UPDATE: If the Arts package isn’t administered properly we will still see unnecessary job losses and closures

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs, responding to the Arts funding package announced on Sunday evening, said:

“The Arts funding package announced by Oliver Dowden is both necessary and extremely welcome – Bectu and others across the industry have been calling for this crucial support for some considerable time now. However having had a day to digest the announcement and the headline numbers one thing is clear – if it isn’t administered very quickly and directed to those organisations most in need we will still continue to witness unnecessary job losses and more closures in the sector.

“Many theatres are already consulting on redundancies and they and their workers will be anxiously awaiting the detail of the package and crucially that consultation will not be halted until organisations feel confident that the funds will be available to allow them to continue to financially support their workforce. We cannot forget about the hundreds of regional and local theatres around the country which are vital cultural hubs in their communities. The package must be directed at them too with the aim of preserving jobs and cultural diversity as well as protecting theatres in the West End of London.

“The only way to avoid those potentially irreversible redundancies is to immediately get that vital rescue funding to the places that need it most. If we have to wait several more weeks it will be too late for many. The creative industries contribute billions to UK GDP and so this timely investment will form a crucial part of rebuilding the economy for the future.

“We mustn’t forget that we have still heard nothing from the government on the plight of the forgotten freelancers who have received nothing so far to help them through this period. Bectu will continue to lobby the government to fix this appalling oversight.”