Protect our arts reputation

I know and care about the arts because my daughter works for a world-class arts institution in the UK.

Here in Rother District we are home to many professional artists working in many different spheres.

We have an arts venue of truly international standing at the De La Warr Pavilion

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The arts would not be immune from a no vote in the referendum.

The UK is widely acknowledged as a world leader in the performing and visual arts and our EU membership currently allows the easy export of UK work and artistes to a key international market.

In return, UK audiences get access to high-quality work from around Europe.

Without this exchange of work across borders, our international status is at risk.

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If the UK were to leave the EU, could we negotiate for the unrestricted movement of artistic work and talent?

UK arts organisations are significant beneficiaries of the 1.4 billion euro Creative Europe fund provided by the EU for thousands of artists and professionals across the Union.

Between 2007 and 2011, more than 200 UK organisations participated in trans-national projects funded by the EU Culture Programme.

The UK achieved twice the average number of successful applications from a single country. If the UK were to leave the EU would we be able to negotiate to remain part of Creative Europe and ensure that the UK continues to benefit from this programme?

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Many UK arts organisations tour throughout Europe, and our artists sell their work in many different nations.

At the moment, the EU agrees common approaches for everything from copyright, through tax and customs control to the agreed frequencies for radio microphones.

If the UK were to leave the EU, how would we benefit from this single European approach?

If the UK were to leave the EU, how could our arts organisations attract and retain world-class talent and how might our own talent benefit from opportunities to work in the rest of the European Union?

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The EU isn’t perfect. It needs reform. But apart from protecting our rights, our environment, our exports, our travel, our work, our equal pay, our holiday entitlement, our working hours, our safety, our public health and our arts, what has the EU ever done for us?

Molly Hale

Abbey Mews

Robertsbridge

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