Save our arts from disaster Julian LloydWebber and culture chiefs call for urgent regional plan
BIRMINGHAM’S world-class arts and theatre organisations need a reopening plan and millions of pounds to save them from imminent disaster.
That was the stark message to Government from sector leaders, politicians and unions, worried about how, and whether, some of the city’s most high profile venues will emerge from lockdown intact. MPs and arts campaigners say a clear road map out of closure needs to be set out quickly to restore confidence in the struggling sector or risk losing some venues for good.
Julian Lloyd Webber, head of the city’s world renowned Royal Conservatoire, questioned why the crippled sector was not yet allowed to open, while people were allowed to fly unhindered.
“Why is it safer to sit in an aeroplane for three hours, closed in with recirculating air, than to sit in a socially distanced concert hall or theatre?” he said.
“It makes no sense. The arts must not be an afterthought.”
The impact of the shutdown has already had a devastating impact on some of the city’s best known arts landmarks.
Worst hit are venues that rely most on generating their own income through ticket and shop sales.
Birmingham’s Town Hall and Symphony Hall, which are run as one body, became the latest casualty with half of jobs to go “in order to have a chance of survival”.
Birmingham’s Royal Conservatoire, its funding linked to its educational role, is not impacted in the same way as other organisations, said principal Mr Lloyd Webber.
But its future is inextricably linked to a thriving arts and cultural sector, he said. The impact on the Town Hall and Symphony Hall was “very sad”, he added.
“These are two of the finest concert halls in the world, and I speak as someone who has visited and performed in many of them. They are world class,” he said.
“The arts must not be an afterthought. We need clear guidance about what is allowed and when reopening can begin, without this we are in a mess. We need to see something very tangible and real, that organisations can plan around. We have got to see a plan for the region.”
“We cannot afford to let the uncertainty continue,” added Mr Lloyd Webber.
The news follows similar redundancy announcements from Birmingham’s Rep Theatre and Birmingham Hippodrome, which have each launched consultations.
Edgbaston’s Midland Arts Centre (MAC) is staying closed until 2021, cancelling its entire autumn and Christmas programmes. Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, whose venues include Thinktank science museum at Millennium Point, announced it could not reopen until at least September, despite the Government saying it could, because of the significant costs involved in becoming Covid-safe.
The Arts Council announced an urgent £160 million emergency fund to support the most critical culture venues this month.
The Black Country Living Museum (£1.1m), Performances Birmingham Ltd, which runs Town
Hall and Symphony Hall (£300,000), the MAC (£432,000), Birmingham Rep (£540,000) and the Hippodrome (£35,000) were among recipients, along with dozens of smaller projects.
An Arts Council spokesman said: “We are deeply saddened to see the impact in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands and to hear the news of planned redundancies at Town Hall Symphony Hall, Birmingham REP and MAC. Our thoughts are especially with those who are losing their jobs,” the Arts Council said.
“We remain committed to doing all we can to care for the people and organisations that make up the West Midlands amazing cultural ecology, who do so much to serve communities in towns, villages and cities across the region.”
Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery lost around £405,000 in just three months of closure. Meanwhile, Birmingham Royal Ballet chief executive Caroline Miller said the company was in relatively good financial health because of its funding model, but depended on flourishing venues to stage its “spectacular shows”.
“Our future is tied to the fate of our home theatres.
“If they fail, or are left in the position of only being able to put on limited – likely the most commercial – shows like the big musicals, then we will feel that impact. “We need the theatres to be successful so we have the settings for our spectacular shows.”
She added: “The Government need to tell us when socially distanced indoor performances can take place again, to give us enough weeks to plan, train and reach the exceptional standard people expect of us and to sell tickets.”
The arts must not be an afterthought.We need clear guidance about what is allowed and when reopening can begin Julian Lloyd Webber