Our affiliate the Creative Industries Federation is the membership body that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries. They released a statement this week telling us what they are doing to support the creative industries through this current situation. 

 “Our world-leading creators and creative industries bring meaning, joy and prosperity to our citizens, but it’s clear that our creativity and problem-solving abilities are going to be substantially affected by the ongoing Coronavirus emergency. This is a rapidly evolving, unprecedented situation, and we’ve been listening carefully to your concerns. I am writing to let you know what action we are taking to support you and our sector through this uncertain time.” said Caroline Norbury, CEO of Creative Industries Federation and Creative England.

See below a list of their current actions:

• Ensuring that your concerns and challenges are quickly and accurately communicated to government. We are in regular dialogue with key Whitehall departments, devolved governments, City Hall in London and local and combined authorities across the UK. Many of you have already shared your statistics, experiences and worries with us, and we’ll be consulting members regularly in the days and weeks to come. Please complete our latest snap survey here as soon as possible.

 

• Seeking additional support for creative organisations reliant on footfall, audiences or participation, following government advice to avoid mass events and cultural venues. Government needs to guarantee that no business will go bust and introduce new measures to back up this guarantee. We made a clear statement this week and you may have heard our Board member, Tamra Rojo, on Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning. We are liaising with the relevant trade bodies in our sector and actively seeking information from members about the impact and implications for your organisation and the freelancers you work with.

 

• Calling on government to increase and extend its support to all self-employed workers. Government must substantially increase its Hardship Fund, announced in the Chancellor’s Budget, for freelancers whose income is affected by loss in work. Freelancers should not have to choose between their income and their health. We are additionally working with our freelance community to ensure any negative impacts on home life and mental health are mitigated.   

 

• Ensuring that measures introduced by government can be fully utilised by creative businesses and organisations. Government is introducing a support package to help banks respond to cash-flow pressures. This intervention now needs to be stepped up, quick to implement and easy to understand. We will be working closely with the British Business Bank and the banking industry to ensure creative organisations are able to access this much needed support. 

 

• Working with members to develop solutions, share insights and signpost support. Many of our sector’s trade bodies, unions, sub-sector organisations and others have issued tailored advice that we will continue to share via our social channels, newsletters and website.

 

Please share your latest guidance, experience and concerns with Creative Industries Federation using their dedicated mailbox: feedback@creativeindustriesfederation.com