- In the decade leading up to 2015, London lost 35 per cent of its grassroots music venues and 58 per cent of LGBT+ venues [1].
- In 2019, London was home to 52 LGBT+ night-time venues, 94 grassroots music venues, 263 theatres, and 165 museums and galleries [2]. These extend far beyond the famous large cultural attractions in central London, with many venues rooted in their local communities.
- Local authorities have cut spending on arts and culture, which has reportedly impacted smaller organisations more than larger ones, and there is a risk that this is exacerbated by diverting government funding for the arts away from London.
- The wider sector could also be impacted by Brexit, as it has historically been reliant on EU labour and easy access to EU markets through touring [3].
- The arts and culture sector as a whole was severely impacted by the pandemic. Smaller organisations with fewer reserves are likely to have been hit particularly badly [4].
As part of its investigation into ‘Culture off the beaten track’, the London Assembly Economy Committee will tomorrow hold a roundtable with representatives of small cultural organisations and grassroots culture in London.
This is the second part of the Committee investigation following a meeting on June 15, where guests highlighted a lack of public visibility, security of tenure, cost of living and diversity as some of the key challenges facing the sector.
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE VISIT BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT
Location: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN
Date and time: Wednesday, 13 July 10am to 12pm
The following will be available for interview after the roundtable:
- Hina Bokhari AM, Chair, London Assembly Economy Committee
- Pallas Citroen, Managing Director, The Bomb Factory
- Florence Schechter, Director and Founder, The Vagina Museum
- Jonathan Ashby-Rock, Artistic Director, The Arts Centre
- Aileen Gonsalves, Artistic Director, Butterfly Theatre
- Rosie Thackeray, Theatre Director and Trustee, Tramshed Theatre Company
Notes to editors
- Culture for all Londoners: Mayor of London's Culture Strategy, Mayor of London, December 2018
- City Hall launches cultural map of the capital to protect and support London's venues, Mayor of London, 19 March 2019
- Brexit: impacts on the arts and culture, UK In A Changing Europe, 6 April 2021
- Redundancies after one year of Covid, Museums Association
- Hina Bokhari AM, Chair of the Economy Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Economy Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Lisa Lam in the Assembly Media Office on 07795 616 902. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.