Covid-19

The night-time cultural economy has lost 86,000 jobs due to Covid-19, 15,000 of them in culture and arts events.

Defined as a third party providing events, the night-time cultural economy has suffered more than the wider night-time economy and the out-of-home leisure economy as a whole.

A new report from the Night Time Industries Association says the culture and arts subsector - museums, galleries, theatres, music venues and cinemas - had grown faster than other parts of the night time cultural economy, accounting for nearly 200,000 jobs in 2019.

However, it lost £36bn in trade over the 18 months to June - more than 100% of its pre-pandemic value.

This section of the economy contributes 1.64% of GDP, "but also to the health, well-being and sangfroid of the population as a whole," the report says.

"It is felt quite strongly that the night time cultural economy bats much higher than just its economic contribution."

Vaccine passports for large events in Scotland are off to a rocky start after the country's Health Secretary urged people to ignore them.

Hamza Yousaf told door staff to allow entry without certification the first weekend the system became mandatory.

Venues will not face penalties for non-enforcement until October 18 after a "grace period" was introduced at the last minute.

Thousands experienced glitches with the app, prompting an apology from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

"The problem was not with the app itself but with the NHS systems that it links to," she said.

Arts professionals returning to England after working abroad need not self-isolate.

The exemption for workers returning from amber but not red list countries has been reintroduced. An initial scheme was suspended in January.

Organisations must submit an application to Arts Council England on their worker's behalf, and the worker must carry a signed copies of the application and their exemption letter with them at all times.

The Musicians' Union said the amount of information and time needed to get an exemption was prohibitive.

"Any last-minute gigs that musicians often accept means they may well have to self-isolate on return to the UK regardless."

Northern Ireland is set to remove a one-metre social distancing rule in all settings bar hospitality.

The move will be welcomed by theatres and music venues, which had complained the restriction was financially unviable.

On Monday (September 27), the country's Executive decided instead to rely on guidance and mandatory use of masks in cultural spaces.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Chief Executive Roisin McDonough said it was "an important step forward" and "a very positive sign that the wider arts and culture sectors in Northern Ireland are now on the journey to recovery at last".

"I know all those working in and around the arts sector will continue to enact every safety measure needed to welcome back audiences, they have been much missed."

Venues are being asked to ensure attendees are fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative lateral flow test; however there is no legal mandate.

Indoor concerts are allowed, though people must be seated.

The change of policy will take effect at 6pm on Thursday (September 30).

Swansea Council has opened a £50,000 Cultural Fund to help its local arts and culture sector bounce back from the pandemic.

Swansea-based freelancers and organisations working in arts, culture and heritage can claim up to £1,500.

"We know that with lost income and more pressure on audiences' purses than ever, the costs of staging events or concerts will be daunting for some local groups. This is where we think we can help," cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said.

"Swansea's cultural community is crucial to keeping our city strong and our residents fit and healthy."

To apply for funding, applicants must email the council and return a completed application before October 31.

Data from the last quarter of 2020 has revealed Tate Modern to be the most visited museum in England last year.

The museum attracted 160,814 visits from October to December - whilst coronavirus restrictions were still in place - pushing the The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum into second and third place respectively.

Altogether, it welcomed 1.43 million people in 2020 despite the pandemic closing institutions for several months.

National Museums Liverpool was the only museum outside London to feature in the top 10, placing seventh.

Data collated by DCMS shows 1.27 million people visited museums across the country in the last three months of the year, a 84.7% decrease compared to figures from 2019.