On Tuesday 11th August, Manchester is to be one of the only locations to hold a march in order to draw attention to the numbers of people and their livelihoods affected by the government closure of the events industry. #WeMakeEvents is taking action across the UK to raise awareness and shine a light on the imminent collapse of the UK touring, festival and events industry,
Such an integral industry to the social and cultural scene of the UK, it is on the cusp of losing a wealth of talent and expertise, with 114,000 jobs at risk. A major concern being that only 50% of these companies have capital to get them through the next 4 months – come the end of the year, these businesses will not be in a position to open.
Greater Manchester Production & Events Industry companies and freelances have come together to hold an event outside of London to support the campaign and show this is an issue across the UK. The Manchester music community is also pledging its support, with New Order, Doves, Mani and Blossoms helping raise awareness for the initiative and the march.
Julie Cotton, Production Coordinator for artists such as Massive Attack, Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Elbow commented: “We are making our voices hard for the UK live music, touring, festival and events industry. We are currently facing the potential decimation of the UK live music and events industry; the UK’s culture and entertainment sector is the envy of the world.
We need continued government support in order for us to survive. The industry by nature is unseen. Thousands of people were working every day to give the general public cultural experiences and moments they will never forget. This is no more. On Tuesday 11th August, the ‘behind the scenes’ backbone of the industry in Manchester are coming together, making themselves visible to ensure that until concerts, festivals and events are safe to resume they have the support they need from the government.”
The Manchester Music & Events industry march will stat at 12:00 (midday) on Tuesday 11th August. The march will include a flight case push across a designated route through the city – from Manchester Academy through to St. Peters Square – that will pass through iconic venues, that are currently shuttered. The protesters will be from all areas of the industry from Sounds Engineers to Security, Truck Drivers to Tour Managers, Cleaners to Crew, Box Office to Finance Staff, and anyone else that plays a part in a concert, festival or event.
The march will be compliant with Covid-19 safety regulations. This will include strict social distancing and hygiene procedures, showcasing the discipline and professionalism of the industry. #WeMakeEvents are also working in partnership with Music Support, a charity supporting those in any area of UK music industry suffering addiction, emotional or mental health issues.
