Disturbing news from Glasgow where the council has released a briefing detailing a new Public Entertainment License. Under the license, both permanent and temporary exhibition spaces are deemed as form of Entertainment venue and therefore now requires a license. The license itself would cost hundreds of pounds to obtain and the ramifications of this new policy for the visual arts are critical. The license must be opposed. The activities of artist led spaces will be paralysed by this license for numerous reasons. The bureaucratic processes involved in obtaining a license would stand against the very nature of exhibition production. However even this pales in comparison by the ludicrous charge for the license. Not many venues could realistically afford it and would severely damage artistic entrepreneurial spirit in the city. Having gained such a renowned reputation in the arts Glasgow now has a real challenge in opposing this license. It needs our support in doing so.
This is lifted from the press release:
WHY IS THE CHANGE HAPPENING?
The Scottish Government has made this change because it believes that it is necessary for all public entertainment events, particularly large scale events, to be licensed even where there is no charge for entry or use of any facilities.
