Supporting artists

A cross-cultural network for artists' archives will be pursued under a new international partnership.

UK charity Art360 Foundation and US non-profit, the Hauser & Wirth Institute, plan to develop the Expanded Archives Network, building on a professional network established by Art360 in 2019.

The partners say it will platform independent artists and preserve and present their archives for a wider audience. Membership of the network will be free.

Ellie Porter, Head of Programme at Art360, said much of the work to preserve cultural heritage remains invisible despite its "urgency and value".

Hauser & Wirth Executive Director Lisa Darns added: "Through supporting and connecting archivists globally, we hope to help elevate the status of this vital and progressive work in the broader art world."

More than 49 major European cultural networks have pledged support to Ukraine’s sector in an open letter to policy makers.

Led by the European Theatre Convention, the letter urges national, European, and global stakeholders to make funds and other support available to Ukrainian arts organisations and professionals.

Signatories say they are ready to receive and host artists, stage performances, organise events and advocate for a peaceful solution to ongoing conflict.

Thousands of theatres, music venues, festivals, cinemas and arts organisations across Europe are represented in the letter.

“We stress that the European cultural sector is united and that you can count on us,” it reads.

Disabled-led visual arts charity DASH is extending its Future Curators programme.

Cornwall’s Newlyn Art Gallery & Exchange, Southampton’s John Hansard Gallery and Sheffield’s Arts Catalyst will join the network’s three existing members this year.

The three new organisations will each host a disabled curator for a fifteen-month residency, resulting in a new exhibition or body of work produced by each curator.

DASH says its Future Curators Network aims to address deep-rooted inequality against disabled people in the visual arts sector.

Artistic Director Mike Layward says the programme now covers most parts of England: “We have high hopes for the Future Curators programme and the influence it will bring in diversifying the visual arts sector.”

Changes to Universal Credit eligibility could unfairly affect creatives, performers' union Equity says.

Under new rules, new claimants have four weeks to look for jobs in their usual line of work instead of three months. After this period, claimants will be forced to consider work opportunities outside their preferred sector.

Those failing to comply face having their benefit suspended for up to 26 weeks.

Equity says the change prejudices performers and creative practitioners, whose work is often intermittent and unpredictable, and those still building a portfolio or network of contacts.

The union says it has secured a meeting with senior government officials to discuss the matter.

“After undergoing lengthy and arduous professional training, it is vital that our welfare system does not compel members to abandon their profession and take unsuitable jobs due to financial pressures.”

1,670 emergency grants have been handed out in latest round of the Theatre Artists Fund.

Beneficiaries received £1000 each from the fund, which supported freelance theatre workers affected by Covid cases and show cancellations through the winter.

The fund has raised £9.8m across seven funding streams since  July 2020.

The release comes as the fund, established by Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre, works towards a pilot programme for providing employment pathways in at-risk professions. 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will investigate the streaming market "from creator to consumer" following a year-long inquiry by MPs.

The office will consider whether the dominance of major labels is stifling competition or affording any players "excessive power".

While it could be a significant step forward for music creators seeking fair payment, progress remains slow - the DCMS Committee's inquiry and an investigation by the Intellectual Property Office have turned up more evidence but no answers.

The CMA is inviting comments on a study of the market until February 17, with an eye to publishing its findings early next year.

The UK's first queer camping festival will take place near London this spring.

Flesh features a house and techno line-up, 90% of which are women, trans and non-binary artists of varying ethnicities: "As such, Flesh will address the long term issue of male dominated festival programming," its manifesto says.

The two-day event aims to improve artists' visibility and help them generate new bookings by leading by example. 

"Many people talk about equality in electronic music but Flesh will take real life action to make it happen."