Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department is providing to the fair, circus and showground industries; what assessment she has made of the contribution of that sector to culture; and if she will make a statement.

The Government strongly believes in the benefits that the arts and creative industries bring to the UK, and this includes fairs, circuses and showgrounds. The cultural and creative industries are some of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy, and the Government is committed to helping them continue to grow.

Our arm’s-length body, Arts Council England, funds local festivals and circus arts, both through performing arts organisations and individuals who practise circus skills.

For example, in 2021-22 Arts Council England invested over £6.5 million in circus-related activity. Organisations such as Out There Arts in Great Yarmouth and Greenwich & Docklands Festival in London offer a range of support for established and emerging circus artists. Companies such as Upswing and Gorilla Circus offer performance and participation opportunities to people of all ages, and organisations such as Circomedia in Bristol offer a range of support for established and emerging circus artists, directors, and choreographers.