There has been a massive decline in arts for young people over the last 15 years. So much so that Joe Hallgarten thinks we need a dedicated national organisation to repair the damage. The current review of ACE might provide an opportunity.
While rarely a vote-winner, let alone a doorstep issue, institution-building is a fundamental part of our political processes. Every new government has to make its mark, show its ideological colours and create a platform for change and legacy through its approach to institutions.
Think of the creation of the Open University, an independent Bank of England and, of course, the Arts Council itself. Or think of the 2010 ‘bonfire of the quangos’ when a new government asserted its anti-... more
18 Apr 2024
Feature
In light of the huge challenges that so many arts and culture organisations have faced in recent years, Watershed’s Clare Reddington shares five ‘rules’ for turning your organisation round.
17 Apr 2024
Feature
A report from King’s College London looks at potential policy solutions to combat precarity in freelance cultural work. Sana Kim, one of the researchers, shares its key findings.
16 Apr 2024
Opinion
A blog post by a former government adviser has called for a cap on the number of students studying creative subjects. Orian Brook thinks the figures used to justify this argument misrepresent creative graduates’ earning power and contribution.
16 Apr 2024
Feature
Being an artist, at all career stages, is a minefield waiting to be triggered without informed guidance. Simon Poulter has been canvassing artists about being sold a dream.
10 Apr 2024
Opinion
Artistic freedom is an increasingly contested area of public discourse. But as Ruth Anderson of Index on Censorship argues, while she might not agree with what is expressed, she defends the right to do so.
09 Apr 2024
Opinion
Andrew Pinnock, a former Arts Council officer, thinks it’s time for an honest review of our national development agency for creativity and culture, based on truthful foundations.
09 Apr 2024
Feature
After far too many decades of jam tomorrow, artists deserve better, says independent arts researcher Susan Jones.
08 Apr 2024
Opinion
Now more than ever it’s important to focus on the things that really matter, to free ourselves of distractions and to identify earned income opportunities, says Robin Cantrill-Fenwick.
08 Apr 2024
Feature
Harmeet Chagger-Khan leads on innovation, and immersive and interactive projects at The Space. Here she explores how artists are using AI and why transparency and media literacy are vital to ensure it is accessible to all.
21 Mar 2024
Feature
Cara Pickering and Sarie Mairs Slee examine how place-based collaboration can support innovative, creative-led regeneration of our towns and cities.
21 Mar 2024
Feature
Amid the current drive for local authorities to have cultural strategies, Professor Daniel Ashton considers the challenges of trying to align those strategies to changing policy and geographic landscapes.
19 Mar 2024
Feature
The sector’s resilience and creativity in navigating crises show how art and culture will sustain even in the toughest of times. Ben Walmsley explores what is now needed to build a more equitable, confident and sustainable future.
19 Mar 2024
Feature
A ground-breaking initiative from the Royal Academy of Music in partnership with Southbank Centre – Future Artists - seeks to equip students to use their multiple skills, writes Jessica Walker.
18 Mar 2024
Opinion
A year after losing ACE funding, Berkshire's Watermill Theatre has had some sweet successes. Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive Claire Murray charts the downs and ups of a rollercoaster year.
14 Mar 2024
Feature
What do cultural leaders really think about the problems they, and the arts and cultural sector, face? Steven Hadley is the Editor of a new book on the subject.