Governance

Dowden defends war on woke, insults DCMS boss

06 Oct 2021

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.

Is DCMS any longer fit for purpose?

photo of Nadine Dorries

28 Sep 2021

While the appointment of Nadine Dorries to lead DCMS has been greeted with widespread dismay by the cultural sector, Robert Hewison reflects on a deeper malaise at the heart of Government.

Cultural commissioning

Heritage tower demolished after Dorries overturns listing

20 Sep 2021

The heritage sector has criticised new Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries’ decision to overturn Dorman Long Tower’s Grade II-listed status on her first evening in office, causing the building to be demolished on Sunday (September 19).

The 1950s Brutalist building had been added to the National Heritage List for England earlier in the week following the recommendation of Historic England, who valued the building as “nationally unique”.

But Dorries accepted an appeal from South Tees Development Corporation and Ben Houchen, the Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley, who argued the tower would costs the taxpayer more than £9m if left standing.

Architect George Clarke called the decision “heartbreaking”. Director of The Twentieth Century Society Catherine Croft said “a minister overturning a Historic England decision to list is always concerning”.

Dorries’ decision was based on the view the “building is not of the required special architectural or historic interest to remain listed," according to a DCMS spokesperson.

How government can avoid missing the mark on levelling up

14 Sep 2021

If policymakers get it right for the cultural sector, there may be significant economic and social dividends to be won, argues Eliza Easton.

Cultural commissioning

White-led Chinese art gallery vows to change

09 Sep 2021

A lack of leadership, engagement and morale has caused an exodus of staff and reputational crisis - but the centre's position is "redeemable".

Human resources

Open letter ‘stands in solidarity’ with Frankcom

06 Sep 2021

An open letter to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) board says it "stands in solidarity" with its ex-Director Sarah Frankcom following her resignation in August.

More than 100 signatories shared their disappointment. They said their trust in the board has been damaged and that Franckom has not "been supported as she should have been".

The letter alleges a lack of accountability in the ongoing investigation into Frankcom's leadership.

It says interviews with internal staff have begun "without an adequate, transparent record of minutes" and alleges Chairman Shaun Woodward has called up staff off record.

At the time of publication, the letter had been co-signed by 24 of LAMDA’s permanent staff, 43 of its freelance practitioners, associate artists and visiting directors and 33 industry professionals.

LAMDA, which is conducting an inquiry into claims against Franckom, declined to comment.

City of London launches review into racism at Barbican Centre

09 Jul 2021

The centre's funder has stepped in after former and current staff called it "institutionally racist" and lobbied for managers to resign.

Human resources

Southbank Sinfonia merges with St John's Smith Square

07 Apr 2021

The partnership will afford more stability to both organisations as they aim to create "one of the most accessible and creative venues in the country".

'We are sorry': charity admits history of racism in arts activities

15 Dec 2020

Westway Trust says it "has been, and remains, institutionally racist" following decades of allegations.

Human resources

Planning in a time of radical uncertainty

Electric sign on a wall with 2 arrows pointing in different directions

25 Nov 2020

In these uncertain times, it’s important to return to our core principles: making the most of the information we have and not being afraid to experiment, explains David Reece.

Royal Academy of Music students 'feared speaking out' about sexual harassment

24 Nov 2020

A review highlighting shoddy employment practices and a lack of pastoral support doesn't go far enough to change the conservatoire's culture, critics say.

Human resources

Children and young people

Health and wellbeing

2023 Borough of Culture to go ahead despite council's financial woes

19 Nov 2020

Croydon is still developing the cultural showcase despite an order against non-essential spending, a review over alleged financial mismanagement, and a £67m deficit.

Local authorities

Resilience: the responsibility of the system, not the people

Emma Janye Park leaning on a window

06 Oct 2020

An ongoing and unspoken sense of crisis has driven those working in the performing arts to accept an intolerable range of behaviours as the norm. Emma Jayne Park questions the underlying structures supporting a system that requires endless resilience simply to survive.

Health and wellbeing

Brexit: Is the Internal Market Bill a 'soft power grab'?

18 Sep 2020

Campaigners warn that devolved nations' cultural policy is at risk amid rumours Creative Europe will be transferred to the Foreign Office.

Time to challenge the hierarchies

Rampak Genteng

10 Sep 2020

With the creativity of communities finally becoming a policy priority, arts organisations could be handing more control over to their communities. Adam Pushkin explains why – and how – that could work.

Making progress: towards a citizen-led future

Lesley Cherry’s work replaced a contentious paramilitary mural under the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Re-imaging Communities Fund

10 Sep 2020

Cultural democracy is not in the gift of most cultural institutions, but that doesn’t mean there’s no role for them, says Anne Torreggiani.

The battle lines are drawn

We Can Do Better Protest Sign Cardboard

09 Sep 2020

Power has always resided in the hands of the few and in this moment of crisis it is time to fundamentally change the rules of the game to achieve cultural democracy, says Kully Thiarai.

Let the people decide

Local musicians/performers at the 2019 Whitley Bay Carnival

09 Sep 2020

What happens when you put communities in charge of their own creative projects? Ryan Herman found out how residents, rather than local politicians, are making their communities better places to live.

Community: the beating heart of a new arts landscape

Image of a shop front with a sale banner and promotional theatre performance poster

09 Sep 2020

Could an Ambassadors Scheme offer a way of better connecting theatres with their local communities? Hardish Virk has seen positive results in South Asian communities.

Audience development

'Heritage is more than Downton Abbey': RSA and British Council call for 'radical' shake-up of sector

07 Aug 2020

Heritage can grow the UK's post-Covid economy - but only if it starts "telling the stories of more diverse parts of Britain".

Museums and heritage

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