The Carry On Touring campaign started in February 2021 with a petition from freelance video technician Tim Brennan, campaigning for a pan-European EU visa and work permit waiver to be negotiated for touring creatives, to keep tours moving round Europe after Brexit.
The campaign brings together voices from across the touring, cultural and creative industries sectors to secure cross-party support within Parliament to stop people touring Europe from having to obtain separate work visas for each country they visit — something already having a detrimental impact on tours, and one that could strike a catastrophic blow to an industry already battling the challenges of the pandemic.
Carry On Touring supporters include David Knopfler, founding member of Dire Straits, broadcaster Andy Kershaw, music author Sheila Chandra, songwriter Fish and tour manager Chris Markland, who's worked with the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Rudimental and Meatloaf.
"The Government's failure to negotiate an EU-wide permit for touring creatives is already having a devastating impact on the careers of artists and their crews at home and in Europe. Everyone from truck drivers to musicians have been affected, and whilst the challenges of Covid have masked the gravity of the issue up until now, we're now seeing real problems occur for touring creatives."
"We're working on behalf of these creatives but we need support to keep putting pressure on the Government. Now is the time to stand up for creatives and get tours back on the road."
So far the campaign has:
- Gained 286,794 signatories for Tim Brennan's petition, debated in Parliament
- Held a UK/EU Summit with hundreds of attendees from across Europe
- Sent an open letter with 1,135 signatories to Brexit Minister Lord Frost
- Leveraged cross-party support and received backing from high-profile politicians
- Brought together every part of the creative industry to speak with one voice
- Engaged with groups across the EU including Impala, UNI-MEI, Cross Border Services, Pearle, FIA and Vibelab
- Built an Information Hub of resources for the industry
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