Over 300 cultural organizations have criticized Boris Johnson in an open letter condemning his "absence of a clear plan" for post-Brexit European touring.
And end to visa-free touring across Europe since Brexit has alarmed many touring musicians who will now need to obtain costly visas and work permits if they plan to perform in the EU. The new regulations on movement between the UK and the EU have raised concern for UK artists who heavily rely on touring for their income before the pandemic, and may not be able to do so easily now that lockdown restrictions are loosening.
The signing organizations include the Musician's Union, UK Music, Featured Artists Coalition, BPI, and the BBC. Coordinated by the Incorporated Society Of Musicians (ISM), the document urges the Prime Minister to take measures to ensure the free mobility of artists following the completion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The letter arrives a month after the UK Council Of Music Makers expressed similar concerns over UK musicians' ability to tour in Europe after Brexit and is excerpted below:Senior leaders in our sector have had numerous meetings with civil servants, where we have presented a range of workable solutions. However, we are extremely concerned by the lack of progress which has been achieved over the last three months to unravel the mountain of costly bureaucracy and red tape which now faces the creative industries.
You stated that the Government is working 'flat out' with individual EU member states and we understand that the immediate focus is to improve their guidance around entry and work requirements. However, this by itself is not sufficient to deliver frictionless mobility for our sector which was a commitment during the Brexit negotiations.
The letter goes on to propose four solutions. A bespoke Visa Waiver Agreement (VWA) with the EU for those within the touring sector is suggested, as well as a negotiation of bilateral agreements with European countries than don't offer cultural exemptions for work permits and an emergency funding package to subsidize artists with new touring costs. Finally, the letter calls on the government to mitigate the harmful impact of road haulage and cross-trade rules on the industry since Brexit. According to ISM, these restrictions have made it difficult for UK touring companies—which are responsible for 85 percent of all tours operated in Europe—to plan pan-European tours.
Read the letter in full here.