Birmingham arts venues announce major job losses – The Guardian

Two of Birminghams most important venues, the Symphony Hall and Town Hall, have become the latest arts institutions to announce major staff cuts because of the Covid-19 crisis.
The charity that runs the two halls expressed sorrow at the prospect of losing around half of its 65 permanent staff but said that reducing its workforce was necessary for the venues to have a chance of survival.
Hundreds of freelancers who work on the shows and concerts staged at the two venues are also out of work.
The venues have called for clarity on when they may be able to reopen and the governments rescue package.
Opened in 1834, the Town Hall has hosted political and public meetings and performances by Charles Dickens, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin while the Symphony Hall is considered one of the best in the world and is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the venues said: It is with great sadness that Town Hall and Symphony Hall have entered a period of redundancy consultation.
The future of these two iconic concert halls looks very different from the plans we began the year with. This period of closure has already resulted in huge losses and it is still unclear when it may be possible to reopen.
More than 90% of the halls turnover comes from ticket sales and other activities. Some of the money it makes from presenting international stars on its stages is ploughed into emerging local talent and working with schoolchildren in some of the UKs most deprived areas.
Nick Reed, chief executive for the Town Hall and Symphony Hall, told the Guardian that both venues were a huge source of civic pride. The opening of the Symphony Hall in 1991 is seen as a crucial moment in the modern renaissance of Birmingham. And theres a straight line connecting Paul Robeson

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