Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Chickenshed Theatre removed a short play from a new writing showcase over concerns that its key theme of a British woman of Palestinian heritage trying to speak with her father in Israel did not include "the space or time for dialogue" given "the complexity of the situation in the Middle East".
Written and performed by Gemilla Shamrock, who works as a BA Tutor and mentor at Chickenshed, with... read more
Chickenshed Statement (Chickenshed)
Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Nottingham-based fringe theatre comany Nonsuch will relocate to a cinema in the city after moving out of its previous premises at the end of last year.
The charity, which was last year unsuccessful in an application for Arts Council England investment as part of the 2023-26 National Portfolio, will now be based at the independent Broadway cinema.
It took the decision to leave its previous... read more
Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Harlequin Theatre in Redhill will stay shut for “some time” due to the “extensive presence of RAAC”, according to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (RBBC).
The theatre closed its doors in September after the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)but initially hoped it would be able to reopen within a few weeks.
RBBC decided instead to defer reopening and relocate its... read more
Monday, 19 February 2024
Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) has published its first 10-year strategy for public consultation.
The funding body developed the long-term plan last year following engagement with artists, arts organisations and representatives across government, businesses and the public sector.
It is now seeking responses to the proposals from individuals, businesses, and organisations via an online survey... read more
10-Year Strategic Plan, 2024-34 (Arts Council Northern Ireland)
Monday, 19 February 2024
The British Museum deactivated the responses on a social media post after being flooded with comments from Chileans demanding that the institution return two moai statues from Easter Island.
Comments of "return the moai" began to inundate the museum's social channels after Chilean social media influencer Mike Milfort, who has 7.5m followers on TikTok, encouraged his fans to spam the museum’s... read more
Thursday, 15 February 2024
A project looking at the future of the BBC’s performing groups has concluded with the announcement that a sustainable future has been secured.
The BBC Singers will remain integral to the BBC’s classical music provision, working in partnership with The VOCES8 Foundation.
BBC Singers staff will continue to be employed by the BBC and remain core to Radio 3 and the Proms.
The announcement comes... read more
Thursday, 15 February 2024
Soho Theatre, London, has issued a statement apologising for an “incident” on 10 February that is understood to have involved a comedian directing chants of "free Palestine" toward an Israeli man.
The National Portfolio Organisation said it was “sorry and saddened” by the incident that took place at a performance of Paul Currie: Shtoom on Saturday, 10 February, which “caused upset and hurt to... read more
Paul Currie in antisemitism storm (Chortle)
Thursday, 15 February 2024
Schoolchildren in the West Midlands will benefit from a new pilot scheme promising free travel for theatre visits.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is offering the scheme, estimated to be available to more than 300 pupils in Dudley.
Any school in Brierley Hill, Dudley that receives a minimum 25% pupil premium will qualify for transport when booking tickets to a Grand Theatre production.
The Richardson... read more
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
A law that would have allowed the restitution of artefacts on moral grounds will not apply to national museums and galleries, the government has confirmed.
Currently, most national cultural collections in England are prohibited from deaccessioning items. However, sections 15 and 16 of the Charities Act 2022 would have allowed trustees to request permission from the Charity Commission if they felt... read more
National museums to be excluded from law enabling restitution on moral grounds (Museums Association)
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Greenham Trust has granted £20k of match funding to Watermill Theatre to help “secure the future work” of the former Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation.
The support is being offered via a fundraising alliance established by Greenham Trust to support the Newbury venue following its 100% ACE funding cut announced in November 2022.
The alliance, which also includes The... read more
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
A group of 30 Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) responsible for producing around a third of the portfolio's total carbon output have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by two-fifths since 2018, a new report commissioned by ACE has revealed.
The Culture, Climate and Environmental Responsibility annual report 2022-23 utilises data provided by 2018-23 NPOs... read more
Arts Council England Environmental Responsibility Report 2022/2023 (Julie's Bicycle)
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
The National Coal Mining Museum has proposed using geothermal heat to help it decarbonise.
The museum pumps an average of 1.5m gallons of water out of Hope Pit daily, which could be used as an alternative energy source. The scheme, which would cost an estimated £2m, could also heat nearby homes,
Mine Director Shaun McLoughlin told the BBC: "Here at the National Coal Mining Museum, we've... read more
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Plans to de-list a statue of the transatlantic slave trader Edward Colston so it can be permanently housed in a museum are set for approval by Bristol council.
The Grade II-listed statue was toppled by protesters in 2020 before being plunged into Bristol Harbour. It was included in a temporary exhibition at the city's M Shed Museum but has been out of public view since January 2022.
Bristol City... read more
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Internationally renowned speakers have withdrawn from engagements at the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) after members of the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) called for a boycott of the institution in a dispute over pay and concerns about leadership.
Staff at the RSA, who went on strike in December, are calling on fellows, guest speakers, academics and the public not to attend or... read more
Monday, 12 February 2024
Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) has voted to continue supporting the redevelopment of Ipswich Museum after a £2.7m overspend.
The museum closed in October 2022 for renovations and expansion, initially budgeted at £8.7m, half of which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Now with an estimated cost of £11.4m, after rising inflation and supply chain issues, IBC voted on 6 February... read more