As part of the Creative Industries Federation’s new #OurWorldWithout campaign, it is inviting creative organisations and professionals to call on the government to protect the UK’s creative industries
A new survey of over 2,000 creative organisations and freelancers conducted by the Creative Industries Federation (CIF) – the membership body that represents the UK’s creative industries – has revealed that just one in seven creative organisations believe they can last until the end of April on existing financial reserves, while only half think they can last beyond June.
“With theatres, venues, museums and galleries closing, film shoots being postponed and festivals being cancelled,” says the CIF, “more than half of creative organisations and individuals have already seen a 100 per cent drop in income.”
This is devastating news, not only for the individuals who work for these organisations, but for the country as a whole – the UK’s creative industry collectively contribute £111.7 billion to the economy.
And that’s just the economic cost. Writing in an open letter, published on AnOthermag.com, Dazed Media’s CEO and co-founder Jefferson Hack wrote, “our creativity is important because without it we cannot dream or imagine new futures. Without fashion we are literally naked, a nation without identity – so what will we be left with when the crisis is over?”
Yesterday, the CIF launched a new campaign called #OurWorldWithout, which seeks to champion the crucial role that creativity and culture play in our society. As part of this campaign, it is asking creative organisations and professionals to sign this open letter to the government, calling on it to protect the UK’s creative industries by providing urgent funding.
It is inviting people to get involved in other ways, too: from providing a quote about the role of creativity and culture in society or recording a short, 10-second video selfie on the topic, to customising its campaign graphic and simply promoting the campaign itself on social media.
Of course, the challenge is huge – but, as the CIF says, “we have an opportunity to change government’s mind, and to make a huge and important difference to the way that the creative industries are supported at this distressing time”.
Sign the Creative Industries Federation’s open letter to the government here.
Update: This letter was sent on 27 April, with 400 signatories. Thank you to everyone who signed.
