’re asking the Government for is an extension of those schemes for our sector... to keep people in our profession” - MU Gen Sec Horace Trubridge @CommonsDCMS
Add your voice to our call! Write to the Chancellor @RishiSunak to close gaps in the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and ensure no-one is left behind by Government support > musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2020… #NoCreativeLeftBehind
“We’re calling for a full investigation into the streaming problem & where the money is going, because it’s not going to the musicians pockets for sure” - MU Gen Sec Horace Trubridge @CommonsDCMS
Sign the petition to #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive >>> change.org/p/the-rt-hon-o…
Sign the petition to #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive >>> change.org/p/the-rt-hon-o…
“The record labels are worried about the venues. They have to be because that is where the new talent comes from. It’s the breeding ground, the nursery for the talent of tomorrow" - Horace Trubridge explains the value of grassroots venues #KeepMusicLive
"If they [venues] are not functioning then we have a real hiatus in the traffic of artists from the bedroom to the record deal to a festival stage to Glastonbury. That’s the road artists go on, and now we’ve got a great big chunk of that missing" - Horace #KeepMusicLive
On any potential return to work, Horace emphasises the need to asking the question of the health experts; “I have to emphasise the safety and wellbeing of my members is of paramount consideration. That has to be. And, of course, audiences"
musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2020…
musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2020…
"The problem is for some time now that music has been something you do because you love it. You invest so many years in your craft and what you do. But the rewards are so low. Most of my members receive less than £20,000 for music" - Horace on why Government support is vital
On Government support, Horace highlights the German model as an example. "This is what I think we need to do in the UK” Horace tells @CommonsDCMS. The model supports different areas of the industry including venues, orchestras and theatres ⬇️
"Somebody talked about outreach. Our wonderful orchestras do masses of outreach. They are in care homes, schools, prisons, they are in hospitals helping patients... All of that stuff has stopped. That’s a great loss to society, not just to the music world” - Horace #MUmoment
Thanks to @CommonsDCMS for having us at today's evidence session! Stay up to date with our latest COVID-19 advice and campaigns at themu.org/coronavirus or sign up to our regular update at themu.org/community
Find out more about what a return to work could look like and some of the discussions going on behind the scenes >>> musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2020…
Next up is @CarolineNorbury of @Creative_Fed, highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on apprenticeships, which bring new people into the creative industries and upskill people already there. They want more flexibility to keep these going.
“There’s not enough money, and what money there is can’t be used as flexibly” - @CarolineNorbury makes the case for #artsfunding. With that, we've come to the end of today's coverage of @CommonsDCMS! Sign up to our regular no fear, no fuss updates for more themu.org/community
