MPs have told the UK government that it should “prioritise securing practical solutions to reduce barriers faced by UK touring artists” at the next UK-EU Summit, which is currently scheduled for next month.
But that’s not all ministers could be doing to tackle the issues Brexit created for performers touring the European Union. MPs also call for further bilateral negotiations with individual EU states, as well as new government-led schemes to provide support - possibly financial, definitely practical - to those artists, musicians and crews who are currently navigating the post-Brexit challenges.
These demands are set out in a new report from Parliament’s culture select committee. Introducing that report, committee Chair Caroline Dinenage MP says “this is not about renegotiating Brexit, it’s about addressing the issues that weren’t covered off in the first place and finding new ways to support our touring artists”.
In terms of putting pressure on EU officials, Dinenage continues, “we heard clearly that there is strong demand for our talented performers from audiences across Europe, so it is in the interests of both sides to work together to find a solution”.
Stressing that it’s not just about negotiating with the EU, she then adds, “the government can also do much more at home to reduce the burden on touring performers and provide them with the advice and support they need to shine on the world stage”.
The committee’s report organises the various issues created by the UK leaving the EU into three main categories. First, that UK performers must navigate different visa and permit rules in each EU country. Second, that there are new costs associated with moving instruments, kit and merchandise around the EU, including the need to secure carnets. And third, there is new bureaucracy relating to transport and logistics, aka cabotage rules.
All of these issues were entirely foreseeable when Brexit occurred - and were raised by industry representatives at the time - but they were not dealt with by the post-Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU. Hence why solutions are needed now.
In May last year, following a previous UK-EU Summit, the UK government and European Commission said they both “recognise the value of travel and cultural and artistic exchanges, including the activities of touring artists”, and would “continue their efforts to support travel and cultural exchange”.
However, MPs note, the industry representatives they spoke to “reported no evidence of follow-through” since that statement was made, and that “problems they had consistently raised since Brexit remained unresolved”. That’s despite relevant industry organisations from both the UK and the EU coming together to form the Cultural Exchange Coalition, to work with officials on addressing the issues.
Welcoming the new report, UK Music CEO Tom Kiehl notes that “this month marks ten years since the EU referendum”. The vote for the UK to leave the EU, he adds, at first created “uncertainty for the music industry”, and then a “disaster of a deal between the UK and EU which totally forgot the needs of touring musicians, performers and cultural workers”.
Kiehl thanks the committee for “taking this crucial moment to reinforce the importance of touring the EU”, before adding, “we look to the government to respond positively to their recommendations, uphold its manifesto commitments to sort this out and continue to work with Cultural Exchange Coalition to build a better foundation for a greater future for creativity across the UK and EU”.
MPs make a number of recommendations in their report, including that ministers should “explicitly address arrangements for short-term touring, extended stays, customs barriers and cabotage rules” at the next UK-EU Summit, which is meant to happen next month, though could as yet be pushed back to the autumn.
“In the absence of a UK–EU deal for touring artists”, the MPs continue, “we recommend the government use bilateral relations with member states to seek cultural agreements”, addressing those issues that can be solved on a country by country basis.
Plus, “the government should update us on its unilateral activities to support UK artists working and touring in the EU”, which could include subsidising the cost of carnets, and should definitely involve providing performers with better information about the admin that is required when touring the EU.
MPs add, “we recommend that the government establish a cultural touring advice hub” that offers “practical, expert advice to artists and their teams on all aspects of international touring, including in the EU”, adding “this should be in place within the next twelve months”.