UK MPs Call for Live Comedy Recognition to Unlock Funding

MPs from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee have called on the UK Government to formally recognize live comedy as a distinct art form to enable the sector to access dedicated funding and investment opportunities currently available to other performing arts. This demand follows an evidence session revealing significant barriers faced by live comedy due to differences in infrastructure, workforce, and audience compared to other art forms, which restrict access to funding bodies like Arts Council England. The committee highlighted the economic and cultural significance of live comedy, noting its £1 billion estimated value and central role in major events like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, while also pointing out prohibitive costs that limit participation and diversity. The MPs urged the government to support the workforce through measures such as a voluntary levy scheme for major venues and promoters, similar to the grassroots music levy, and to collaborate with funding bodies to independently assess the sector’s size and distribution. They also called for a roundtable meeting between ministers and live comedy stakeholders to further discuss these issues and emphasized the need for governmental engagement to sustain the sector's cultural and economic benefits. The committee stressed that recognizing live comedy will help address funding inequalities and support its continued impact on audiences and the wider economy.