Nearly one in three have seen job adverts asking for only EU holders to apply.
Despite assurances from the Government that work permit free travel for creatives would be a priority in the trade deal negotiations, creative workers were excluded from the list of occupations benefitting from such arrangements in the final trade deal when it was published in December.
Equity is calling for the immediate inclusion of all creative workers in existing arrangements or the creation of a separate creative visa.
Much of the coverage on this issue has been rightly focused on the impact on the music industry, but it will affect so many other creative sectors and workers including actors working in commercials, touring and English-speaking theatre, TV and film, dancers – in the commercial and ballet fields, choreographers, singers, opera performers, variety artists, theatre directors and designers, comedians, fashion models and many others.
In January Equity launched a survey to gather evidence on the impact of the past 12 months, including Brexit, on creative workers.
Initial findings from our survey of our membership include:
- 14% of Equity members have been asked by their agent to confirm if they are an EU passport holder for the purpose of finding work
- 31% of Equity members have seen job advertisements and/or casting breakdowns asking for EU passport holders only to apply
- 43% of Equity members report that the Brexit deal has negatively affected their confidence in being able to find work in the arts and entertainment industry.
We are campaigning for the immediate inclusion of all creative workers in existing arrangements or the creation of a separate creative visa.
