Leamington dance company Motionhouse weighs in on EU cultural touring deal "disaster"

One of the UK’s busiest touring dance companies Motionhouse has joined growing calls for the government to go back to the drawing board with the EU on taking UK culture to Europe.
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The Leamington-based company is also calling for urgent action to help smaller independent performance companies disentangle the red tape now involved, which puts European touring - and possibly the future of some companies - under threat.

Like most arts companies, Motionhouse is already facing the challenge of rebuilding after Covid-19.

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But despite the devastation of the pandemic, under the current conditions it says Brexit will have a deeper and more lasting impact.

Motionhouse Dance CompanyMotionhouse Dance Company
Motionhouse Dance Company

Louise Richards, Co-founder and Executive Director of Motionhouse: “The failure to include an EU-wide cultural work permit and visa free travel for touring professionals and artists in the deal between the UK and the EU will have a catastrophic effect across all touring art forms - theatre, dance, circus, visual arts and music.

"Additional costs will even affect large companies, but will take a huge toll on small to mid-size touring companies - the mainstay of UK regional arts.

"How this issue is resolved will have a fundamental effect on our viability as an international touring company, and our ability to continue creating world-class work here in Warwick District to take around the UK and the world.”

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In 2018/19 and 2019/20 , Motionhouse toured seven shows to 33 theatres and festivals, performing 125 times in 13 European countries generating just over £280,000.

Motionhouse Dance Company performing at Vitsoe's HQ in Leamington.Motionhouse Dance Company performing at Vitsoe's HQ in Leamington.
Motionhouse Dance Company performing at Vitsoe's HQ in Leamington.

In 2017 and 2018 the company, whose artistic director Kevin Finnan was choreographer and movement director of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was also commissioned to create and deliver large-scale outdoor events in Denmark and Romania, generating a further £140,000.

Louise said: “Under current conditions, it is impossible to imagine how we will be able to do this now.

"The paperwork and cost involved will reduce our ability to be responsive to demand.

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"Over the past 15 years we have built up a strong network of European promoters and festivals, but we risk losing these if they look to EU artists to avoid the complexities of working with the UK.”

In the short term, one of the biggest challenges Motionhouse is facing is finding the information the company needs in order to do business.

Louise said: “Each EU country has different rules for third country nationals working, and we are currently spending huge amounts of time trying to find out the information we need about requirements for work permits.

"Unfortunately, we are finding conflicting information and advice, and even country embassies themselves are unable to give us clear information.

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"Therefore, we are unable to proceed with confidence with any of our European partners.

"We are already in discussion about 56 performances at 20 venues in 11 EU countries to the end of 2022, so it is urgent for us that we find a solution.

“Without the ability to tour in the EU with ease, at best we will have to drastically reduce our European touring, severely affecting our income; at worst the future of the company and our dynamic vision, extensive touring and contribution to UK culture will be at threat.”

Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western, who has been in contact with Motionhouse in recent weeks about the Brexit touring deal snub, said: “The devil was always going to be in the detail of the Government’s UK-EU Future Trade Deal.

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"What we’re seeing is that many sectors are suffering considerably from the agreement.

"Our performing arts sector is a hugely important UK export and vital to our economic future; for decades our bands, dance and theatre companies have been vital to the 'soft power’ behind selling Britain.

"But it now seems clear the deal will seriously damage the viability of future touring.

"Most striking is the immediacy of the impact and the lack of detail provided by the government.

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"The additional costs for Motionhouse will seriously jeopardise their tours and therefore their own future.

"They are a very highly regarded company internationally and a great example of our best arts exports so it’s hard to understand why the Government has not addressed the sector's needs in the deal."