What about freelancers? ISM responds to latest round of Culture Recovery Fund

Deborah Annetts, the ISM's chief executive, said in a statement issued this morning: 'Whilst we welcome the next round of the Cultural Recovery Fund providing vital support for arts organisations, once again the freelance community have been ignored. In 2019, music contributed £5.8 billion to the UK economy, but this year those who create music and are the lifeblood of our industry will lose two-thirds of their income due to coronavirus.

'With livelihoods on the line, we are calling on the UK government to provide urgent funding for the thousands of creative freelancers excluded from government support and to publish a clear roadmap for the return of live performance in 2021. These measures are essential for preventing an exodus of highly skilled talent and getting our world-leading arts sector back on its feet.'

For more information visit ism.org.