Published
Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 14:20
- The #LetUsDance campaign calls for clarity where nightlife has not been explicitly included.
The UK nightlife community is pressuring the government to include clubs and festivals in the £1.57 billion pandemic arts support package.
When the "one-off investment in UK culture" was announced earlier in July, there were few details available on which parts of the arts and culture sector will be eligible for financial support, which includes £880 million dedicated for grants and £270 million in loans. While reaction to the measure was optimistic, some venues and promoters also expressed concern that the details might not bode well for nightlife organisations.
While it appears that theatres and concert venues will be able to access the pandemic relief, clubs and festivals have not been explicitly included in early stage information on the package. The #LetUsDance campaign, organised by the UK Night Time Economy & Events Sector, which also led the initial #LetTheMusicPlay push for financial support at all, is urging the government to commit to clarify that clubs and festivals will receive relief. In addition to joining the social media initiative, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) wants people to contact their MP to ask them to support providing financial support for the dance music industry. (Find more information on the NTIA website.)
"We are keen to gain assurances from DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] and government that dance music venues and nightclubs will be eligible to apply for the funding and that it will not be reserved purely for venues like the Royal Albert Hall and the West End," NTIA CEO Michael Kill says. "The UK is home to a rich and diverse range of institutions, all of whom should be fairly entitled to this investment."
Roni Size is also putting his support behind the campaign: "Clubs are being forgotten and the discussion on festivals remains unclear. WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT! I want to see you back on the dance floor soon."