The plan recognises the value of culture and highlights music and the performing arts as one of four frontier industries with particularly high growth potential.

In particular, we welcome the commitments to:

• Remove barriers faced by touring artists since EU-Exit, and support for travel and cultural exchange across Europe.
• Cultural grants and tax relief schemes.
• Capital investment in arts and culture infrastructure.
• Continued support for the sector via Arts Council England.
• Creative subjects and skills as part of the school curriculum.
• Plans to capitalise on the opportunities from digital platforms for musicians, performers and artists to reach new audiences.
• Improvements to creative skills development.
• The appointment of a Freelance Champion.
• The Creative Places fund and measures to boost regional creative economies.
• The Plan’s recognition of the rich ecosystem that underpins the cultural sector.

ABO CEO Judith Webster said: “The music and the performing arts sector has been recognised by the Creative Industries Sector Plan not only for the joy and connection that it brings to millions of people, but also as a key contributor to growth. Our world class orchestras are a national and global success story. Through orchestras’ work, we connect and strengthen local communities, improve education outcomes, enhance public health and wellbeing and boost the UK's cultural influence worldwide. UK orchestras help our major cities compete as world class cultural destinations, attract global talent and tourism to the UK and drive inward foreign investment. Our sector has a significant role to play in the Plan’s ambition to establish Britain as the world’s leading creative superpower by 2035.”

We await further detail and clarity around how the measures announced in the strategy will be delivered across Government departments, including plans for the National Centre For Arts And Music Education, due to launch in September 2026.

We look forward to playing our part in the delivery of the ambitions of the Creative Industries Sector Plan and Industrial Strategy in making the UK the best place in the world to make, perform and enjoy music.