16 Focus Cities
There is a great deal of variation between the amount of regulation different cities impose on busking. There are also differences in how strictly that regulation is enforced.
In many cases there is a conflict of interest between policy makers and street performers when it comes to the policies adopted. As part of this research, we wanted to highlight the perspective of buskers towards these policies and refer to the difficulties that they face in some cases.
The following sixteen reports on key focus cities illustrate many of the different regulatory approaches to busking. They assess how strictly the regulations are applied and contain feedback on the effects of the regulations from buskers in the featured cities.
The reports are listed alphabetically. First by country and then by city for those countries in which more than one city is featured. Each city is given a grade or score which is the combined value of the factors and regulations governing busking in that city.
In general, busking is considered legal in London but individual boroughs have a large degree of autonomy in their approach to street performers. We have featured the borough of Camden as well as Greater London because Camden’s regulatory system has recently become more restrictive.
Dublin, Ireland
Grade: 7 – Ranking 3rd
— Busking is legal.
— A policy/by-law for busking is currently being developed.
— There is no licence.
— Amplification is generally allowed, except in specific amplification-free areas.
— There is a duration limitation only for music performances.
— There is a restriction prohibiting drumming sets.
— Though rarely imposed, potential fines for breaching regulations can reach 1500€.
— The city authorities seem to realise the importance of busking and wish to support it.
— The authorities seem to attempt to include the local busking community in the development of the busking policy.
— Interesting fact: in 2012, a code of practice for buskers was suggested. It seemed to work initially, but, in the end, failed to decrease the number of complaints about noise.
— The authorities suggest that in return for adhering to the busking code, they will offer promotion and support to the participating buskers: As taken from the code of practice – “In return they will make every effort to develop future performance opportunities for Dublin’s street performers through the inclusion of street performers on the Artist’s Panel and in the programming of a street performer element at significant cultural events occurring in the city.”