The Crown stars Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton are calling for more funding of the arts in the UK after “shocking” levels of neglect were found across the country. Oscar-winner Colman, 50, was reacting to a report commissioned by performing arts and entertainment union Equity, which said financing of British arts councils fell by 16% in real terms between 2017 and 2022. Colman, who played Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown and won a best actress Oscar for her portrayal of 18th century monarch Queen Anne in The Favourite, said “billions of people” watch UK films, theatre and TV shows.
She said of the report: “It is shocking to see how this key sector of the economy, and its workforce, has been neglected, despite its huge contribution to the UK’s standing in the world, and our public life. “A lack of government funding increasingly means that only the wealthy can afford a ticket to a show, or to build a career working in the industry. Only some people are able to share in the stories being told.
“Equity’s analysis demonstrates that whoever wins the coming election must urgently bring forward plans to invest in the arts and entertainment here. This is just common sense.” According to the Autonomy Institute’s findings, the five-year period between 2017 and 2022 saw drops in funding of 11% in England, 30% in Wales and 16% in Northern Ireland.
Scotland saw an increase of 2% during the same timeframe, the report noted. Staunton, who starred in the Harry Potter .
