Figures released by DCMS this week suggest that there has been a dramatic recent decline in the number of filled jobs in the music, performing arts and visual arts sectors in the UK. FMTW told The Stage, “The data and reports we’ve been gathering over the last three years consistently point to a widespread and multi-faceted retention crisis in the freelance theatre workforce, so these latest chilling statistics come as no surprise. Urgent action is long overdue to protect and support the UK’s world-leading performing arts sector, not just in terms of buildings and organisations, but the skilled and committed freelancers who create and embody the work itself.” Read the full article here.
We’ll be discussing these new statistics in more detail at our next regular meeting with DCMS, and keeping a close eye on how the situation continues to develop.