{"id":10507,"date":"2020-06-26T13:54:48","date_gmt":"2020-06-26T12:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk\/?p=10507"},"modified":"2020-07-02T18:13:29","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T17:13:29","slug":"a-road-map-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk\/a-road-map-response\/","title":{"rendered":"A road map with no details, is not a road map"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you one of 34 million people who enjoy theatre every year? If so, please read on...<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Like everyone in our industry I welcome the statement finally issued by DCMS last night and their proposed road map for the arts: https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/stage\/2020\/jun\/25\/government-publishes-roadmap-for-englands-theatres<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

However, it is infuriatingly vague. Every usable road map at least has distances and some detail. This has virtually nothing to work with.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stages are helpful, but to be honest it is what we have all already been talking about. There are no workable timelines, dates, audience numbers, advice for front of house provision, details for rehearsals, let alone details of any vital strategic financial rescue packages (unlike those made already in Europe).<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, this feels like a half-thought out reaction to a very real and pressing crisis for our sector. It is the continuation of a vacuum of info, advice and help from UK Government, that we are having to work in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our sector is on the brink of collapse. That sounds dramatic but it's true. It\u2019s not a question of if, sadly it\u2019s now a question of when. Some 300,000 people work in the arts, 70% of them are freelancers. There is a vast eco-system that also extends beyond the stage, including tech companies and box office systems, hospitality and catering supply businesses, printers, haulage firms, advertising agencies\u2026 the list is very long. <\/span><\/p>\n

Put simply, the arts industry is not an \u2018add-on\u2019 to our society; it is core part of it, and financially more than plays its part:<\/span><\/p>\n