We have joined forces with 34 other cultural organisations from across Norfolk & Suffolk to propose a 5 Point Plan to support the Arts & Culture sector following the devastating impact of Coronavirus. Please see the plan here with details of the arts organisations endorsing it and presenting it to the government. The plan seeks to support arts and culture in the region in its widest sense, with a particular focus on performance, acting as a pathway for everything from large-scale theatre to community singing workshops.
The plan was co-authored by Stephen Crocker (Chief Executive, Norwich Theatre), Chris Gribble (Chief Executive, National Centre for Writing) and Natalie Jode (Executive Director, Creative Arts East) on behalf of the sector in Norfolk and Suffolk who commented:-
“The risk to the future of arts and culture in our region and in our country is real and increasing by the day. We are being forced to make devastating decisions. Our sector has delivered so much to the economic and social prosperity of our country and region and we have a vital role to play during recovery but we need urgent investment and support before the damage done to our artists and organisations becomes irrecoverable and we are not here on the other side of Coronavirus.” Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive of Norwich Theatre
“Through books and TV, music and Netflix, online and offline, culture and entertainment was a lifeline for us all through lockdown. As things ease we need to ensure that everyone is able to make, take part in and access life affirming and transformative cultural experiences to bring us together. Arts and culture are central to the community and economy of this region and if we don’t invest, we’ll all lose out.” Chris Gribble, Chief Executive of National Centre for Writing
“The arts and cultural sector across this region is many and varied, ranging from large-scale commercial presenting houses to unseen community development programmes, and everything in between. This infrastructure and the ecosystem of freelance workers it supports is under significant threat. In May 2020, only 30% of surveyed organisations in this region had enough to secure themselves for more than 6 months. In a moment when we are wrestling with an entire loss of income generation pathways, including box office and project funding, and unknown timescales and safety measures for cultural gatherings of all shapes and sizes, our sector desperately needs short-term parachute and longer-term renewal investment to keep this critical asset from falling off a cliff and able to play a role in the regeneration of our society”. Natalie Jode, Executive Director of Creative Arts East