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THREAD: This is @thecustomshouse – a hub for entertainment and the arts at the heart of South Tyneside. It was here where I saw my first theatre show and, consequently, fell in love with the arts and became a part of its youth theatre.
But, unless we see immediate and decisive action from the government, thousands of young people across the country may lose these safe spaces and opportunities that venues like the Customs House provide.
According to an Oxford Economics' report, Britain is on the precipice of an irreversible "cultural catastrophe", with 400,000 jobs likely to be lost across the UK's creative industries.
While this would be devastating for young people, the effects would be even worse for those whose livelihoods depend upon the arts.
Just today, the Royal Albert Hall has declared it could go bust by next year, Southampton's Nuffield Theatre has closed its doors for good, and numerous arts organisations across the UK (including Newcastle's Theatre Royal) have already began redundancy processes for staff.
As the Member of Youth Parliament for South Tyneside, I want to add my voice to the thousands calling on @OliverDowden to act to save the arts sector – Britain's second fastest growing sector in the past decade.
I would not have the confidence, the friends or the passion that I have today without the opportunities in the arts afforded to me by organisations like the Customs House.
I would hate to see these same opportunities – from pantomime to performance classes – no longer available for the next generation of aspiring artists, actors, musicians and creatives.
I hope the government acts urgently to save the arts and that, once the doors of the Customs House finally reopen, young people in South Tyneside, including myself, will make the most of everything it has to offer.
