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28 May 2025 4:35 PM

Creating outside the capital: Britain’s conflicted relationship with its artists

Ahead of his upcoming Local project with Relentless, Grammy-winning producer Mura Masa reflects on the UK’s vanishing creative infrastructure — and why the next generation of talent won’t be found where you expect.

By Mura Masa

Mura Mara (Picture: Press)

If you live in the UK as a creative, you don’t have to be a policy analyst to have noticed that funding in the arts is currently drastically lacking; venues closing their doors, bands and independent artists unable to tour, etc. If you have friends in the arts, they probably have second jobs, are constantly applying for difficult to receive grants, and are most likely (in my experience) frequently in need of meaningful pep talks about how what they are doing is valid and has value.

But if our government and by extension our society is constantly telling us the opposite, then how are we supposed to encourage our artists? The people here are literally world leaders in creativity. In 2019 before COVID-19, £37.9 Billion of services and £20.1 billion in goods were exported from the UK by the creative sector alone. So why is the message from our governments and councils constantly that our art has no value and isn’t worth spending on?

Since 2017 UK arts councils have cut their funding by an average of 17% across the country, despite the UK being a world leader in creative and cultural export. It’s no doubt that these cuts have very real effects on our ability to create, but especially for those outside of the capital. Put it this way: If your small town in the north of england is lucky enough to have 3 decent venues or spaces to gather to experience, perform and produce creative work, and a difficult funding situation or a cut to spending means one of those has to close then you’ve just lost a third of your ability to be close to the arts.

However despite all odds, despite the seeming intent to cripple artists and make the prospect of earning money through creativity seem like a frivolous and impractical pipe dream, somehow the tenacity and vigilance of artists continues to shine through. The jingoistic idea of “Blitz Spirit” is often used by those in power in this country to justify austerity, but in the case of Britain’s independent artists one could be forgiven for seeing this idea shine out through their persistently brilliant work.

EsDeeKid – Palaces

If you’ve never heard Scouse rap, this is a good place to start. To me EsDeeKid is the most exciting prospect out of the UK. Nothing else gets me quite as excited.

Boo – Hyper Feminine

Hailing from Stockton-on-Tees, Boo is a dance music powerhouse. Her club night and label Ghetec is proof that doing it yourself yields the best results and her production and vocals are the perfect soundtrack to her world.

Mia Lily

Northern raised, London-based DJ giving house, techno, breaks and everything in-between. She has a wicked show on Foundation-FM and lots of mixes up online.

Indoor Foxes – Plant-Pot Song

Glaswegian alt-rock. Great songwriting and vocals and something about singing in the Scottish accent is just it.

ZMARAKS

All round cool kid and curator/DJ of the upcoming Bradford arm of the “Local” tour, a series of club shows highlighting local scenes and trailblazers supported by Relentless.

I’ll be joining along with Boo and Mia Lily for three shows celebrating locals. More info can be found here

Dates & Line-up

  • Stockton-on-Tees, The Georgian Theatre, 13th June
    • Boo B2B Mura Masa
    • REES
    • Alousea
    • Cousin Dan
  • Blackpool Bootleg Social, 19th June
    • Mura Masa
    • Mia Lily
    • D-Foc
    • Pacemaker
    • Hometones
  • Bradford, The Underground, 20th June
    • Mura Masa & ZMARAKS
    • RUFUS!
    • Glor1a
    • Stave
    • Yin Yang boys + friends
    •  Lloydfears
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