UK venues are being encouraged to invite newly-elected Reform UK councillors to see productions, as part of a toolkit developed by UK Theatre, that warns engaging with the party “is no longer optional” if organisations want to secure the party’s support. The UK Theatre Member Toolkit for Reform Engagement has been developed with consultancy firm Portland and aims to “identify common ground with Reform stakeholders”.

The move comes after Equity branded Nigel Farage’s party “the single biggest threat to the performing arts industry” and warned that if elected arts funding may “disappear”. In a bid to combat concerns the new advise accepts that that while organisations must “determine the extent to which they wish to engage with policies and politicians whose views may not align with their own”, it “provides guidance on messaging most likely to land with Reform representatives”.

Highlighting how Reform is “on the rise”, it warns that the party’s councillors tend to focus on “practical, visible issues” and are “sceptical of what they regard as establishment institutions.” It adds that Reform is not yet “operating with a coherent cultural strategy”.

In a specific section detailing how theatres should approach conversations with Reform, it encourages organisations to be “proactive and lead with an invitation”.

The document says: “Bringing councillors to productions will repeatedly open doors in a way that formal meetings will not.”

The kit provides a template letter for theatres to use.

The guide also encourages organisations to position themselves as an “investment partner” and focus on “theatre as infrastructure that supports town centres”.

But it suggests avoiding language “around subsidy or cultural entitlement”.

The toolkit also suggests theatres should provide economic data and share what venues contribute in terms of jobs and visitor spend – something championed by the Express’ current Strike A Chord campaign and our pandemic Raise The Curtain crusade.

The toolkit says rather than decrying Reform members, cultural staff should “treat representatives as serious local decision makers with their own priorities and pressures” and “take a genuine interest in what matters to them”.

Portland’s advice is that venues should treat Reform representatives as “serious local partners”.

It adds: “With these decision makers now shaping funding priorities in their areas, engaging with them is no longer optional – it is essential to securing support for your theatre.

A spokesperson for Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre said: “We support our members with practical guidance on a range of issues. This toolkit is part of an ongoing programme of work to equip theatres to navigate a changing local and national political landscape and to engage with politicians of all parties. It is a non-partisan guide for communicating the value of theatre and culture to elected representatives and election candidates.”