It’s time to support the UK’s Touring Artists and Professionals!
Failure to include an EU-wide cultural work permit and visa free travel for touring professionals and artists will have a catastrophic impact on all touring art forms including theatre, dance, circus, visual arts and music.
There was a failure by the UK Government to secure an exemption or provision for those ‘on tour’ who, now we have left the EU, will be required to obtain work permits in each European country they visit. The need to secure permits and visas, in each country they visit, places an additional cost and unnecessary burden on a sector which is keen to get back on tour. It will, undoubtedly, have a detrimental impact on the UK public and performers alike.
Now is the time to ramp up the pressure on Government to return to the table and keep the show on the road for all creative touring professionals.
Carry on Touring is an umbrella campaign which all those who tour – and rely on touring - can support and sit under. This public facing campaign brings together voices from across the touring, cultural and creative industries sectors to secure cross-party support for Tim Brennan’s petition and campaign for the only realistic solution, a pan European EU visa and work permit waiver to be negotiated. The strength of this campaign is that it is inclusive reaching across the sector, industry and political parties.
Why is it so important that the UK Government negotiate a visa and work permit waiver with The EU?
Carry On Touring asked industry figures from across the creative sector "Why is it so important that the UK Government negotiate a visa and work permit waiver with The EU?".
We had responses from:
Andy Dockerty - MD - Adlib Audio Ltd.
Helen ‘Hells Bells’ Smith - Touring Production Co-ordinator.
David Knopfler - Recording Artist & Founding Member of the Dire Straits.
Stuart McPherson - MD - Specialist Trucking Group KB Event.
Catherine Martin - Freelance Violinist.
Stefano Serpagli - Founder & CEO - FUPP.
Tim Whelan - Musician with Transglobal Underground.
Debra Burns - MD - Boss Model Management.
Pat Fulgoni - Singer / Promoter / Producer
and introduced by:
Tim Brennan - Petition Creator & co-founder Carry On Touring.
Watch the responses below.
What can you do to support the Carry On Touring Campaign?
From as little as a £2 donation you can support our campaign to help creative professionals back to working / touring in the EU27.
All monies raised will be used to fund the campaign website and future Lobbying action.
We’re calling on those who want to support out campaign to Carry on Touring to donate to help us fight for hundreds of thousands of artists, musicians, dancers, models, technical and production crew, drivers and everyone else affected by Government’s failure to support our industry. Learn more
Creative Industry Supporters
The #CarryOnTouring industry supporters are companies and suppliers of the various sectors of the creative touring industry who are showing their support of the campaign.
If you would like to join us & show your support please contact us or follow @TimmoWorldWide on Twitter and send him a DM.
Comments
"Support for the petition has been phenomenal. Freelancers and touring professionals like myself desperately need MPs and the Government to fight our corner and re-negotiate the current Brexit deal for this industry. This is an issue that has a huge impact on my life and my ability to earn and pay tax through my work in an industry that brings pleasure to millions of people."
TIM BRENNAN
Petition Creator
It’s a pleasure and honour to be working with Tim Brennan and the Carry On Touring campaign at its head. In years of working at all levels of the creative arts industry I have never known such support for a cause, drawing in people from all areas of society and across political divides of all hues. The creative economy is at great risk, its vital the “engine room” of the creative industries , live touring is released from this new burdon upon it as soon as possible. New barriers are the last thing we need and we look forward to a time when the UK govt. and the EU can solve this pressing problem together.
Ian Smith
UKEARTSWORK
“Our music and creative industries have had a terrible time due to the Coronavirus pandemic and really the last thing they need are these restrictions and red tape on their ability to tour. The Government must get back around the table with EU and find a solution to this problem urgently. If musicians and creatives cannot tour Europe easily there will be a significant cultural as well as economic hit which we must avoid. The time for posturing is over, let’s back our creatives.”
Tracy Brabin MP
Shadow Culture Minister
“Clearly Tim’s petition has chimed a chord with the public and the many UK artists and professionals who tour in the cities and nations across Europe. To put it simply, failure to include an EU-wide cultural work permit and visa free travel for touring professionals and artists will have a catastrophic effect across all touring art forms.”
Gill Morris
Campaign Coordinator