Arts jobs ‘non-viable’?
So far this year I consider myself to be very lucky with the amount of commissions I’ve been assigned. After meeting Toby Coles, professional trumpet player this all seemed all too apparent. 2020 has really been hard for creatives since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. With all the music and entertainment industry still in shutdown Toby has been forced to work as a delivery driver to pay his mortgage. Graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Toby is more accustomed to playing on West End Shows or with many of Britain’s best-known symphony orchestras.
Nearly half of UK musicians forced to quit industry amid coronavirus crisis
Musicians’ Union report also comes with a stark warning that 87 percent of musicians will face serious financial hardship this autumn and winter.A third of musicians are considering leaving the industry due to the financial repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, a report has found.
Anger has been mounting in the music industry at the suggestion that arts jobs are not “viable”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s most recent wage top-up scheme, aimed at “protecting as many viable jobs” as possible, can only be claimed by employees working a third of their usual hours. So, industries like theatre and live music that are still in shutdown or are unable to employ workers over the coming months, won’t receive any support. Toby was quick to react to the coronavirus lockdown crisis and sought a job delivering packages back in March. Working long days driving around Surrey delivering parcels for Hermes has only just about enabled Toby to pay his mortgage.
