Joe Lycett unmasked as leader of "Stop The Arts" protests
Joe Lycett has revealed himself as the leader of recent "Stop The Arts" protests, ahead of him hosting this year's Sky Arts Awards.
In disguise, the comic has recently been staging a number of tongue-in-cheek demonstrations at cultural landmarks such as Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, aiming to highlight how cuts by successive governments and social inequalities are affecting the sector.
Hosting the Sky Arts Awards for the first time on 17th September, Lycett will publish his "manifesto for the arts", making proposals to improve conditions for people working in the industry.
He said: "Over the last few weeks I've been meeting with arts organisations, venues and artists to devise my manifesto for the arts, with clear and actionable points the government can do right now to improve conditions for everyone working in Britain's cultural industries."
Lycett revealed his purpose for the "Stop The Arts" protests yesterday on social media:
Fern Brady, Blindboy Boatclub and Julia Masli are nominated in the comedy section of the Sky Arts Awards, with Ania Magliano and Dreaming Whilst Black creator and star Adjani Salmon up for the breakthrough award.
Lycett is also currently shooting the Sky Max travel series Joe Lycett's United States Of Birmingham, in which the civically proud Brum resident visits all of the Birminghams in North America.