Latest news with #Dame Caroline Dinenage
The Independent
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
MPs call on Government to recognise live comedy as distinct art form
MPs have called on the Government to recognise live comedy as its own distinct art form to ensure the sector can access funding. It comes after the Culture Media and Sport (CMS) Committee held an evidence session on live comedy in April which found that, due to differences in infrastructure, workforce and audiences, the sector experienced significant restrictions when accessing funding bodies, including Arts Council England (ACE). In a letter to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), MPs called for the sector to be recognised as its own art form in order to be able to access more funding and investment opportunities. This comes days after the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world which has largely been cited as the event that helped acts make their break in the industry. The chairwoman of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: 'The gathering of performers and audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe showcases the tremendous impact live comedy can have on people's lives and the wider economy. 'But despite proving its cultural and economic importance across the country, a reluctance to see live comedy as a distinct cultural craft has hampered its access to the funding open to other performing arts. 'It's time the Government took the first step to helping the live comedy sector continue to deliver the huge benefits it provides by recognising it as a specific art form and properly engaging with the sector. 'There also needs to be more support for its workforce and a real focus on making sure that participation in and enjoyment of live comedy is something that is open to all.' In a letter addressed to culture minister Sir Chris Bryant, the CMS committee also laid out additional recommendations to protect the workforce including a voluntary scheme, similar to the grassroots music levy, for the biggest comedy venues, producers and promoters to commit to. It also called on the Government to work with funding bodies to establish an 'independent, accurate assessment of the size and distribution of the live comedy sector'.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MPs call on Government to recognise live comedy as distinct art form
MPs have called on the Government to recognise live comedy as its own distinct art form to ensure the sector can access funding. It comes after the Culture Media and Sport (CMS) Committee held an evidence session on live comedy in April which found that, due to differences in infrastructure, workforce and audiences, the sector experienced significant restrictions when accessing funding bodies, including Arts Council England (ACE). In a letter to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), MPs called for the sector to be recognised as its own art form in order to be able to access more funding and investment opportunities. This comes days after the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world which has largely been cited as the event that helped acts make their break in the industry. The chairwoman of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: 'The gathering of performers and audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe showcases the tremendous impact live comedy can have on people's lives and the wider economy. 'But despite proving its cultural and economic importance across the country, a reluctance to see live comedy as a distinct cultural craft has hampered its access to the funding open to other performing arts. 'It's time the Government took the first step to helping the live comedy sector continue to deliver the huge benefits it provides by recognising it as a specific art form and properly engaging with the sector. 'There also needs to be more support for its workforce and a real focus on making sure that participation in and enjoyment of live comedy is something that is open to all.' In a letter addressed to culture minister Sir Chris Bryant, the CMS committee also laid out additional recommendations to protect the workforce including a voluntary scheme, similar to the grassroots music levy, for the biggest comedy venues, producers and promoters to commit to. It also called on the Government to work with funding bodies to establish an 'independent, accurate assessment of the size and distribution of the live comedy sector'.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Young people more worried about bread and butter issues than trans debate
YOUNG people are more worried about bread and butter issues than racism and trans, a poll shows. Nearly 60 per cent of 18 to 30 year olds cited housing as their biggest barrier to getting ahead. 1 Followed by high taxes, a difficult job market and student loans. Sexism and racism were the least important barriers polled, selected as important by only 15 per cent of respondents. There was also net positive support for a cap on legal migration and banning biological males from women's sport, according to the Policy Exchange survey. Youngsters also agreed it is more important to speak the truth than avoid offence. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said it sent a clear message on the need to focus on the issues that 'bind us as a nation'. The findings of the poll chuck cold water over claims Gen Z want their politicians to focus on woke issues rather than the same bread and butter topics that other voters are concerned with.
