Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government is taking steps to support artists and performers from Ukraine.

The sectors which DCMS supports have been a key player in the UK’s response to the war in Ukraine. This has included severely restricting Russian and Belarussian state organisations’ participation in cultural events, public shows of solidarity with Ukraine from cultural organisations, and the cancellation of high-profile exhibitions and tours to the UK. DCMS is continuing to work with the cultural sector to understand the impacts of the situation and, where appropriate, is engaging with other government departments. Ministers and officials have held meetings with sector representatives to discuss this directly. The Secretary of State and Minister for Arts have met members of the Ukrainian Government, Oleksandr Tkachenko and Kateryna Chuyeva, either virtually or in person, and regular communication is ongoing.

The British Council’s planned UK-Ukraine Season of Culture is going ahead from June-November 2022 and will involve British and Ukrainian artists, creative sectors, and educators. It will celebrate 30 years of formal diplomatic dialogue between the UK and Ukraine. The programme will advance knowledge of Ukraine in the UK, position the country’s cultural achievements, and create opportunities for Ukrainian creatives to develop lasting partnerships with their UK counterparts. Partnerships include Screen Ukraine at Sheffield Doc Fest, a Ukrainian programme at Edinburgh International Festival, and Ukrainian writers at Cheltenham Literature Festival, as well as grant opportunities for artists and organisations.