The UK government has tightened the criteria for artists applying for touring funding, following the controversy and legal battle from Kneecap.
READ MORE: Kneecap on the cover – giving peace, protest and partying a chance
The funds are distributed under the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS), and sees some £1.6million distributed in grants. These grants range from £5,000 to £50,000, and are designed to help emerging talent go on tour amid rising costs.
According to Arts Professional, the criteria has been heightened for the latest round, and will now require those applying for grants to make some “self-declarations” about whether they are planning on doing anything that could be deemed controversial and potentially reflect poorly on the scheme.
It comes following controversy around Kneecap, after the Irish rap trio were shortlisted to get a grant of £15,000 in 2023, but it was withdrawn after Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch spoke out against the members and said that they were “opposed” to the United Kingdom.
The Belfast group then hit out at the move – alleging that it was because one of their 2019 tour posters “pissed off the Tories”, and accusing the UK government of attempting to “silence” them.
When the debate went to court in Belfast, it was ruled that the UK government acted illegally with the block, and Kneecap were granted just shy of £15,000, which they then distributed to two charities in Belfast.
Half of the funding (£7,125) was donated by the trio to Glór Na Móna – an organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ballymurphy – while the other half went to RCity Belfast, an organisation that provides leadership opportunities to young people on the Shankill Road.
According to Arts Professional, artists applying for the MEGS grant now will have to undergo verification checks, and there will also be a review of their social media platforms by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Those who are found to have “breached the Equality Act 2010 or Human Rights Act 1998” will not be able to apply, and those with criminal convictions – including charges related to fraud, violence, terror offences, corruption, and sexual offences – will also be rejected.
The current scheme is open for applications until December 15.
Over the spring, Kneecap used their debate over the funding as inspiration for a new single called ‘The Recap’, which featured Mozey. “This one’s for Kemi Badenoch,” wrote the band’s Móglaí Bap on Instagram Stories.
After facing criticism from the Conservative MP, Kneecap cleared up their stance and hit back at the government, saying: “They don’t like that we oppose British rule, that we don’t believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture.”
As well as the grant, controversy around Kneecap lately has also come from Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – being charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig in London last November.
The case was thrown out on a technicality this September.
Following the judgement being passed, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it would appeal the decision to dismiss the case. Kneecap consistently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah throughout, and have said they do not incite or condone violence.
The post UK government tightens criteria for touring funding after Kneecap legal battle appeared first on NME.
