Cross artform

Housing association Peabody is advertising a 52-square metre unit at Battersea Power Station for a cultural organisation, charity or business to move into.

The ground-floor premises, called Space 52, are situated at New Mansion Square in Wandsworth among a cluster of cultural and creative technology workspaces, featuring podcast studio and screening facilities.

The site is being made available at peppercorn rate for an initial 10-years. The lease comes with an additional £125,000 grant, to be paid to the tenant over five years. 

The Greater London Authority is also making £5,000 available to provide business plan support for individuals and organisations that are led by or will serve underrepresented communities.

Peabody says it is looking for a tenant that needs a base where they can grow and who will thrive in a busy residential environment.

“Space 52 is a fantastic opportunity for creatives looking for an affordable, long-term space who would benefit from extra funding,” Peadbody Deputy Executive Director of Development Angela Wood said.

“A new cultural anchor here at Battersea Power Station will contribute to a thriving creative community and we look forward to appointing and working with them.”

Organisations are invited to submit an expression of interest before 10 May. Three finalists will be asked to submit full proposals later in spring, before interviews take place in June, and the successful applicant takes up residence in October.

Southbank Centre in London has launched a new artist development initiative that will support ‘creative innovation and experimentation’.

The first stage of the Studio programme will invite nine artists to undertake individual residencies in its Purcell Room.

Each five-day residency is designed to help the artists develop existing ideas as well as inspire new ones.

The main focus will be on supporting collaborations across artforms to provide ‘a meeting space to create new ideas borne from collaborations between writers, visual artists, designers, choreographers and musicians’.

Mark Ball, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, said: “The launch of Southbank Centre Studio further underscores our commitment to making the art of the future, to developing bold artistic endeavours and providing artists with the opportunity to explore exciting and surprising new hybrid collaborations.”

Artists selected for the launch programme include Le Gateau Chocolat, voted by Time Out London as one of its Top 10 Cabaret Stars, and audio-visual artist GAIKA, self-described as a “hard-to-place person".

The residency programme begins in May.

Christina McKelvie has been appointed Scotland’s Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development by new Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf.

The MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse replaces Neil Gray, who had been in the post since January 2022.

Her previous Scottish Government role was Minister for Equalities and Older People.

As Culture Minister her responsibilities will include cultural policy and heritage, as well as the organisations Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland.

She will work alongside Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, who has held the position since May 2021 and will sit as a member of Yousaf's cabinet.

McKelvie has been an MSP since 2007 and has represented Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse since 2011.

She said she was "honoured" to take up the new role.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has awarded £110,000 to 22 projects through its Small Grants funding programme.

The initiatives receiving support span the regions of Down, Mid-Ulster, Armagh, Fermanagh, Antrim and the North West.

“Thanks to National Lottery players and money raised for good causes, we are delighted to announce today funding to support 22 fantastic projects, creating more opportunities for people to engage with the arts, from grassroots level projects through to professional productions,” said Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

“This valuable funding programme will support a variety of high quality arts projects in locations across Northern Ireland, including performances, workshops and tuition.”

The Lurgan and Armagh George Russell Festival Society has received funding to support its George Russell Festival, a history, literature and art festival that began on 1 April and continues until 10 April. 

Funding was also awarded to Tempo Maguires GAC to provide weekly low-cost traditional museum classes; Lilac Cancer Support Ltd to recruit an artist to work one day per week in the Art Development Studio at its Community Hub; North West Cultural Partnership to fund a May to July festival celebrating the opening of a new £1.8m arts centre, Seaview Integrated Primary School for a 10-week block of dance classes; Down Academy Pipes and Drums for a music tuition programme at a local primary school; and Africa House NI for a series of arts development workshops and training for the African diaspora community. 

A performing arts centre in Norwich will receive £460,000 from a government fund.

The Garage in Norwich, a charity established in 2002 to support young people, particularly those that are disadvantaged, vulnerable or with limited opportunities, will get the money to improve its dance, drama and music facilities.

The money comes from the second round of the government's Youth Investment Fund will distribute a total of £90m to 43 youth centres.

The BBC reports that the Garage's Chief Executive, Adam Taylor, said the centre has been "working furiously" for 12 months to secure the investment.

"It's an amazing sum of money and we're incredibly fortunate to be in this position," Taylor said.

"It means we can repair our boiler which broke last year, and refurbish our cafe and bar and dance studios, which will help us earn money to support our charitable work with those facing challenging circumstances.

"The rest of the money will enable us to continue opening our doors to thousands of youngsters every day so they can take part in activities that give them the chance to change their lives."

Latest data from The Audience Agency (TAA) suggests a “long shadow” from the Covid pandemic is still affecting the sector.

The charity published its findings from its Cultural Participation Monitor on Tuesday (28 March), which found that more than a quarter of the population are attending arts and culture less than before the pandemic.

More than a third (37%) said they were attending less, compared with 12% who said they were attending more. These results were largely in line with those from a year ago, when 31% said they were attending less, compared with 12% more.

TAA says the pandemic has “receded as a perceived risk,” but added that it “remains a key factor for between a fifth and a quarter of people across a range of measures”.

Those attending cultural destinations less appear most influenced by the cost-of-living crisis, with 56% stating that their reduced attendance was because of money.

Elsewhere, TAA’s findings suggest that venues are reporting higher levels of late bookings – with 41% of audience members saying they tend to book last minute.

People are also planning to donate less, with 50% of those who currently donate to cultural organisations saying they plan to donate less across the next year.

TAA Chief Executive Anne Torreggiani says the new evidence confirms arts and cultural organisations are suffering a “double whammy” right now.

“Trying to navigate these complex reasons for income being down is very challenging for organisations,” she said.

“Developing a really deep understanding of your audience is going to make a big difference because what's working for a peer organisation in a different place with a different audience won’t necessarily work in your community.”

An historic building owned by Southwark Council is set to reopen as an arts centre and events venue.

The Grade II listed Kingswood House in West Dulwich, South London will be refurbished and run by the newly created, not-for-profit community interest company Kingswood Arts CIC.

Originally built in 1811, the property and grounds have been owned and managed by the council since the 1950s.

The house, which has previously been home to a small library and youth club, closed to the public in March 2019 because it was deemed unsafe for public use.

Jack Hartshorn, co-founder and general manager of Kingswood Arts, said: “We are so excited and privileged to be given the opportunity to reopen the doors of this amazing historic building.

"We will operate the building with care, creativity and consciousness of the environment, but most importantly, we believe that co-creation with the community here is the only way to make a genuine impact on people's lives."

Kingswood Arts will be holding a launch festival on the weekend of 8 and 9 April with music, food and drink, and a bouncy castle for children.