Engagement

Northern Ireland's arts engagement drops to 12 year low

06 Oct 2021

The number of adults engaging in arts and culture in Northern Ireland has fallen once again.

Continuous Household Survey data for 2020/21 shows 81% of adults engaged in arts and culture in the last 12 months, compared to 87% in 2019/20.

This year's figure represents the lowest recorded for engagement in arts and culture since 2008/09.

Despite the overall decrease, the number of adults using public libraries increased from 23% to 28%.

The number of adults visiting a museum or science centre remained stable at 37%.

This year's report is the first to record engagement against deprivation. 84% of adults living in Northern Ireland's least deprived areas engaged in arts and culture compared to 78% living in the most deprived areas.

Collective creativity can address global challenges

photo of Hatchling exhibition

28 Sep 2021

When the best of technology meets the spark of creativity, incredible things can happen regardless of what century - or millennium - you happen to be in, says Hayaatun Sillem.

Cultural commissioning

Futureproofing the museum sector

Firstsite Museum

28 Sep 2021

Sarah Philp explores the challenge of developing funding to get more people to visit museums and see more art.

Museums and heritage

Peterborough to deliberate on new cultural strategy

24 Sep 2021

Peterborough is set to decide a new 10-year strategy to turn the area into a "cultural hotspot".

The proposed strategy, co-produced by the city council, City Culture Peterborough, and Norfolk & Norwich Festival Bridge, proposes forming a local body for heritage and arts and a prospective bid for City of Culture 2029.

It hopes to capitalise on funding received from the Towns Fund to build a new city centre library and cultural site.

Peterborough is also one of 54 Arts Council England priority areas for investment.

City council cabinet member for culture Steve Allen believes the plan can deliver "huge benefits to the city for years to come”.

The strategy will be discussed by the council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee on September 28 before heading to the cabinet and full council for consideration.

Few of ACE's priority places are among the lowest funded

23 Sep 2021

Fifty-four priority areas for investment have high rates of deprivation and low cultural engagement, but some of the lowest funded regions have missed out.

Audience development

Local authorities

What’s in a name?

Creative Lives Everyday Creativity Montage

22 Sep 2021

Does your organisation’s name need too much explanation? Pauline Tambling reflects on the process of changing an established brand name and offers insight for arts organisations embarking on a similar journey.

Win-win for disabled arts-lovers and the sector

22 Sep 2021

While anxiety about attending events remains high amongst disabled people, Anne Torregiani says the Covid online content boom has seen revolutionary opportunities that could improve access for good.

Deprived areas benefit most from culture

group of people looking at art on a wall outside

15 Sep 2021

New research indicates cultural engagement improves wellbeing in England’s poorest areas the most, but unequal access remains a barrier to participation.

Health and wellbeing

Giving circles and the arts

a border of hands reaching into the centre

14 Sep 2021

Philanthropy is sometimes described as a ‘privilege’ of the wealthiest. But, as Michelle Wright argues, research suggests that giving circles can provide a meaningful and empowering experience at all levels.

Co-designing a sustainable future for arts and higher education collaboration

still from a dance production

14 Sep 2021

While collaboration between the cultural sector and universities has never been more fruitful, Suzie Leighton and Kayla Rose know there are still significant barriers to overcome.

Digital didn't change arts engagement, study finds

09 Sep 2021

The digital pivot might have altered online attendance slighty but for most of the UK, "the new normal of pandemic life was very much like the old normal".

Audience development

Curators of the future

exhibition and showcase

07 Sep 2021

Being disabled in the visual arts sector has presented galleries with serious challenges. But Mike Layward is optimistic about programmes which promote much needed change.

Museums and heritage

Enhancing artist and audience experience

AH AW (OR) OO EE UR (UR) The Long Vowels, 2020

07 Sep 2021

Issues of access have beleaguered artists and audiences alike. Jamie Wyld explores how access streams can be used in innovative ways to enhance both artist and audience experience.

Audience development

Museums tackling loneliness

image of museum

01 Sep 2021

In rural areas such as Cornwall, the pandemic has exacerbated loneliness, with vulnerable people losing their sense of community. Emmie Kell thinks museums can be part of the solution.

Museums and heritage

Health and wellbeing

National Theatre of Scotland opens digital education portal

26 Aug 2021

The National Theatre of Scotland has launched an online education portal.

It launches with a full version of Hannah Lavery's Lament for Sheku Bayoh, filmed at the Lyceum Theatre, alongside educational resources.

The theatre has made access free to schools to spark "an anti-racism conversation in response to the production".

Further productions staged at the theatre will be added, including forthcoming productions of The Enemy and Enough of Him.

Head of Creative Engagement Paul Fitzpatrick says the portal will "facilitate access to the arts, learning and discussion" across Scotland.

Call to patronise local museums as visitors favour big name sites

19 Aug 2021

Museums have not yet returned to full strength despite restrictions lifting. The challenges for smaller and larger sites this summer differ.

Audience development

Human resources

Museums and heritage

Writing for health

using a computer on a sofa

13 Jul 2021

It's widely agreed that arts and creativity can boost mental health and wellbeing. But less well known is the positive effect that writing can have, says Christina Bunce.

Participatory arts

Health and wellbeing

Young people taking the lead

Attenborough Arts Centre's resident youth group, Next Gen

06 Jul 2021

A new programme aimed at engaging 18-to-25 year olds with museums and galleries hands over control of the creative direction to the young people themselves. Sophie Alonso explains.

Audience development

Museums and heritage

Children and young people

Opening up the talent pipeline

Promotional image for the Deutsche Bank Award for Creative Entrepreneurs

06 Jul 2021

A group of young creatives have been selected as Creative Entrepreneurs for 2021 on the basis of their potential. Marina Norris looks at a programme aimed at building the opportunities and skills of young people.

Children and young people

Arts and academic collaborations in placemaking

Community yarnbombing by Woven in Kirklees

29 Jun 2021

We are witnessing a significant increase in diverse and highly ambitious partnerships between universities and the cultural sector. Evelyn Wilson and Emily Hopkins think it's something to shout about.

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