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.
Prague, Czech Republic
Grade: 7 – Ranking 3rd
— Busking is legal.
— There is a specific strategy for busking as well as an ordinance regulating it.
— A new ordinance restricts busking to some publicly accessible places
– there are specific pitches.
— Strategy includes Busker’s Ethical Code.
— Code includes a list of places where busking is prohibited either completely or in the form of making music.
— Licence is not mandatory.
— Amplification is allowed without a licence but only where there is a definite need for it.
— There are specified areas for loud music.
— The authorities seem to be interested in supporting busking.
— However, in some ways, busking seems to be viewed as a problem and disturbance in the city centre. For example, the first article of the ordinance says: “Busking in publicly accessible places is an activity that could disturb public order in the City of Prague”.
— Authorities seem to work in cooperation with the buskers.
— There is also a specific platform/website for local buskers that is promoted by the local
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authorities as a tool/service – www.busking.cz — The ethical code covers many aspects and possible problems that occur during busking, but it also features interesting expressions when it comes to the behaviour that artists should employ. (i.e. “beyond the limits of decency”, “use common sense”).