Audience development

ACE is right to focus on libraries in its new strategy, says Hassan Vawda – but it must put communities at the heart of its plans to revive them.

Can libraries deliver culture for all? ACE’s new strategy unveiled

A photo of a man dressed as a First World War Soldier

27 Jan 2020

Children, young people and libraries are central to the funder’s ambitions to enable everyone to benefit from creative and cultural opportunities.

Access

Environmental sustainability

Who's afraid of contemporary art?

'Snow White: Reimagined' performed by Collective31

23 Jan 2020

If we think of contemporary art as only suitable for experienced audiences, we are missing huge opportunities to inspire newcomers, says Naomi Wright.

Engagement

Cross artform

Why great customer service isn't enough

A photo of a man and a woman laughing in an auditorium

16 Jan 2020

It’s time we all started thinking of ourselves as experience makers. Lasting memories and positive emotions can be created at every point of contact with audiences, writes Lucy Costelloe.

Home is where the art is

02 Jan 2020

Toma McCullim, artist in residence in Skibbereen’s Ludgate Hub, describes a project reconnecting diaspora and reinventing tradition through innovative storytelling.

A truly national theatre? Exploring new ways to collaborate

A photo of a young man on a stage leaning against another actor

05 Dec 2019

National Theatre partnerships with theatres around the country are creating an opportunity for them to share and compare experiences and ideas across a mix of scales, locations and financial models. Lisa Burger explains what’s going on.

City of Culture ‘changed Hull’s image for the better’

28 Nov 2019

An evaluation says the programme brought “profound but somewhat fragile” changes to Hull’s economy, community and cultural sector.

Does 'Pay What You Can' pay off?

21 Nov 2019

As new customers are more likely to buy high price tickets than existing customers, can we expect Pay What You Can schemes to develop new audiences? Debbie Richards examines the evidence.

Ticketing

Equality

We need more welfare funding of the arts – literally

19 Nov 2019

Opinion

If the arts sector really has faith in everyday creativity, it should put its money where its mouth is, writes Jonathan Knott.

What do we really know about audience privilege?

18 Nov 2019

Research suggests that people living in ‘more deprived’ areas are less likely to engage with cultural activity. But is that true across the board, or are there different patterns between – and within – different art forms? Mark Taylor digs deep to find out.

Brent 2020 promises to ‘challenge definitions of culture’

14 Nov 2019

The Chief Executive of the London Borough’s Council said the year-long programme would examine the relationship between power and people and celebrate migration.

Local authorities

Placemaking

Head to head: can a toolkit solve the sector’s class problem?

14 Nov 2019

This year Jerwood Arts published a toolkit for cultural organisations, designed to encourage greater socio-economic diversity in the arts. Julie Lomax, Chief Executive of a-n The Artists Information Company, sees it as a starting point for helping solve the sector’s ‘class crisis’ – but arts consultant Chrissie Tiller isn’t so sure.

Can you quantify class?

A picture of four people's hands holding mobile devices

14 Nov 2019

Asking questions about someone’s social class may feel uncomfortable, but people are less sensitive than you might think. Maya Sharma and Dan Cowley explain why it’s important to tackle the subject head on – and how to go about it.

Changing the narrative in East Leeds

A photo of the Chapel FM building in a former church

14 Nov 2019

Case study

It’s been five years since Heads Together opened Chapel FM in East Leeds. Linda Strudwick looks at what can be achieved from running an arts centre in the middle of a disadvantaged community.

Access

Engagement

Diversity

Equality

Placemaking

‘Better evidence’ needed on immersive technology

11 Nov 2019

A study warns that “debates about authenticity, re-creation and fakery are amplified by digital technologies”.

Access

Museums and heritage

Celebrating local excellence

07 Nov 2019

Case study

We spend too much time trying to learn lessons from cities and apply them in other places, argues Brendan Keaney. It’s time to recognise that creative powerhouses can come in all shapes and sizes – and not always where you might expect.

Millions more visit major museums

28 Oct 2019

Several museums and galleries have recorded their highest visitor numbers in a decade – leading DCMS to claim it was a “record breaking year for museums and galleries in England”.

Museums and heritage