Creative Industries UK-wide

Which creative arts and entertainment regulations apply to your business

Performing arts companies, theatres, live music venues, dance companies and arts centres share workplace-safety duties, then carry premises licensing and child performance licensing duties that depend on what you stage and who performs.

Guide summary

Ensure workplace safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, then get a premises licence from your local council before opening to the public. If you use child performers, apply for a child performance licence. Failure can lead to unlimited fines or up to 2 years in prison.

  • Follow the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for all staff and visitors
  • Balance risk against cost – but safety comes first
  • Get a premises licence from your local council before opening
  • Apply for a child performance licence if using performers under 18
  • Check the creative arts compliance checklist before you open
  • Keep records of risk assessments and safety measures
  • Unlimited fines for serious health and safety breaches
  • Up to 2 years in prison for individuals who break the law
On this page

Related guides in Health & Safety

Running a creative arts or entertainment business — a theatre company, a live music venue, a dance troupe, an arts centre or a touring production — puts you at the intersection of workplace safety and public licensing. You must keep your people safe under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, then obtain the right premises or event licences before you open to the public, and meet child performance licensing duties if you engage children in productions.

Health and safety is reserved across Great Britain, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with an equivalent regime in Northern Ireland through HSENI. Premises licensing and child performance licensing are regulated by local authorities, with separate frameworks in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What you need to do

  1. 1

    Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business

    Whatever you stage or produce, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business" for your health and safety duties, fire safety, premises licensing, child performance licensing, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection.

  2. 2

    Confirm you have covered everything

    Finish with the creative arts and entertainment compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before you open to the public.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for creative arts and entertainment businesses.