With growing concerns over the impact on jobs and the economy of the UK after leaving the European Union (a.k.a. Brexit), individual people, as well as businesses, want to know what plans are in the works to deal with the coming changes.
Dealing with post-Brexit environment
The Hon Robin Walker MP, Minister of The Department for Exiting the European Union, the leading government agency for coping with the coming changes, and Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, recently announced a meeting with a dozen arts and culture organizations to discuss what impact the UK exit from the EU will mean for the culture sector.
Cultural events and institutions such as museums and theatres were responsible for adding £27 billion to the United Kingdom's economy in 2015; that constituted 1.6 percent of the total United Kingdom GVA (Gross Value Added) for that year, so cultural activities are not just essential to the life of the nation but also an important economic force.
Culture, media, and sport
Culture Secretary Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP said in the January 11 government news announcement that the country will continue to be "outward looking post-Brexit, and promoting our world-leading arts and culture will be hugely important," going forward.
Brexit Minister
Ironic because of where the discussions were held Department Minister Robin Walker MP pointed out that just because the UK is leaving the EU it doesn't mean "we’re pulling up the drawbridge on the continent.”
Roundtable discussion
The meeting at Portcullis House included heads of the following cultural groups who participated in a number of discussions intended to explore priorities when dealing with the forthcoming Brexit negotiations:
Arts Council England
Heritage Lottery Fund
British Council
National Museums Directors’ Council
Museums Association
National Theatre
Royal Opera House
Science Museum Group
Association of British Orchestras
UK Theatre/Society of London Theatre
ONE Dance UK
Association of Independent Museums
Article 50
The negotiations are expected to begin in about three months when the Prime Minister activates the provisions of the Article 50 Treaty of Lisbon which outlines the procedures necessary when a country voluntarily leaves the EU..
