January 16, 2017

The Government says that the cultural sector, including museums, galleries, and arts, contributed £27 billion to the UK economy in 2015, making up 1.6% of total UK GVA in that year.

Culture Secretary, Karen Bradley, and Minister for Exiting the European Union, Robin Walker, met senior leaders from 12 representative organisations for the arts and culture sectors, including the Arts Council England, the British Council, the National Theatre and the Museums Association, to hear their views on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and what it means for their members.

The meeting was part of a series of roundtables, aimed at finding out the priorities of a wide range of sectors before negotiations to leave the EU begin.

Negotiations to leave the EU will begin once the Prime Minister triggers Article 50, which she has said she will do by the end of March.

The Government says that it has committed to protecting the status of EU nationals already working and living in the UK. The only circumstances where that would not happen would be if the rights of British citizens living in EU states were not protected in return.

Karen Bradley said: “Arts, museums and heritage are not only a fundamental part of our national identity, they make a significant contribution to the UK both culturally and economically. We will continue to be an outward-looking country post-Brexit, and promoting our world-leading arts and culture will be hugely important as we champion the UK abroad in the coming months and years. This meeting, and the series of roundtables I am chairing attended by key representatives from our sectors, will help ensure they have a strong voice as we prepare for negotiations to exit the European Union”. To read the Government’s press release in full, click here.