01 June 2020

Renewing our future through the power of our past: Working with the region's rich heritage and creative sectors can be instrumental to our recovery

It's hard to believe we've been in lock-down for 10 weeks. The initial shock, panic and fear, then announcement of the Coronavirus Job Retention (CJR) scheme and business support grants and yet still we have many businesses falling through the gaps in government support. The Chancellor's statement on Friday gives some further clarity for which some will be grateful but there are details still to be worked through and no mention of sector deals for hospitality, culture and leisure - where social distancing will be a serious issue for many months, if not years, to come.

 

My background is in arts and heritage. I work for Brighton Dome & Festival as Deputy CEO (although currently on a period of furlough, along with the majority of my colleagues) and am about to take up the Chair of Sussex Past as well as being a non-exec Director of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Unsurprisingly, my interests lie in the power of arts and culture to enrich and change lives. And of how we need that now, more than ever before.

 

But will our third-sector still be there when we need it most? Research by the Creative Industries Federation shows only half of the UK's arts organisations surviving past the end of June. Income has evaporated, the majority of staff teams are furloughed, and many industry freelancers are in distress. Hundreds of leading artists including Simon Callow, Rufus Wainwright, Stephen Fry and Jonathan Pryce are appealing to government not to let the UK become a cultural wasteland. The Nuffield Theatre in Southampton is one of the first National Portfolio Organisations to hit administration and there's still fear many will follow.

 

Yet I know the sector is not alone. I think of my local dental hygienist for example, still appealing for equal treatment under the business support grant scheme, and the no doubt numerous examples of distress across all sectors.

 

Specifically in the creative and tourism sectors there's much concern things will worsen still, as the CJR scheme starts to fade and we try to come out of lockdown with so many remaining uncertainties. What is the virus going to do? What are the public going to do? How do we do this safely? Surely hospitality in PPE can't work? Will there be a second wave? How do we lead the way yet risk getting it wrong?

 

Most bars, clubs and restaurants need 80% capacity to make money. At Brighton Dome our concerts and performances run on tiny margins even at full capacity. Artists and promoters cannot entertain (pardon the pun) playing to only 25% houses - yet social distancing is likely to be with us for a long time to come - leaving the majority of events simply unsustainable. More widely, our third sector/not-for-profits typically run on very small margins, many without historic reserves or personal shareholders who can step in to help.

 

Of course, we're all asking if we're looking at a V shape recovery, a W shape or U/bath shape, the fear being just which way around that bath shape may be. It's likely of course to be different for different sectors and it's those who are prepared to innovate, be bold and explore new things who will be able to hopefully pull us through and even find ways to flourish.

 

One thing is certain, we will not be returning to the previous 'norm' or indeed anything close, at least for a very long time. I know many are pushing for more guidance but it's increasingly clear this government wants us to make decisions at local level and figure much of this out for ourselves. With our local authorities and central government as facilitators, let's hope we can get the thinking going and create the recovery and future that we all deserve.

 

But there's an increasing change in the mood and I hope others are feeling it too. The great British spirit, the camaraderie, the examples of working together as renewal plans start to take shape. Whichever way I looked this week, colleagues were forming partnerships, writing grant applications, sharing support and exchanging knowledge.

 

I was invited to attend a roundtable discussion with Simon Clarke MP (Minister for Regional Growth & Local Government) and Paul Scully MP (Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets). I asked about sector-specific approaches to exiting the CJR scheme. Both talked about the importance of local decisions at local level and the role of regional LEPs to drive recovery. Minister Clarke particularly saw a huge opportunity for the tourist sector in demonstrating how to stay local. Let's hope government can find a way to legislate for that and enable us to make it a genuinely attractive offer.

 

I joined a Creative Industries Federation LEP update with Cambyse Jafari-Pak, Head of Place and Levelling Up Strategy at DCMS for an open discussion about rebuilding and an advocacy update from Creative England. I was keen to stress the importance of ensuring levelling up wasn't simply a drain on one part of the country to aid another; citing the decline in the Coast to Capital economy these past 20 years after the focus moved north. On a positive note, there is clearly much work being done to actively and directly lobby government, with online opportunities giving 'up close' access to those in positions of influence.

 

Brighton Dome is looking at future hybrid models - and how we might partner with smaller venues to deliver in-person and online experiences within social distancing requirements. As part of the Brighton 5G testbed, we're pleased to be bidding to the DCMS 5G Create fund through a consortium of national partners in the digital, music and technology sectors.

 

Coast to Capital is clearly as active as always in facilitating discussions and lobbying directly to government. Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership is launching sector-specific sub-groups to discuss joint approaches, including one dedicated to the visitor economy. And a recent Platf9rm event sparked a consortium of arts and heritage organisations to discuss what a really vibrant staycation offer might look like.

 

I see tourism, arts and heritage as central to our Regional Recovery Strategy. The Coast to Capital area boasts such a plethora of fabulous offers for our residents to vacation at home and stay local. From the glorious South Downs (where our regional 'enjoyment' scores are always high), to the largest roman villa in Britain at Fishbourne Roman Palace near Chichester, we have Arundel Castle and the beautiful gardens of Wakehurst Place to name but a few. Mix these wonderful spaces together with Sussex's rich quality and tradition in food and drink and spice it up with our world renowned arts and creative sector and surely we have a recipe for one of the most exciting regional tourism initiatives in the country.

 

Are there some early signs? Well when Sussex Past opened its café in Fishbourne last week, residents flocked to take a picnic rug along, buy a coffee and an ice cream and simply sit on the freshly mown lawn, enjoying a real sense of community. Visit Britain are creating a common industry quality mark to provide a 'ring of confidence' for tourist attractions and destinations to reassure visitors there are clear safety measures in place and hopefully confidence will grow. There are some top Health and Safety webinars demonstrating how events can be delivered safely and our local authorities have a key role to play in facilitating initiatives, such as extending pavement licences where restaurants and bars need wider use.

 

It's to our heritage and creativity that we typically turn in times of crisis and how surely this has been demonstrated online these past weeks. Locally, we've enjoyed both Brighton Festival and Charleston Festival 'At Home' and our regional music services are teaching over 3,000 children online. Looking more widely, I've personally been attending the Hay Festival from the comfort of my own living room - the Hay team securing thousands of participants from across the globe, offering virtual access to those treats normally reserved for audiences in the beautiful Wye Valley. Monty Don reading Wordsworth from his garden being a particular highlight - and yes, he is just as good an orator as he is a gardener!

 

If you would like some ideas for what to engage with online over the next few weeks, here are a few suggestions:

 

 

We hear, not only of the economic crisis, but also of a national mental health crisis coming out of lockdown - so I hope we can find ways for our arts, heritage and NHS resources to come together to help protect wellbeing and deliver creative mental health initiatives. The Cultural Renewal Task Force is welcome news, as is the inspired appointment of Neil Mendoza to lead it. Given his financial experience coupled with his heritage, film and technology interests he is well placed to demonstrate how our creative and cultural sectors really can drive their own and the UK's social and economic recovery.

 

Now is not the time for territories or boundaries. It's a time to keep talking, to continually share ideas and push for support. To be agile, be flexible but also decisive, and let's not be afraid to try new things.

 

Here's to staying safe, staying local and working in partnership more than ever before.

 

Amanda Jones

 

Coast to Capital Board Member

 

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