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"We have government working groups whose membership is dominated by big cultural venues and institutions. This feels like the equivalent of oil companies dominating a task force to sort out our response to climate change". More voices from more communities should be heard, says David Jubb.

... the cultural task force has been set up "to aid sector recovery" and had its first meeting on Friday 22 May. I've not seen the minutes, have you?! Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden writes about the task force in today's Observer and calls for "innovative" solutions to get venues up and running: "innovative" is usually government speak for low or no cost solutions.
The task force has eight working groups including one on Entertainment and Events which meets for the first time next Thursday 28 May. The working group intends to "develop advice and guidance on the reopening of cultural venues across the nation". Participants include the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Really Useful Group, One Dance UK, Cadogan Hall, Association of British Orchestras, Nimax, Leeds Playhouse and The Royal Opera House. As far as I am aware there is no working group or representation for community based practice and for independent artists, practitioners and freelancers.
These recovery groups have been established against a backdrop of opinion pieces and interviews, in national press and media, with cultural leaders mainly from large building-based organisations or those who represent large-scale producing houses or production companies. They make a powerful economic and cultural case to save the sector. But there is a question which lurks, unanswered, behind every working group and every call for a rescue plan. Who gets to be rescued?.. Keep reading on David Jubb's blog

Full story

Time to change the story (David Jubb's blog)