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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.
 

Jobs that list the salary as "competitive" attract 40% fewer applications.

Creative Access analysed 500 job listings on its site. It found the applications gap is even more pronounced when recuriting for a more experienced hire - senior roles that listed the salary attracted 58% more applicants.

Josie Dobrin, Chief Executive of Creative Access, said withholding the salary entrenches inequalities, while transparency encourages the right calibre of candidates to apply.

READ MORE: Arts organisations pledge to show the salary

"Candidates are not just looking to work anywhere. They’re looking for an organisation where they will feel valued, that has a positive, transparent and inclusive company culture in which they can truly thrive," Dobrin said.

"We urge all our partners to list salary or salary ranges in their job adverts, to be accountable, show that they’re open, fair and inclusive."

Performers' union Equity says it has received "credible information" that children were racially discriminated against in the casting for a West End show.

It did not name the production but it is widely understood to be Mary Poppins at the King Edward Theatre.

Theatre group Delfont Mackintosh has been approached for comment.

Equity says it is investigating.

Youth casting agent Laura Walker said she previously spoke out against the show's casting director but later retracted her statement.

"I deleted my original tweet because I was worried I would be blacklisted and that my children would miss out on future opportunities. But things need to change."

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) is seeking applications for funding to create "at distance" volunteering opportunities.

Surveying by the funder last year identified a desire to develop digital skills and create new post-pandemic models of volunteering.

The £1m fund aims to remove place and time constraints: "The scheme could, for example, give someone living in Scotland the chance to contribute to social media skills training for an organisation based in Cornwall," NHLF says.

READ MORE: Emergency funding saved 2,400 heritage jobs

Chief Executive Ros Kerslake said "the perfect volunteer may only have a small amount of time to give", and organisations' should establish new volunteering roles to reflect that.

"Organisations will benefit from the time and expertise of people who may not have been able to volunteer in person, and volunteers will be able to share and develop their skills while supporting the heritage they love.

"It’s a win-win situation for everyone... we can't wait to see the ideas organisations come up with."

Research from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) indicates orchestras that prioritise inclusion, education and wellbeing are more attractive to corporate funders.

RPO asked 900 businesses what they would look for before committing financially: while the quality of performances was most important (27% of respondents), about one in five prioritised an orchestra's support for wellbeing, social inclusion and education work.

A similar proportion liked the idea of orchestras broadening their appeal to younger audiences. Businesses thought it was important for orchestras to have a diverse repertoire, pointing to synergies with other media like film and video games.

The corporate sector's interest in young people dovetails with young people's interest in live music, RPO found.

As restrictions ease, 46% of under-35s said they plan to attend a concert within the next three months, compared to 14% of people aged 55 and over.

RPO Managing Director Huw Davies commented:

"The good news is that the appetite for support and collaboration is there, but it is no longer just about sponsoring concerts. Corporate partners expect orchestras to make a positive, enriching impact on society."

The Scottish Government has moved ahead with plans to scrap instrumental tuition fees, pledging £7m for councils to fund music lessons in schools during the next academic year.

A further £6m will cover core arts curriculum charges often levied on families, such as theatre trips for literature and drama students.

Although Holyrood offers recommendations on how to spend the money granted, councils will decide how it is distributed.

The funding marks a one-year agreement made between the Scottish Government and The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) for the provision of free music tuition.

COSLA spokesperson Stephen McCabe hoped this would lead to "a model for the long-term sustainability of instrumental music tuition services across Scotland".

"This must include sustainable funding arrangements for all councils,” he added.

The Office for National Statistics has reported "strong rises" in job vacanices in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors over the three months to July.

It's the largest percentage increase of any sector - 330% since the January to March quarter.

The figures suggest the sector may be starting to recover, with more opportunities for work than at the start of 2020.

Arts and entertainment also exhibited the highest growth in median pay over the past three months at 19.3%, adding 24,000 more payrolled employees over that period.

However, numbers of workers are still down 5.9% on this time last year.