5 Percent for Festivals Calls for Government Inquiry to Support Independent UK Festivals

5 Percent for Festivals is urging the UK’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to launch a State of Play inquiry into the challenges facing independent festivals. This inquiry aims to celebrate the vibrancy, opportunities and economic contributions these events provide while identifying essential areas for support.

If successful, it will result in recommendations to the UK Government to champion independent festivals. The deadline for action is 19 February.

For the past 18 months, the organisation has campaigned for a temporary reduction in VAT on music festival ticket sales from 20% to 5% for three years. Despite mounting evidence that this single measure could have saved many festivals already lost, successive governments have rejected the proposal. This reduction remains a crucial step to ensuring the survival of grassroots events.

A new opportunity has arisen with the formation of the CMS Select Committee, which has invited submissions for the proposed inquiry. This committee holds the authority to scrutinise government actions and advocate for necessary cultural reforms.

5 Percent for Festivals is calling on independent festival organisers to sign an open letter in support of their submission, joining forces to safeguard the future of the UK’s independent festival scene.

Festivals can sign the open letter here.

You can share the campaign assets here.