News

Newbury's Corn Exchange has received funding to begin the next stage of a legacy creative ageing programme.

A new team dedicated to this work has been appointed on the back of the £339,000 Lottery grant to lead engagement with older people, especially those who are rurally based and socially isolated.

The first stage of Ageing Creatively ran from 2016 to 2019. This second stage will involve a range of Covid-safe singing, writing, dance, crafts and exercise workshops, as well as a Touch to See group for the visually impaired.

Engagement Manager Hannah Elder said the programme is varied, responsive and provides a noticeable service to its community.

"We see the smiles in our Memory Cafe morning and the concentration on the faces of those attending Afternoon Art.

"We hope to see this impact continue for our ageing community over the next five years, and to play a real part locally in championing arts for health and well-being among our elders."

Two-thirds of Black, Asian and minority ethnic students struggle to find inspirational creative role models.

Research commissioned by software brand Adobe surveyed 3,000 students and early career creative professionals, finding BAME students were most likely to be deterred from making creative career choices.

52% said their parents advised against creative careers and 40% of BAME people employed in the creative industry said they'd been discouraged by others several times.

Rapper Little Simz said the findings show ethnic minorty groups need better reputation "to show the next generation that they can make it".

Adobe's Senior Director of Marketing Simon Morris added: "We risk missing out on incredible talent if – as parents, role models, careers advisors, teachers and industry – we don’t equip our young people with knowledge of all the opportunities available to them."

Recently departed Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says he is not "standing in the way of change" by threatening to strip funding from organisations deemed "too woke".

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Dowden said organisations "have to demonstrate why they justify the funding" by rejecting aggressive campaigning on issues like decolonising museums.

"When I make interventions in this area, I genuinely ask myself... am I just standing in the way of change in a reactionary way?

"I genuinely do not believe that is the case."

Dowden also appeared to take a shot at DCMS Permanent Secretary Sarah Healey, saying public servants working from home needed to "get off their Pelotons and back to their desks".

Healey was recently quoted as saying she preferred working from home because she could spend more time on her exercise bike.

Vaccine passports for large events in Scotland are off to a rocky start after the country's Health Secretary urged people to ignore them.

Hamza Yousaf told door staff to allow entry without certification the first weekend the system became mandatory.

Venues will not face penalties for non-enforcement until October 18 after a "grace period" was introduced at the last minute.

Thousands experienced glitches with the app, prompting an apology from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

"The problem was not with the app itself but with the NHS systems that it links to," she said.

Female performing arts graduates' earnings outstrip their male counterparts' after five years.

The average salary for a female performing arts graduate is £21,900, rising from £14,200 in the first year after finishing their studies.

Whilst men earning more in the initial stage of their careers with an average salary of £14,300 in their first year, women earn more on average three years in - £18,300 compared to £17,500.

The opposite is true of creative arts and design graduates: females earn less than males from the get go - £16,400 on average compared to £16,800 in their first year working.

The gap grows with time, with men earning £23,400 on average after five years, £1,900 more than female creative arts graduates.

Creative arts, where 60% of graduates are women, provides the lowest financial returns of any course of study, analysis by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows.

Xiaowei Xu, a Senior Research Economist at IFS, said women disproportionately chose subject with lower-paying career options.

"Of course, money isn’t – and shouldn’t be – the only factor when it comes to choosing what to study. But more needs to be done to inform young people about the financial consequences of degree choices, and to overcome gender stereotypes, so that women are not locked out of high-paying careers by choices at a young age.”

The UK Government has said it will help Glasgow address its culture funding crisis.

The city’s cultural operator Glasgow Life has warned it cannot reopen more than 90 of its 171 venues if it does not secure funding above the £100m pledged by Glasgow Council over the next for years.

The charitable trust announced plans to cut 500 jobs earlier this year.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said he is "keenly aware" of the difficulties Glasgow Life faces.

"The cultural importance of Glasgow's museums cannot be overstated. I am determined to do everything I can to support efforts to secure the future of our wonderful collections."

Glasgow Life Chairman David McDonald welcomed Stewart's comments and hoped they spark a meeting between Scotland Office and the Scottish Government to "protect cultural growth in Glasgow".

Aberdeen City Council has approved plans to provide online instrumental lessons for pupils.

It first introduced digital music lessons during the pandemic, when Aberdeen City Music Service began uploading instructor videos for pupils to access between classes.

The provider says students have made "good progress" during digital lessons, prompting council officers to consult with pupils, parents and instructors to determine the scope of the offer.

The initiative will support an expected increase in the number of pupils taking lessons as Scotland becomes the first UK nation to mandate free instrumental music tuition.

"Our council has been pioneering in its use of digital technology - and there is a great opportunity to harness its power in delivering content to support those who engage with the music service," Councillor M Taqueer Malik commented.