LIVE has welcomed the UK Government’s new Creative Industries Sector Vision, which has promised £77m in new funds.
The document was published last week, and features the expansion of Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music Venues Fund, providing an additional £5m over two years to support around 400 grassroots music venues projects.
LIVE, the industry trade group for live music, said it has engaged with ministers and officials across Whitehall for months.
In a statement, LIVE recognised three main goals within the vision document, including to grow creative clusters across the UK, adding £50bn more in Gross Value Added (GVA), building a highly skilled, productive and inclusive workforce, and maximising the positive impact of the creative industries on individuals and communities, the environment and the UK’s global standing.
Commenting on the vision, LIVE chief executive Jon Collins said: “The UK’s live music sector is the envy of our friends across the globe. However, in the face of increased energy costs, supply chain challenges, and difficulties faced by touring artists, performers and their crew, the true potential of the sector is currently being limited. The extra funding announced today to support music exports and grassroots music venues is welcome and, alongside work on skills, sustainability and investment, will help our live music sector go further, faster.”