The Creative Industries Federation is offering a six-month membership, free of charge – here’s why, if you’re a smaller creative organisation or freelancer, you need to sign up
The coronavirus crisis has had an unprecedented impact on the worlds of fashion and culture. As towns, cities and entire countries have gone into lockdown, cultural events have been cancelled and cultural institutions have been closed – many indefinitely – leaving creative workers and creative organisations especially vulnerable. This is why we’ve launched a #CultureIsNotCancelled campaign on AnOthermag.com, devoted to championing culture in this age of social distancing.
The Creative Industries Federation – the membership body that represents the UK’s creative industries, which collectively contribute £111.7 billion to the economy – is also working, tirelessly, to support their members during this time.
They are doing this in a number of ways: from communicating their members’ concerns to the government and calling on the government for support, to ensuring its measures (for example, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) can be utilised by creative workers and creative organisations, and seeking additional support for venues – such as museums and galleries – which rely on on footfall, audiences or participation.
This week, the CIF has announced that it is offering a six-month membership, free of charge, particularly encouraging smaller creative organisations and freelancers – who are the most vulnerable at this time – to sign up, receive relevant news and updates relating to this crisis, and to have their voices heard.
“The creative industries are being hit hard by the fallout from Covid-19,” says Caroline Norbury, CEO of the Creative Industries Federation. “With theatres, venues, museums and galleries closing, film shoots being postponed and festivals being cancelled, many creative professionals are facing an uncertain future.”
“Creativity is an intrinsic part of the UK’s cultural identity, and one of the things that the country excels at globally,” she continues. “The creative sector will also be critical to driving the UK’s economic recovery – and transforming lives for the better in every community – as we re-build.”
“For our sanity, our culture and our sense of shared experience, it is imperative that we shout from the rooftops that Culture Is Not Cancelled, and that creative professionals are protected and supported through this crisis.”
The creative industries are facing a period of unprecedented challenge and change, but culture itself has never been more vital. As Dazed Media’s CEO and co-founder Jefferson Hack wrote in an open letter published on AnOthermag.com on Sunday, “alongside the humanitarian crisis, we must also recognise the very real economic crisis that has put our creative industries on a cliff-edge for survival.
“The implications for Culture with a capital C are devastating, but with your support, your action, the guidance of our industry bodies like the BFC and the CIF, and campaigns like AnOther Magazine’s #CultureIsNotCancelled, we can hopefully work together to preserve our country’s position as a world leader in creativity and cultural production.”
Head here to sign up for a six-month membership to the Creative Industries Federation, free of charge.
