Report of the Strategic Lead Policy and Partnership and Director of Culture attached

This report provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on the City’s cultural sector.  It outlines access to local and national financial support for the sector and the gaps identified in the assistance needed for the cultural economy.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Lead Policy and Partnerships and Director of Culture (Home Manchester), which provided an overview of the impact of COVID on the City’s cultural sector, outlined access to local and national financial support for the sector and the gaps identified in the assistance needed for the cultural economy.

Key points and themes in the report included:-

·                The sector faced unprecedented challenges as one of the last industries able to reopen on a financially viable basis;

·                The industry was reliant on a highly-skilled, flexible but vulnerable freelance workforce that had been severely impacted by a loss of business;

·                A Manchester Culture Recovery Plan had been developed with a wide range of partners and stakeholders and a COVID Culture Recovery Board had been established to lead the city’s response to the pandemic and aid the sector’s recovery;

·                Cultural partners had responded creatively to the crisis with many seeking new and digital solutions to engaging audiences and participants;

·                There were a number of initiatives to assist businesses, support freelancers and deliver reopening strategies at a local and national level;

·                Emergency assistance had been made available by Arts Council England and the Government had put in place a Culture Sector Recovery Fund for England; and

·                There was evidence that the current level and means of support available would be insufficient to sustain the sector for the duration of the continued period business disruption.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committees discussions were:-

·                The Cultural sector had a foundational importance to the future of the city in its ability to shape the identity of Manchester and ability to attract and retain people;

·                It was pleasing to see in the request for support from Government that this included support for individual freelancers and sub-contractors;

·                Without significant government support to sustain this industry there was a real risk that the city would not be able to sustain the industry;

·                It needed to recognised by Government that Manchester’s cultural sector had been struggling pre-COVID due to the years of cuts in public funding streams and the redirection of funding to schemes in London;

·                Inclusivity of the sector need to be looked at as part of the recovery plan;

·                What consideration, if any, had been given to the use of empty assets within the sector;

·                There was concern about the loss of smaller cultural venues that had happened during COVID and what landscape was needed to be created to allow new venues to emerge and have a chance of surviving;

·                Consideration needed to be given to broadcast media, including radio, as part of the recovery plan;

·                Was there any thinking around how greater security and stability could be afforded to those freelance jobs within the cultural sector; and

·                Government needed to recognise the high quality provision of skills and training that Manchester provided for those wanting to or already working in the cultural sector.

The Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure advised that it was paramount that Manchester and other Core Cities approached government as one voice when making the case for funding.  He also acknowledged the difficulty the sector had faced resulting from the removal of funding streams which in turn, had made the sector move to an income generation model which had been severely impacted by the restrictions brought about by COVID.

The Committee was advised that it was testament to the prudent financial management and good governance or cultural organisations that Manchester had not seen a more severe impact to the sector.  Many organisations were now however, seeking cultural emergency funding to help support them to the end of March 2021 and the concern was how these organisations would survive past March 2021 if the restrictions related to COVID were still in place.

The Strategic Lead Policy and Partnership commented that a working group of UK Core Cities was being established with representatives of northern core cities to lobby government on the support needed around the hospitality, leisure and culture sectors.

The Committee was informed that an emerging cultural workspace plan was in development as it was acknowledged that property prices would have an impact on the ability of creative practioners to find affordable workspaces and there would be a need to be live to the needs of grass roots venues to try and support them appropriately.

The Executive Member for Skills Culture and Leisure supported the point made around the need to provide greater security and stability for those working in freelance roles within the cultural sector.  It was commented that the crisis had highlighted how valuable the creative ecology of freelances and artists was to the city and cultural offer and how precarious and vulnerable those individuals were.

The Director of Inclusive Economy concurred with the point made around the need  to recognise the high quality provision of skills and training that Manchester provided for those wanting to or already working in the cultural sector and alerted Members to what further provision was being made.

Decision

The Committee notes the report.