News

Five trade unions have written to the Chair of the government’s Cultural Education Plan Expert Advisory Panel, saying the panel has failed to engage with them in the development of the forthcoming Cultural Education Plan.

The letter to Baroness Deborah Bull, signed by the general secretaries of the National Education Union, Equity, Musicians’ Union, Bectu and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, expresses "disappointment" that no union representatives have been invited to sit on the panel.

"Despite terms of reference which require the panel to represent 'those responsible for delivering cultural education and wider related sectors such as arts', no trade union representatives in the arts, entertainment or education were invited to participate since the panel was established in July 2023,” the letter states.

The panel, comprised of 22 people, has been overseeing the development of a new plan to improve cultural education for young people, which was due for publication by the end of last year.

Equity’s General Secretary Paul W Fleming said: “The fact that representatives of those involved in delivering the arts, education or entertainment have not been invited to input into this process beggars belief.”

“The complete lack of engagement calls into question the robustness of any recommendations which the so-called ‘expert’ advisory panel makes to government in advance of the proposed Cultural Education Plan.”

“If you want expert advice, you’re best off listening to the hundreds of thousands of world-class educators and creative practitioners working every day to deliver the arts, culture and education. You simply won’t have a meaningful Cultural Education Plan without them.”
 

King George's Hall in Blackburn will undergo an £8m renovation, it has been announced.

The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the money will come from a Levelling-Up grant of £20m to Blackburn with Darwen Council from the government, with the work concentrating on the interior of the building.

The remainder of the new money will go on refurbishment of nearby Tony’s Ballroom, the redevelopment of Blackburn's historic town centre The Exchange building, and transforming the Imperial Mill for employment and cultural use .

Blackburn with Darwen Council Leader Phil Riley said: "The announcement comes after months of hard work between council and government officials, who have together developed a strong investment package to support town centre growth priorities.

"At the heart of the bid is an impressive £8m to renovate the ever-popular King George’s Hall - a key element of Blackburn’s new £50m Cultural Quarter.

"There’ll also be new investment for the likes of Tony’s Ballroom, The Exchange and Imperial Mill.

"I am delighted with the money for King George's Hall which is an vital part of the cultural, artistic and leisure life of the borough and wider area."

A garden in front of Tate Britain to integrate art with nature will open in 2026, it has been announced.

Museums and Heritage Advisor reports that the gallery is working on the garden project in collaboration with landscape design practice Tom Stuart-Smith Studio and architects Feilden Fowles.

The project, dubbed the Clore Garden, after its backing by the Clore Duffield Foundation, has also received advice and guidance from horticultural experts at the Royal Horticultural Society.

Tom Stuart-Smith, who has previously created gardens for Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire and the Royal Academy of Arts in London, said: "Since this area was last redesigned, the world has changed and we all feel that public spaces in the heart of our cities need to work harder. 

"Mown lawns and clipped hedges are hard pressed to do this on their own. We hope to make Tate Britain a haven for wildlife, and bring beauty, complexity and joy into this garden in the heart of London.”

Chiswick House & Gardens Trust (CHGT) has unveiled plans to create a new learning hub with facilities to support 200 volunteers and artists’ studios.

The project aims to address the charity’s long-term viability and will also work with local residents to turn an unused outdoor space into a fruit garden.

CHGT said creating its new "campus”, Cedar Yards, will support the growth and accessibility of its volunteering and community activity. The addition of affordable workspaces for up to 100 artists and makers will also offer a new source of income for the trust.

So far, a third of the project cost has been raised, underpinned by funding from London Borough of Hounslow through Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) grants and funds from the Thriving Communities and Creative Enterprise Zone Grants. The rest of the funds are being raised from charitable and private sources.

Xanthe Arvanitakis, Director of Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, said: “This ambitious project has been designed to directly impact the wellbeing of our local community as well as enhancing cultural and creative enterprise activity in London Borough of Hounslow.

"By creating more public green spaces for local people, we can expand our learning and community programme, which is currently running at capacity. With the introduction of affordable workspaces for artists and makers, we will foster a local creative economy and generate much-needed new income for the trust.”

A theatre in Solihull which closed last September after the discovery of dangerous concrete in its roof could reopen in 2025, it has been suggested.

Solihull Council said that a survey of the roof of The Core Theatre had made "positive findings", suggesting that areas of vulnerable reinforced autoclaved concrete (RAAC) could be repaired by next year.

The local authority said it will give a more exact opening date soon after a final technical report is delivered.

While the main auditorium remains closed, the council has developed an "alternative programme of cultural activity" backed by  £307,000 of funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to extend the higher rate of Orchestra Tax relief (OTR) in his upcoming budget.

The national body said the move would "help UK orchestras continue to remain ambitious, delivering new productions, creating jobs, building new audiences and delivering for local communities, in the face of continued economic pressures."

Introduced in 2016, OTR offers companies producing live orchestral performances or commissioning new musical work tax relief against creative and production costs. Previously 25%, it was temporarily raised to 50% in October 2021 and will drop to 35% next year and 25% in 2026.

ABO made the comments in response to  Birmingham City Council's plans to remove all financial support for its regularly funded arts organisations as part of a strict budget designed to save £300m over the next two years.

Under the proposals City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) will see its £630,000 yearly grant reduced by 50% this year before being completely removed in 2025/26.

ABO said it had "deep concern" over the planned cuts and asked the Chancellor to commit to ensuring that "all local councils have sufficient funding to set balanced budgets for 2024/25 and develop sustainable medium-term financial strategies".

Wandsworth Council has agreed to extend Battersea Arts Centre’s (BAC) rent-free period until 2035 saving it in the region of £270,000.

Operating since 1974, BAC is a charity based in Battersea's Old Town Hall. The venue is a key partner in Wandsworth’s bid to be named London Borough of Culture 2025. 

BAC’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Tarek Iskander said: “At a time when so many councils are cutting back on arts and culture funding, we’re exceptionally lucky to have such brilliant support from Wandsworth Borough Council. 

“2024 is an incredibly special year as we celebrate our 50th anniversary as an arts centre. BAC has always been part of a thriving arts community in Wandsworth, and that is in no small part due to the vital support we receive from the council, who continue to reaffirm their belief in the importance of arts and culture to public life.”

Council Deputy Leader and lead spokesperson on arts and culture Kemi Akinola added that she was delighted the council would “continue to offer such tangible and effective support” to BAC.

“BAC is not just Wandsworth’s but one of the UK’s leading cultural organisations, playing a vital role on the local, regional and national stage. 

“Not only does it bring significant footfall to the borough, over a third of their audiences have always been very local, appreciating the ground-breaking and unique work it provides on their doorsteps. 

“Most of their shows are offered as pay what you can, and with almost universal relaxed performances, making them more accessible to local underserved communities than any other London theatre.”

Two climate activists have been arrested following alleged vandalism at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

Climate activist group This is Rigged said protesters staged a demonstration on 3 March to raise awareness about rising food insecurity in the UK. They are calling on the Scottish Government to implement a community food hub for every 500 households in Scotland.

In footage posted on social media, protesters were seen pouring porridge and jam on a bust of Queen Victoria and graffitiing its plinth.

In a statement, the group said: "We refuse to be dragged back to the Victorian era. Diseases such as rickets, which once haunted Victorian slums, are now on a sharp rise in Scotland, with 356 diagnoses in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area last year."

Police Scotland said officers were called to the attraction in Glasgow's West End at about 11:55 on Sunday and that two women, aged 23 and 30, were charged following the incident involving a Queen Victoria bust.

They were released to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.