The Conservatives have shown over the last 10 years how little they care for the arts

Is it too much to ask, writes Katy Brand, for the government to treat the cultural industries with more respect?

Roger Daltrey (left) and Elton John have both spoken out against the visa situation (Getty)

Last week it was revealed that esteemed conductor Sir Simon Rattle would be leaving his post at the London Symphony Orchestra at the end of his current contract, and moving to Germany full time to take up a position with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

There are various reasons for this, including wanting to spend more time with his family who are based in Berlin. But he also cited the impact of Brexit on the arts as one of his concerns. He is considered by some to be the greatest living conductor in the world. It’s not surprising that he wants to work in an environment that is the most conducive to making great work. And when it comes to the creative industries, the freer artists are to move around and collaborate, the better the outcome.

So, that’s a blow, especially for those of us who felt proud that such a person as Rattle chose to base himself in London. But it underlines a point that’s been bubbling away for some time, and was exposed when we recently discovered that Boris Johnson had turned down the offer of visa-free travel for working British artists and musicians within the EU.

He then further demonstrated his ignorance not only of his own deal, but also of the actual concept of “work” when he told a parliamentary select committee that musicians still have the “right to go play in any EU country for 90 out of 180 days”. That the prime minister apparently doesn’t understand the difference between working abroad as a professional musician and a hobby is telling. Perhaps he thinks everything is essentially a hobby. He certainly acts like it.

But it’s not just Johnson. The fact is the UK has now had over a decade of Conservative governments who don’t seem to understand anything about the arts at all. It wasn’t always the case – being a Tory doesn’t necessarily mean you always prefer the picnic to the opera at Glyndebourne. There have been many Conservative lovers and backers of the arts – glorious benefactors, we used to call them – over the centuries. But we seem to have got stuck with a bunch of absolute philistines since 2010, and it’s starting to show.

In 2012, when David Cameron was prime minister, he memorably gave the British film industry a bit of advice. He suggested that we should be making “more commercially successful films”, and referenced The Artist as an example – a black and white silent film made in France. It was that year’s huge and unexpected hit. And the genius Cameron had noticed this, and had something to say about it.

Now, anyone who works in film knows that the “huge unexpected hit” is pretty much the holy grail. No one sets out to make a flop. To take a risk on a low-budget quirky number, such as The Artist, and then watch it rise and rise is what every producer is looking for. But there will inevitably be flops. It’s unpredictable. In the words of esteemed screenwriter William Goldman, when it comes to filmmaking, “nobody knows anything”.

But at least we are trying. Which is more than can be said for the current Brexit-flavoured philistines we have in place. Cameron suggesting the British film industry “make more hits” seems a distant and happy dream at this point. At least he wanted a British film industry in the first place, or even an arts industry at all.

Now, not satisfied with keeping everyone who works in entertainment on our knees throughout the Covid-19 crisis, dragging their heels over clear instructions and support, excluding three million freelance workers, we find that Brexit will put mountains of paperwork in the way of European tours. That will affect everyone from roadies to rock stars. It’s such a colossal mistake that even prominent Brexiteer Roger Daltrey – who previously told Sky Arts that Brexit “had nothing to do with the rock business” – understands the problem.

Given that the British arts and creative industries bring in more than £100bn of revenue to the UK every year, is it too much to ask for the government to educate itself a little over how the whole business actually works? It is not a hobby. It is not a frivolous and expendable waste of time.

The presence of people such as Sir Simon reflect well on the nation as a whole, even if you are not a fan of classical music. Please, Boris Johnson, work harder to keep him. And the rest of us.

Katy Brand is a writer, actor and comedian