When ITV shared their latest interview with Rishi Sunak – the leading line: ‘musicians and others in [the] arts should retrain and find other jobs‘ – the arts world would react furiously. Though it wasn’t a reaction of shock. Those making a living from the creative industries have been the others for a long time.
So why the Tory contempt? Perhaps it’s their recent obsession with starting make-believe culture wars; against remainers, universities – even against those daring to call out racism (who’d have thought!). A surge of populism has brought far-right, nut-job conspiracies against any place that leftwing ideology still exists into the mainstream.
The arts is one hotbed of such thought, which unfortunately means it is subject to being pissed on by the shower of bastards leading the country. Although ITV quickly deleted their tweet on the grounds that it was misleading, the summary of the chancellors words was to be reiterated a further two times in as many weeks via Health Minister, Helen Whately and the Tory PR team.
Talk about salt in the wounds, ey?
There is a distinct confusion between those in the creative industries and those ultimately responsible for their fate; the beauty in art and culture is the emotion it evokes. The who, what, where of it brings individual responses. A song may mean one thing to those playing, and another to those listening. An image is perceived differently through the photographers lens than it is on a gallery wall.
But that is the issue.
No-one enters this industry with the prospect of great wealth. Those in the sector recognize that their field is often fruitless – which is why so many work other, ironically-named ‘gig-economy’ jobs on the side. No, this is an industry built on passion, and one whose primary benefit is not simply making the line go up.
This, therefore, is a foreign industry for a xenophobic government. It’s passion over pounds (although its £111.7 billion contribution to the economy should be enough to convert any neolib knobhead). Few were surprised when business secretary, Alok Sharma told those in the events sector to ‘get a better job‘, or when Sunak’s olive-branch of self-employment income support didn’t apply to thousands of people in the arts; these aren’t proper jobs to the Etonian elite.
To decide these jobs are not ‘viable’ demonstrates a complete ignorance towards what arts and culture actually represent. Not only does it present a career for thousands, but is also a centre for community – something that reduces social isolation – a recognised cause of various mental health issues that cost the UK economy over £105 billion last year. Studies show levels of subjective wellbeing are higher with those who engage with arts and culture. It is a hobby. An interest. It is the foundations of friendships, relationships.
It is a truly wondrous thing.
As venues close down and livelihoods are lost, Sunak and his mates will still have their central London homes. They can drive to Barnard Castle or break social distancing rules with no worries of consequence. For our musicians, artists, photographers – every person that has spent years honing their skills in the arts sector – that is not a liberty. They didn’t fuck up the nation’s response to this pandemic, and they certainly don’t need to suffer as much as they are.
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