There is an excoriating interview with Elton John in today's Observer on the treatment of British artists as a result of Brexit. By artists he means musicians, dancers, actors, film makers, the crews and stage hands, the model makers etc etc etc.
The following is the final paragraph.
“People like me can afford to go to Europe because we can get people to fill in the forms and get visas done, but what makes me crazy is that the entertainment business brings in £111bn a year to this country and we were just tossed away. The fishing industry – which they still fu..ed up – brings in £1.4bn. And I’m all for the fishermen, but we’re talking about more than a hundred billion pounds of difference here, and we weren’t even thought about! ‘Oh well, the arts: they don’t matter.’”
He is right that huge amounts of money are brought into the UK from the arts and I doubt that he's including the money brought in by tourism.
The UK has a world class cultural heritage - our museums are amongst the best and they are often free. People have been denigrating the National Trust recently because of some of its attitudes but where else can one see wonderful houses , contents and their gardens. Here in France there are very few chateaux that are fully furnished because of the destruction during the Revolution and later, the world wars. There are very few houses of any age in America although they do have some amazing gardens and also museums, which charge high admission fees.
As for our musicians - when they are touring they will sell out large arenas for several nights - even the oldies. Perhaps more than the young ones. Take a look at Bryan Ferry Live in Lyon - Nuits de Fourviere - still rocking at 70 (at the time of those concerts)
The current govt is cutting back on arts education and I can only think that it is because many people see this as just for the metropolitan elites. Which it isn't.
, and the government are always happy for anything to distract from the reality of the Brexit deal.Happy Birthday - 100 years on Earth
