Renowned British independent Film Actor Ayvianna Snow Speaks Out About The Terrifying Future Of The UK Arts Scene

British independent film actor Ayvianna Snow (Lola, Wrath of Dracula, How To Kill Monsters, Barun Rai And The House On The Cliff) has spoken out about the 'terrifying' future facing the UK arts scene. She says the number of theatres closing is frightening and that the government's lack of arts funding is at odds with the UK's perception of being a leader in the field of arts and culture.

"The number and pace of theatre closures continues to be a genuine concern; in 2023, Oldham Coliseum closed, a theatre that opened in 1885— in 2022, Hampstead Theatre, a new writing hub, lost funding. Where is new writing meant to go? Birmingham Council is cutting 100% of its arts funding, impacting Birmingham Rep, Birmingham ballet, opera, and the dance festival will be lost. The Hope Theatre Islington will be shutting after 11 years, and the Donmar Warehouse lost funding. The Bristol Old Vic will potentially lose funding this month, too."

Ayvianna, who attended drama school in Manchester and is now Chair of Equity's North London branch, was a regular at the Oldham Coliseum as a student, taking the opportunity to watch performances and learn her craft. She says she worries about how few opportunities there are now for students in the North to witness professional theatre. Additionally, with world-renowned theatres like the Donmar Warehouse and Theatre Bristol unable to stay open, what hope is there for small fringe venues?

The UK considers itself a World leader in arts and theatre, but notably, at just 0.4%, the UK government contributes less than half of what many other European countries earmark for the arts (1%). In context, our entire UK arts budget is less than the budget for the city of Berlin.

Snow argues that she is not suggesting funding comes from struggling UK workers but that significantly, the money is there, with banks like NatWest recording record profits in 2023 and British Gas reporting a tenfold profit increase.

She says "I don't accept the false narrative that the funds don't exist; the funds are there, and it's a political choice how that money is spent. If you look at local authorities' arts budgets, you can easily be mistaken into thinking the budget is more robust than it really is. Sports, religion and even local playgrounds all come under the council’s banner of 'Arts', which is deliberately misleading."

Meanwhile, Equity research shows that for every £1 spent, the arts generate £4 to the local economy via hotels, restaurants and bars. Arts & cultural activities are the third biggest income generator in London after retail and banking and shows like War Horse have been sold worldwide, generating huge income.

Ayvianna, as part of the TUC Creative & Leisure Industries Committee, is one voice of many voices calling for the UK’s spending on arts to be increased to 1% of government expenditure to match the European average.

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