NTIA urge government to recognise nightclubs as cultural institutions in new open letter

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has penned an open letter calling on the UK government to formally recognise nightclubs as cultural institutions.

Published on Monday (June 8), the letter urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to do more to protect struggling nightclubs, citing widespread closures across the UK in the five years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The letter suggests the government follows in the footsteps of Germany, after officials approved plans last week (May 31) to reclassify nightclubs as cultural and artistic spaces, rather than "entertainment venues."

The NTIA also urges the government to implement stronger planning protections against redevelopment and displacement of clubs, a "national strategy" for developing the UK's nightlife and electronic music sectors, and more.

“The United Kingdom has been a global leader in club culture for decades," says NTIA CEO Micheal Kill. "From acid house and rave culture to jungle, drum and bass, UK garage, techno and countless other movements, British clubs have helped shape music and youth culture across the world."

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"Yet despite this extraordinary contribution, the spaces that make this culture possible continue to disappear at an alarming rate," he continues. "Germany's decision to formally recognise clubs as cultural institutions demonstrates the vision and understanding needed to protect these vital spaces. The UK should not find itself behind the curve on an issue it helped define.“

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, get in touch with her here.