Music figures have lent their support to a campaign calling for the UK to remain in the EU.
Universal Music UK boss David Joseph, Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis, Sandie Shaw of the Featured Artists Coalition and ROAR Group chairman Jonathan Shalit, artists Jarvis Cocker, Paloma Faith and members of Alt-J, Bombay Bicycle Club, Franz Ferdinand, Rudimental, Metronomy, Editors and Hot Chip are among 282 creative industry names to have backed an open letter by The Britain Stronger in Europe campaign.
The campaign is bidding to drum up public support ahead of the national referendum on June 23, arguing that leaving the EU would have "lasting and far-reaching consequences for the future of this country for generations to come".
“From the smallest gallery to the biggest blockbuster, many of us have worked on projects that would never have happened without vital EU funding or by collaborating across borders,” the letter states. “Britain is not just stronger in Europe, it is more imaginative and more creative, and our global creative success would be severely weakened by walking away.
“From the Bard to Bowie, British creativity inspires and influences the rest of the world. We believe that being part of the EU bolsters Britain’s leading role on the world stage.
“Let's not become an outsider shouting from the wings.”
A survey from the Creative Industries Federation revealed that more than 96% of its members support remaining in the EU. Among the reasons cited for the vote of confidence in Europe were access to EU markets and influence, access to EU funding and movement of talent.
The full letter from the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign reads as follows:
The EU referendum marks the biggest democratic decision of our time, and the outcome will have lasting and far-reaching consequences for the future of this country for generations to come.
The referendum forces us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves: what kind of nation do we want to be? Are we outward-looking and open to working with others to achieve more? Or do we close ourselves off from our friends and neighbours at a time of increasing global uncertainty?
From the smallest gallery to the biggest blockbuster, many of us have worked on projects that would never have happened without vital EU funding or by collaborating across borders. Britain is not just stronger in Europe, it is more imaginative and more creative, and our global creative success would be severely weakened by walking away.
And what would ‘Out’ really mean? Leaving Europe would be a leap into the unknown for millions of people across the UK who work in the creative industries, and for the millions more at home and abroad who benefit from the growth and vibrancy of Britain’s cultural sector.
From the Bard to Bowie, British creativity inspires and influences the rest of the world. We believe that being part of the EU bolsters Britain’s leading role on the world stage.
Let's not become an outsider shouting from the wings.
