Deputy Montfort Tadier said that he would like the Island’s capital to be more ‘vibrant’ and that more street musicians and artists would perform if current policies, such as a ban on the use of electric amplifiers for instruments, were updated.
The Deputy, who is an assistant minister in the Economic Development Department and has responsibility for culture, said that he believed the move could benefit Jersey economically and culturally.
In response to a States written question tabled by Deputy Rob Ward, Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham said that Deputy Tadier was considering options for reform of the current busking and street entertainment rules. The regulation of street entertainment is currently delegated to the Jersey Arts Centre by the Bailiff, and the policies were last updated in 2013.
The assistant minister’s work includes a review of Guernsey’s position, where, according to the written response, there is said to be a ‘more liberal approach to busking and street entertainment is understood to work well’.
Deputy Tadier said that he disagreed with or questioned several of the current regulations, including a ban on amplifiers, charging an annual £30 busking fee and requiring buskers to donate all of their earnings over the Christmas period to charity, with at least 15 per cent going towards the Joint Christmas Appeal.
‘In Guernsey, from what I understand, there are a lot more permits granted than here, even though we are the larger Island,’ he said. ‘You need amplification to perform with instruments like a guitar or a microphone, if you are singing. At the moment brass bands or drum kits are allowed, which are very loud.
‘I know some buskers and they do contribute to charity, but I don’t see why, after paying a £30 permit fee, they should be forced to donate all of their earnings to charity over the Christmas period unless they want to. That is frankly bizarre.’
He added: ‘It’s not just about buskers. We would like to encourage all sorts of street performers. We would like to make St Helier more vibrant, which would be good for the economy and culturally.’
