FEU statement on no deal for creative industries
The Federation of Entertainment Unions is deeply disturbed to hear that proposals for special travel rights for the creative workforce were turned down during Brexit negotiations.
The Federation of Entertainment Unions represents more than 100,000 writers, journalists, musicians, performers, entertainers and creatives.
The Federation of Entertainment Unions is deeply disturbed to hear that proposals made during the Brexit negotiations which would have offered special travel rights for the creative workforce we represent were turned down, with both sides seemingly proposing solutions that were rejected by the other negotiating team. The creative industries are one of the fast-growing parts of the economy worth more than £111bn to the UK.
The arts and media do not exist within borders and the failure of the government and the EU to come to an agreement on this matter will severely hamper the ability of creatives to continue to carry out business and collaboration with EU states.
The creative industries have been devastated by the pandemic and the failure to agree a deal that would have played an important role in revitalising the arts is a major blow. As it stands, touring in EU states for UK artists will require costly administration and time-consuming bureaucracy.
Likewise, media organisations need to be fleet when following news and investigative stories and not bogged down with the need for visas and other bureaucracy. The FEU asks the UK government to review this arrangement – signs from Michel Barnier appear to suggest the door is still open.
The FEU is also calling for the government to reverse its decision to scrap its £12m funding of England's Union Learning Fund which supports more 200,000 learners in workplaces across England and importantly offers one of the very few opportunities for freelances to have access to free training, professional development and acquire business skills.
Take action
- Petition: Let Touring Musicians Travel: Support Musicians Working in the EU Post-Brexit
- Petition: Reverse the cuts to union learning petition: