News

A group of young people have been given £3.6m to transform a former primary school into an arts, sports and education centre for their community.

The BBC reports that Tiber Young People's Steering Group (TYPSG) in Liverpool, made up of 14 -18 year olds, will make all key decisions about the development of the four-acre Tiber Street Primary School site in the city. 

Chair, student Sha'Rae Riley, said: "We are the next generation and we know what young people want to see. We want to make sure the community has different jobs and opportunities for young people."

A grant of £3.58m from the government's Youth Investment Fund will be spent on educational rooms, a café, a function suite and an outdoor event space

The project is one of several initatives related to arts to be funded by the £90m investment programme.

The UK's departure from the European Union may cause “terminal damage” to the UK’s music industry, the Principal of the Royal Academy of Music has said.

Speaking to the Scottish daily The National, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood said the proportion of European students at the conservatoire has fallen by half since 2016 and warned that Brexit has “stopped the flow of talent coming in”.

“It has been a complete no-win situation, not just for higher education but actually for music higher education, and particularly an institution like this that was founded over 200 years ago by Europeans," he said.

“I think there will be terminal damage in an area where we have a world renowned reputation as educators and as people who make a difference worldwide in the creative industries.

“So at the moment, I think we're fighting against the tide and in some areas we're doing OK, but it's a colossal waste in terms of reputation, in terms of capability, in terms of possibility of things that Britain has always done incredibly well."

The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced an agreement with RADAR Festival for a percentage of every ticket to go towards supporting grassroots music venues via the charity’s Pipeline Investment Fund. 

RADAR Festival, the contemporary indoor music festival in Manchester, is the first festival to agree to donate to the Pipeline Investment Fund which has awarded more than £260,000 to 61 UK Grassroots Music Venues since it was founded in 2022.

Co-organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith said: “If we don’t protect the smaller venues then there isn’t a pipeline for the next [festival] headliners, and this ticking time bomb is something that the music industry can, and must, take action on.” 

MVT CEO and founder Mark Davyd said: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to RADAR Festival, for taking this bold step as the first festival to champion the Pipeline Investment Fund. 

"Their support is a strong commitment to the heart and soul of the UK's music scene, nurturing its roots through the vital network of Grassroots Music Venues."

Chickenshed Theatre removed a short play from a new writing showcase over concerns that its key theme of a British woman of Palestinian heritage trying to speak with her father in Israel did not include "the space or time for dialogue" given "the complexity of the situation in the Middle East".

Written and performed by Gemilla Shamrock, who works as a BA Tutor and mentor at Chickenshed, with Senior Creative Producer Dave Carey, Conversations with My Father was among ten short plays included in Chickenshed’s annual new writing review Changes Rota Two, which ran from 6 - 17 February.

In a statement on the company's website, Chickenshed Theatre said: "Conversations with my Father’ was an 8-minute piece created by Chickenshed, exploring the conversations between a father and daughter covering everything from tik-tok to football but also their sadness at the current situation in the Middle East.

"The piece was shown twice as part of Changes as, upon reflection and taking into account the incredible complexity of the situation in the Middle East, we felt the format of the platform did not provide the necessary opportunity for an open conversation or nuanced discussion to take place between Chickenshed and audiences around the themes and ideas explored in the piece.

"It is not uncommon for pieces in our new writing programme to be performed only once or twice, and the themes and stories often continue to be developed well after their initial presentation. 

"We continuously facilitate feedback sessions with audiences and our artists to ensure that inclusivity continues to lie at the heart of everything that Chickenshed does. Presenting Conversations with my Father as part of Changes did not include the space or time for a dialogue of this kind.

"The diversity of backgrounds and identities within the Chickenshed communities means that these stories are varied and often complex when they come together. Chickenshed aims to create an inclusive space for everyone, and we welcome open conversation surrounding topics that affect our audiences, our artists and students alike."

Nottingham-based fringe theatre comany Nonsuch will relocate to a cinema in the city after moving out of its previous premises at the end of last year.

The charity, which was last year unsuccessful in an application for Arts Council England investment as part of the 2023-26 National Portfolio, will now be based at the independent Broadway cinema.

It took the decision to leave its previous premises due to the "ever-increasing costs of operating a venue in challenging economic circumstances".

Announcing the move, it said it will now begin the refocusing of work away from venue operations to return to its roots of producing and touring contemporary performance, working with communities across the East Midlands.

‍Edward Boott, Artistic Director and CEO of Nonsuch, said: “This is an epic move for the whole Nonsuch team as we relocate to refocus on our producing and community programme work. 

"We’re so thrilled and honoured to have been invited by the incredible team at Broadway to become residents in their iconic building and can’t wait for all the magical collaborations and partnerships our new home might bring.”

Harlequin Theatre in Redhill will stay shut for “some time” due to the “extensive presence of RAAC”, according to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (RBBC).

The theatre closed its doors in September after the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)but initially hoped it would be able to reopen within a few weeks.

RBBC decided instead to defer reopening and relocate its Christmas show to a purpose-built big, top-style tent in Redhill Memorial Park.

The local authority is now exploring alternative options for spring and into the summer, including “sharing space at alternative local venues and potentially expanding the Harlequin Outdoors offer during the summer months".

Council leader Richard Biggs said: "It has been a challenge, but the success of the Big Top panto is a testament to what can be achieved, and I'm excited about the new opportunities."

Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) has published its first 10-year strategy for public consultation.

The funding body developed the long-term plan last year following engagement with artists, arts organisations and representatives across government, businesses and the public sector.

It is now seeking responses to the proposals from individuals, businesses, and organisations via an online survey, which will run for 12 weeks until 5 April.

The ambitious strategy presents ACNI’s “unwavering commitment to championing the arts sector” and its plans to “propel it to new heights of recognition” but also acknowledges the challenges facing the arts in Northern Ireland.
 
“It is a regrettable truth that government investment in the arts sector in Northern Ireland has not always matched the incredible potential and impact it holds,” says the foreword by Chair Liam Hannaway and Chief Executive Roisín McDonough. “Opportunities have been missed, and the growth of this wonderful sector has been hindered by a lack of adequate resources and recognition.”

Summarising the key issues facing the sector, the strategy notes that while “public investment in the arts has fallen by 28% in cash terms over the last decade, from £14.1m to £10.1m, closer to a 49% reduction when inflation is considered", Northern Ireland has the lowest levels of per capita government spending on the arts in the UK, receiving £5.07 PC (2023/24), in contrast with Wales at £10.51 (2023/24) and the Republic of Ireland at £21.90 (2022).

A key proposal in the strategy would see ACNI introduce multi-annual funding, which it says will reduce administrative costs, releasing more time and resources for the council to support arts organisations. It is currently the only UK arts council not to do so “due to risks associated with annual budget allocations from the government”.

As part of its plans to develop a more financially stable sector, ACNI also said it would undertake a scoping exercise to assess how it can generate more income for the industry across private, public and philanthropic funders.