To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of impact of the increased cost of living on arts and music festivals in the UK in 2023.
Answered on
12 May 2023
Festivals are a vital part of the British cultural landscape, with the sector delivering highly valued cultural and economic activity across the UK. The UK’s festival sector is a world leader with festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading, and the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts all globally renowned.
We recognise that there are issues facing the festival sector, in common with other sectors, as a result of rising inflation and energy prices. We work closely with the sector and across Government to improve its economic resilience, as we did through the pandemic, and with the recent £18 billion Energy Bills Support Scheme.
We are pleased that the sector has reported a huge increase in availability and uptake of payment plans to festivals, with audiences able to pay by instalments each month. Festivals have also increased the number of months over which payment plans operate, helping to stretch out and reduce monthly amounts in order to maximise uptake.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to engage regularly with representatives of the live music sector, including organisations representing festivals, to understand the impact of the rising cost of living and other pressures. In March, for example, the Secretary of State held a round-table meeting with representatives from across the live music sector to hear their concerns directly, to inform the Department's future work.