News

Rural touring company Pentabus has annouced it is moving to new premises at the recently refurbished Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

Having spent the past 40 years on the farm estate at the Old School in Bromfield, Pentabus said the move will make the organisation more accessible to artists and audiences, adding that it will work alongside the Assembly Rooms team to ensure a thriving creative community in the heart of Ludlow.

Verity Overs-Morrell, Executive Director at Pentabus, said: "The entire Pentabus team are thrilled to make Ludlow Assembly Rooms Pentabus' new home, deepening our existing close ties. 

"The warmth received during our recent production of Driftwood [at the Assembly Rooms] and our Young Writers showcases was truly heartening."

Steve Catanach, Interim Business Manager at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, said: “Everyone at Ludlow Assembly Rooms is delighted to welcome Pentabus to our building. 

"Whilst we will continue to maintain and broaden our own programme of cinema, live events, and workshops, it’s fitting for us to now be home to one of the most esteemed national theatrical production companies.

"We look forward to enjoying the mutual benefits that come from sharing our resources and knowledge. Together we will be able to provide high quality, theatrical productions that will be accessible to Ludlow’s residents and visitors alike."

The UK government has delayed guidelines outlining rules on the training of AI models with copyrighted materials.

The delay follows talks between the UK Intellectual Property Office, representatives from AI companies and arts and news organisations, which were arranged to produce a code for the use of AI data and text mining, including the use of work copyrighted by creators.

The group failed to agree on a set of guidelines, with the responsibility now returning to the Department for Science Innovation and Technology.

The delay will likely concern parts of the creative industries. Leading organisations including UK Music and DACS are among those that have warned leading politicans against the use of unregulated AI and the negative impact such practices will have on creators and the creative industries.

In January, the UK government said it is prioritising the development of a regulatory framework for AI technologies.

The comment followed a report from the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee calling for a proposed AI copyright exemption to be scrapped to protect creatives.

A white paper setting out more AI proposals is expected to be published by the UK government in the coming days.

UK Music is calling on Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to halt “damaging” plans to withdraw funding for post-16 music qualifications.

Government has proposed reforms that would defund the current suite of vocational Level 3 qualifications for music by 2026.

Level 3 qualifications in music are aimed at giving 16- to 19-year-olds skills and knowledge to progress to other training, study and employment options in a range of music production and performance disciplines. UK Music says the qualification has left students well-prepared for the often non-linear career progression in the creative industries. 

In a letter to Keegan, UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive Tom Kiehl says the move would leave approximately 30,000 young people a year without a viable alternative.

“Our primary concern relates to the planned defunding of the current suite of vocational Level 3 qualifications for music by 2026. There are not enough alternative options to fill the void that this creates,” Kiehl wrote.

“In the absence of a T-Level for Music, defunding for existing qualifications places a massive administrative burden on many in the music education sector, with qualifications having to be rewritten as Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) and approved by Department for Education. 

“While the introduction of AAQs is not new, its requirement for 'assessment by examination' poses a great challenge for educators to implement the necessary course changes within the timeframe available. Moreover, this approach to learning risks diminishing accessibility to a subject that has traditionally empowered learners from diverse learning styles and backgrounds.”

Kiehl's letter continues: “We therefore ask for an immediate pause in the defunding of all music qualifications that are due to be effectively ‘turned off’ by 2026 and ask for a meeting with you and a representative group of impacted music education providers to find a way forward.

“As an industry, we acknowledge that our success depends on a diverse and accessible range of education and skills options at various levels. Vocational Level 3 qualifications are crucial for the music talent pipeline and are often overlooked.”

The Guildhall Trust has taken over ownership of White Rock Theatre in Hastings.

Built in 1927, the 1,000 capacity theatre is one of the largest and most historic in Sussex.

The trust says it will work towards a five-year plan to develop the theatre’s studio into an performance and community space.

A trust spokesperson told the BBC: “We will be developing a five-year plan to identify how we want to develop the venue and programme, and as a charity, there will be opportunities to fundraise to support this”.

Hastings Borough Council, which owns the site, has said the move “secured” the theatre’s future, after the lease of previous operators Trafalgar Theatres ended last November.

Independent councillor from Hastings Borough Council Andy Batsford said: “They have some exciting plans to take the theatre forward and their experience shows they can deliver the vision we have”.

Touring theatre company Theatre Alibi is set to become an arts venue after opening a permanent base.

Prior to losing its Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio status, which equated to £241,597 of annual funding, the company developed touring plays from a base at Exeter’s Emmanuel Hall.

It now plans to use the hall as a child-centred arts venue, named The Centre for the Imagination for Young People and Children.

The space will host its first event during the current half term and plans to host and share the work of other creative organisations.

Chief Executive Debbie Bucella told the BBC the organisation reached 13,000 children annually with its tour.

"When that funding got removed, sadly we had to stop doing that work, but we looked at what our assets were and the biggest thing that we have is this building," Bucella added.

"We decided we would reach children and still give them something spectacular and a great cultural experience but just within our own building".

An Arts Council England spokesperson added: "We're thrilled to see children and young people experience Theatre Alibi here in Exeter".

"Thanks to public funding, we are able to support their pivot to a new model at Emmanual Hall so that audiences of all ages can get creative."

Music sector body LIVE has launched a survey to understand and identify changes required to improve the experience of freelancers working in the live music industry.

The Hidden Side of Freelancing will explore pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events. 

It can be completed anonymously. The results will be assessed, then used in a publicly available report to be published in April 2024.

“This survey will give freelancers in our industry the information needed to get the most out of the work they do and help to deliver impact change for every freelancer and the organisations that rely on freelance talent,” said LIVE CEO Jon Collins.

Technical Production Manager Paul Jones says one of the biggest single questions raised on the Live Event Freelancers Forum is about wages and pay rates.

“This survey gives every live event freelancer a chance to give accurate and honest information, and anonymously if need be. 

“There has never been more of a need to gain accurate information on pay and conditions for the freelance community so we can gather valuable insight and help shape the future of our sector and industry well into the future.

“If you are a freelancer in the live sector, you should not ignore this survey. It should be one of the most important things you do in 2024. It's your industry, let’s make a difference.”

The survey will close on 23 February.