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Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol | Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Diwylliant a'r berthynas newydd â'r UE | Culture and the new relationship with the EU

The Committee is considering the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on the culture sector and would like to understand your views on the following:

Expected negative impact of Brexit for Welsh artists touring Europe had been highlighted by the National Assembly of Wales’ Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee 2018 inquiry.[1] Following a 2019 survey, 83% of the respondents from the Music and Performing Arts sector in Wales expressed concern about the impact of Brexit, while the whole creative sector presented worries about mobility for artists in Europe, access to funding and limitations in the labour market.[2] The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music in association with UK Music have claimed that “this free-flowing network between the EU and the UK is being choked by a range of restrictions red tape, on music workers looking to tour, on moving kit, and the restrictions on the trucks needed to do the moving, which were brought in by the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA)” (p. 10).[3] Our Media Cymru ongoing The creative and media industry survey for Wales 2023 includes an open question on the impact of Brexit. About 25 of the responses signal Brexit as a problem for their creative activities, five of which are presented here verbatim as examples of specific impacts on recruitment: “Brexit has meant it is harder to find staff especially at short notice”, “Brexit has closed down our EU recruitment channel”; and on the mobility of artists: “huge problems in freedom of movement as a performing artist, and difficulties in moving equipment across European borders due to new carnet policies”, “Brexit pretty much killed UK acts travelling to mainland EU” and “huge impact due to our international touring for example, productions in Europe”. These examples highlight how there has been a negative impact after the UK’s exit from the EU. 

Uncertainties brought about by Brexit had an impact on the relocation decisions to the European mainland for media,[4] and fashion[5] companies. The new trading arrangements have made it more complex, demanding, and costly to hire skilled workers from Europe,[6] importing and exporting art works,[7] and acquire relevant technologies. As mentioned above, personnel and equipment transport into, through, and from Europe has also become a difficult issue.

A recommendation for a “one-stop-shop” for advice and information on European requirements was already presented in the 2018 inquiry on the impact of Brexit.[8] The Arts Council of Wales currently provides a site that offers links to an Arts Admin document that provides this information, albeit last updated in November 2021.[9]  The Musicians’ Union provides an interactive flowchart to provide an overview of the requirements for UK musicians touring Europe.[10] PEC has recently issued a recommendation for a Home Office hotline that can help with clarifying visa procedures and support sponsoring processes for the hire of EU nationals.[11] There is a guidance for working, performing and touring in Europe available at Gov.uk, but the helpline for Export Support Services is no longer available.[12]

Changes in the regulation from EU State Aid rules to Subsidy Control which took place in January 2023, have impact upon programmes, like Media Cymru, which are administering public funds to promote innovation in the creative industries. The new subsidy control regulations with “the combination of a principle-based regime, the different levels of compliance requirements and the obligation for self-assessment presents some important considerations for public bodies, not least a potential increase in administration, more immediate uncertainty and a greater risk of non-compliance.”[13] Two of the survey responses also address this issue: “Brexit has removed funding streams that would have been beneficial for my R&D” and “there were more grants available to support what we do”. Red tape and lack of comparable funding is presented as main difficulties. 

Having administered UKRI R&D funding programmes under both the EU and the new UK Subsidy control rules, we have found the new subsidy control rules more bureaucratic than the EU legislation, while also placing a greater burden on companies. This would appear to be in direct contravention of the stated aims of Brexit.

The on-going negotiation with EU on a general agreement on cultural touring should continue[14] to ensure barriers are removed or, at least, further reduced.

The “one-stop-shop” mentioned above is still missing and would be valuable to help navigate the new rules and requirements, both for those touring through Europe and for those hiring EU citizens.