Stars have joined forces with creative and cultural organisations from across the UK and Europe to remove barriers to touring, support cultural exchange and drive growth.
They have unveiled a major new alliance, the Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC). Its members include the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN), the European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE), the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), LIVE, the Musicians’ Union, One Dance UK, Pearle*, the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre and UK Music.
Among the stars backing the new coalition are musical icons Dame Evelyn Glennie, Jools Holland OBE, and Level 42 bassist Mark King.
The CEC also includes more than 50 EU businesses from across the creative industries. For a full list of CEC members, please see the newly launched CEC website.
The new initiative comes amid mounting concerns about the impact that barriers facing creative organisations and performers touring Europe and the UK are having on culture, employment and growth.
Arrangements put in place following the UK’s exit from the EU are not working. They are failing artists, audiences and venues, as well as harming growth, damaging revenues and undermining the vital influence of cultural exchange.
The Cultural Exchange Coalition summarised its aims in a new mission statement:
“The Cultural Exchange Coalition brings together creative and cultural organisations from across the United Kingdom and European Union with a shared ambition to transform the inaugural UK-EU Summit’s Common Understanding commitment to support cultural exchange into meaningful actions – strengthening creative collaboration, removing barriers and driving shared growth.”
The CEC is a coalition of people and organisations from across the UK and EU who create, support and sustain culture and creativity. It was created in response to the UK-EU Summit 2025 to support and promote the huge shared benefits of cross-border cultural collaboration.
The Common Understanding agreed in 2025 by the UK and the EU sets out a joint commitment to support cultural exchange.
The CEC is now calling on political leaders to deliver on this commitment and negotiate to remove the barriers hampering the cultural exchange, which is vital to our creative communities, our economies and our citizens.
Level 42 bassist and lead singer Mark King said:
“Having been a touring musician for the past forty years with Level 42, and still actively on the road, I can attest firmly that the role that UK musicians play in contributing to the economy at home and abroad has become so much harder since leaving the European Union, a situation that desperately needs addressing.”
Percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie said:
“When culture is allowed to move freely, people discover that their common ground is far wider than the borders that divide them. The Cultural Exchange Coalition is a reminder that our shared creativity is not a luxury but a vital bridge – one that can cultivate trust, unlock opportunity and prove that the UK and Europe’s cultural power is strongest when we build it together.”
Jools Holland OBE said:
“I welcome this Cultural Exchange Coalition of UK and EU organisations. The ability of musicians and the wider creative industries to easily be able to access the EU and the UK has been hampered by the UK’s departure. I sincerely hope that changes can be made to make life easier for musicians in the future.”
Steve Lamacq, Chair of LIVE and music broadcaster, said:
“Cultural life in the UK and EU is undoubtedly boosted by our shared passion for live music and the opportunities it provides for us to be able to hear other voices and see different perspectives.
“Building an audience beyond your own borders is such a pivotal moment in an artist’s career. The more opportunities they have to play, and the more opportunities we all have to enjoy their shows, the richer life will be. We will all gain if we can remove the current barriers to touring – for artists and crew, kit and merch.”
Dave Webster, Head of International at Musicians’ Union, Chair LIVE Touring UK and Co-Chair of the Cultural Exchange Coalition, said:
“I am honoured to be the UK Co-Chair of the Cultural Exchange Coalition. It’s an important step forward in addressing the barriers to touring faced by the creative industries. The UK/EU Summit 2025 provided a foundation on which to build stronger commitments between the UK and the EU.
“Since we left the EU, cultural exchange has been hamstrung by increased costs, increased time and bureaucracy. The aim of the CEC is to champion the cultural and economic benefits of cultural exchange, reduce the barriers and ensure touring artists and the wider performing and visual arts community can fully deliver their creative excellence.”
Anita Debaere, Director of Pearle*-Live Performance Europe and Co-Chair of the CEC said:
“We applaud the launch of the EU-UK Cultural Exchange Coalition as a platform for stakeholders to promote the long-standing shared values on culture. We look forward to working together to identify practical solutions that can renew cultural ties and ensure they are fit for purpose.”
UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said:
“The barriers that continue to confront musicians, crew and artists trying to tour across the UK and the EU is severely hampering economic growth, cultural exchange and our ability to grow the music industry.
“The Cultural Exchange Coalition is a mark of our determination to work with our European partners to tear down those barriers and capitalise on the huge benefits of cross-border cooperation.”
Marsha De Cordova, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, said:
“Enabling easier cultural and creative exchange is a top priority for me as Co-Chair of the UK-EU PPA, particularly ensuring that artists from the UK and EU get opportunities to develop their skills, exhibit their talents and boost our economies.
“That’s why I’m really pleased to see the creative and cultural sectors from the UK and EU work together in the new Cultural Exchange Coalition, building new relationships and supercharging progress for touring artists.”
Sandro Gozi, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, said:
“As Co-Chair of the EU UK PPA, I strongly believe that cultural cooperation must be at the centre of our partnership. The Cultural Exchange Coalition is a timely reminder that we need practical progress to make mobility and collaboration easier for artists and creators. If we invest one euro in our defence, we should invest one euro in Culture. Culture is a strategic asset for both the EU and the UK, and I fully support this coalition and its ambition to rebuild real cultural exchange.”
