News

Eight cultural organisations in Northumberland are commissioning research into their audiences ahead of the next National Portfolio application process in January.

November Club, Museums Northumberland, Mortal Fools,
Queens Hall Arts, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival, Headway Arts, Alnwick Gardens and Maltings Berwick say their priority is to analyse future audiences: "We recognise that some investigation of existing audiences might be necessary to achieve this."

They want to know whether cultural habits are changing, how they can better access rural and deprived audiences, and where audiences are finding information about cultural events.

A tender also notes a need to "consider the word culture and what that means to audiences".

"We know that to many it means nothing."

For interested parties, the budget for the work is £10,000 to £13,000 and it must be completed by November.

The Music Publishers Association is launching a diversity, equality and inclusion council to "address the lack of executive Black talent" and other disparities in the music sector.

The DEI Council will meet quarterly to work on gaps outlined in the UK Music Diversity Report 2020, including better transparency around gender and ethnic pay gaps and increasing diverse representation in middle and senior management roles.

Music Publishers Association (MPA) Chair Roberto Neri said its board and membership approved the new council and the organisation is seeking "highly experienced and high-profile policy strategists and public influencers” to join.

MPA and nine other UK Music membership bodies have committed to the UK Music Diversity Taskforce’s Ten-Point Plan.

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said: “There is a real determination and commitment across the music industry to quicken the pace of change when it comes to diversity and inclusion”.

Casting artists of colour in roles traditionally played by White actors could “work to balance out [their] historical and current exclusion," according to British East and South-East Asians in Theatre and on Screen (BEATS).

The playing field for British East and South-East Asian artists is “not level”, a new colour-conscious casting guide says, highlighting access and opportunities in opera as “highly limited”.

Pan-Asian casting - casting people of the same ethnicity but of different Asian nationalities - is “generally acceptable” in the UK due to these actors historical exclusion from acting.

But make-up to make actors look more like a certain ethnicity is “never acceptable,” BEATS adds.

The guide advises opera companies should include Asian artists in creative teams and commission Asian composers in order to “have more nuanced understandings of East and South-East Asian race relations, history and culture”.

Bristol Old Vic will continue to host some socially distanced shows to cater for vulnerable people who need extra precautions.

The theatre has guaranteed two socially distanced performances of its long running shows each week until March 2022.

Mandatory mask-wearing will be enforced at these showings. It is one of the first theatres to promote a hybrid model of Covid safety restrictions.

Executive Director Charlotte Geeves said the decision was made as "public confidence varies widely".

“This theatre belongs to everyone, so we wanted to make sure everyone has the opportunity to return to the theatre in their own time and in a way that feels right to them."

Visitors to cultural venues in France now must show a health pass or negative PCR test from the last 48 hours to gain access.

The new rule applies to cinemas, art galleries, libraries and museums with a capacity of more than 50 people and is expected to extend to cafes, restaurants and trains in August. 

Legislation to formalise the system is being debated by the French government.

France has seen an uptick in scheduled vaccination appointments since President Emmanuel Macron implemented plans by decree. Four million appointments have been booked for August via online booking platform Doctolib.

46% of the population are now fully vaccinated, according to covidtracker.fr.

BBC Proms will open at full capacity, with audiences encouraged to wear masks and Covid status certification checks on arrival.

To enter the Royal Albert Hall, patrons over the age of 18 must provide evidence of full vaccination via the NHS, a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of the performance, or proof of natural immunity via a positive PCR test result in the past six months.

"The safety of our audiences is our main priority and we are taking every step we can to open the Proms safely without social distancing," the BBC said.

The Proms opens on July 30 and runs until September 11.

Tickets will be available on the day of each concert priced for £6.