Responding to a panel of speakers, including Sadlers Wells’ Executive Producer Suzanne Walker, Culture Minister Ian Murray said that the UK government was fully committed to removing the barriers to EU touring that are making theatre touring across the EU challenging for UK theatre companies.
At the inaugural event of the Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC), in Brussels on Wednesday (March 24), Minister Murray said:
“There’s very much a will to try and find a way through this – and to do it as quickly as we possibly can.”
“Cultural exchange is hugely important not only for us to tell our own stories but also tell each other’s stories, to learn from each other. If we lose that, we’ll be much diminished particularly with the geopolitical situation at the moment.
“There are forces out there that want to retell the story and culture gives us the way in which we maintain our history and tell the story about today and the future. So, there’s a full commitment from the UK government to try and resolve these issues.”
SOLT & UK Theatre Co-CEO, Hannah Essex said:
“There is clearly a business case for improving opportunities for British companies and artists in the EU. But there is also a social and cultural imperative. It’s hearts and minds”.
“In these divisive and challenging times culture can be a bridge – an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes. And in a time where some of our other international relationships have got more turbulent and unpredictable, breaking down the barriers to this cultural exchange in Europe is more important than ever”.
Anita Debaere, CEC Co-Chair and Director of Pearle*-Live Performance Europe, said: “Meeting colleagues from across the EU and the UK was a powerful reminder of the value of cultural exchange. We look forward to continuing a dialogue on cultural relations between the EU and the UK.”
MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski said: “Culture has always been one of the strongest bridges between societies. This event will reflect on the importance of connections. I am very happy that the UK will be part of Erasmus Plus for 1 January next year, I hope we can achieve the same with the Creative Europe programme.”
Lord Brennan of Canton said: “It has been refreshing to hear that both the UK and the European Union want to make touring easier for creatives. The Cultural Exchange Coalition is leading the way in finding solutions and the talks we have been having in Brussels are a source of hope for the future.”
Baroness Bull said: “There is now clear evidence that the failure to include provision for touring artists and crews in the post-Brexit arrangements means artists and audiences across the entirety of Europe are missing out: not just on the cultural, social and economic benefits of intercontinental touring, but also the artistic and technical innovations that arise from cultural exchange.
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