The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, which was published last month focuses on ‘eight growth-driving’ sectors including the Creative Industries. SOLT & UK Theatre have responded to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper and used this opportunity to ask the UK Government to consider the following key points:
Theatre’s Unique Role
- Theatre contributes significantly to place-making in towns, cities, and rural areas, with its buildings serving as cultural and skills generation hubs.
- Beyond performances, theatres deliver impactful outreach programmes and generate substantial local economic benefits – for every £1 spent on a ticket, £1.40 is generated in the local economy.
Barriers to Growth: The theatre sector faces critical challenges, including:
- Insufficient relief to stimulate research and development activities.
- Limited access to finance.
- Skills gaps and workforce shortages.
- Aging infrastructure requiring investment, with no sustainable funding mechanisms currently in place.
Strategic Alignment
- To maximise the impact of reforms, the Industrial Strategy, Skills England Strategy and Curriculum Review must be aligned.
- SOLT & UK Theatre have also responded to the Curriculum and Assessment Review: Read our response.
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