Social Media’s Battle to #savethearts: The Hurdles, The Progress and The Next Steps.

Social media users around the world have been using #savethearts to show support for creative careers and industries not receiving the attention they deserve from the government.

In October 2020, claims from Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, that musicians and others involved in the arts “should retrain and find other jobs”, went viral following a tweet from ITV. #savethearts was used on various platforms to show disappointment in the government for this attitude towards the arts sector. The internet saw a rush of social media posts surrounding the release of a particular Cyber First advert campaign featuring images of various creative jobs, suggesting they “Rethink, Reskill, Reboot”. One particular advert, featuring a ballerina character named “Fatima”, received a lot of backlash and has since been taken down. Some think that this means the end of #savethearts but the hashtag is very much still in use

Luca Farkas, a dance and musical theatre student at Italia Conti, first came into contact with #savethearts through Cameron McDonald‘s YouTube Video, featuring a flash-mob-style dance in the empty streets of the West-End, and got involved using the hashtag on Instagram. She says, “As a dancer and performer, I feel really strongly about the subject”. She believes it is not over and shouldn’t be over. She says “It’s a really good cause and it needs to be heard more”

Luca admits to being affected by the Fatima advert. When the Cyber First campaign began trending, she was preparing for university auditions. She had brief concerns about entering a “potentially dying” industry but now says she is more motivated to prove its importance: “I just can’t give up on my dreams that easy”. Luca’s dedication has paid off as she has been accepted into her top choice of university. “I want to reach my goal of being a performer.”

Luca has been video-editing for various companies alongside her dance studies. To people saying she is a creative going cyber, she says the pandemic had nothing to do with it. Although performing remains her number one route, Farkas admits she is now more aware of how musicals and music videos are edited, demonstrating the variety and importance of creative industries, as many advocates of #savethearts strive to do.

She connects the lack of respect for dance with the ongoing lack of funding. Passionate about a future in dance, she is saddened that the industry is not getting the funding it needs, and this is just another reason why #savethearts should continue. “I think we shouldn’t stop because something needs to happen.”

Luca Farkas: Taken by Louisa Clarke

Lack of government attention and funding in the arts is a world-wide issue. Georgie Parfitt, a British professional dancer currently on contract with San Diego Ballet, agrees “something needs to change”. “It’s definitely something that’s been missed” she says “the pandemic has brought it to light, but I think this has always been an issue. The arts don’t receive enough funding and attention and they should do”

Georgie Parfitt came into contact with #savethearts on Facebook and Instagram and got involved by sharing footage from her company. Social media has given #savethearts this global reach. “No matter where you are in the world, England or America, Its all the same thing.”

Georgie has noticed interaction with #savethearts recently plateau and says it needs to persist as the government still “brushes over” efforts from the public.

She found the Cyber First adverts to be a confusing message from the government. “A lot of other workplaces that have been paused, that aren’t like dance, aren’t being told to change careers. It seems silly that just the dance industry would have to change”

Georgie Parfitt: Taken from Georgie's Instagram

Both Luca and Georgie have been feeling the restrictions throughout the pandemic but are still finding ways to practice their art. When allowed outside, Luca booked rehearsal space where she could keep up her training. She says she is doing her best but “obviously it’s not what you want.” For 6 months, San Diego Ballet were inactive, but they recently performed an outdoor show which Georgie enjoyed and, in the meantime, she has taught on Zoom. Parfitt explains it is “definitely a challenge” but her love for dance has not changed.

Both seem excited at the prospect of dance going in a different direction. Farkas says she has noticed some people down-hearted about the industry supposedly dying but maintains it is simply “going a different way.” Parfitt believes that retraining is not the solution and says, “there’s another way forward”, suggesting charity shows and dancing on social media can keep the industry alive.

Farkas says the arts branching out to TV is a development she loves, particularly highlighting musicals like Hamilton and Newsies now on Disney+, attracting a wider audience. Interestingly, Parfitt also highlighted that even Netflix audiences are unconsciously exposed to the arts. “It really does affect so many people and there are so many different kinds of arts”

Excited that the cause has reached so many people and made them aware of the issues currently plaguing the industry, Luca sees a future where the arts will only improve and “come back bigger and better.”

A year later, the cinema landscape in Portsmouth demonstrates such developments. First year film student, Kearin Green, says the experience of the Save the Arts movement has fuelled an amplified appreciation for cinema and film making, amongst other creative outlets, as a career, not just a basic expression of fun and creativity. “I think it’s just shown how important this industry is to people,” she says.