News

The BBC's decision to play instrumental versions of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule, Britannia! at the Last Night of the Proms this year has been supported by director general Tony Hall on the grounds that "fewer performers will be allowed on stage, which makes it harder to perform the songs with a traditional chorus", and "it's quite hard creatively [and] artistically" to present a work to which audiences would normally sing along. But while the BBC says the decision was prompted by Covid-19 restrictions, other media have said they dropped the lyrics due to their references to colonialism and slavery. Prime Minister Boris Johnson commented "I think it's time we stopped... this general fight of self-recrimination and wetness."

Following the completed restoration of the 18th-century Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders the owners are planning for the house to become a home for makers and creators. Over £1m from Marchmont Farms Limited has been invested in Creative Spaces, a project that will provide high quality, affordable work spaces for artists and craft makers in converted 19th-century outbuildings around a courtyard near the house, and some tenants will live as well as work there. The first of eight studios will be opening next month and more are planned.

Teacher, author and government adviser Sir Ken Robinson, whose 2006 TED talk championing creativity in schools became the most viewed TED talk of all time, has died after a short battle with cancer. As professor of arts education at the University of Warwick his leadership of a national commission on creativity, education and the economy for the UK government led the publication of his seminal report, ‘All Our Futures: creativity, culture and education’. He argued for radical reform to the national approach to education, saying outdated practices hindered the development of creativity and that all subjects – academic and non-academic – should be viewed as equally important. 

Theatr Clwyd will working directly with Welsh Government running one of three outdoor events in Wales being held to see if they can be carried out in a safe way. The events will be limited to 100 people and subject to risk assessments, to test how outdoor events can be run while maintaining social distancing. Outdoor events are being prioritised while the weather is mild due to evidence of lower transmission of coronavirus outdoors. Other events will be Welsh Triathlon’s ‘Return to Racing’ competition at Pembrey Country Park which will go ahead without spectators, and a car rally at Anglesey Circuit/Trac Mon Race track.

Research by the University of Bristol, supported by Public Health England, has provided "a rigorous scientific basis for Covid-19 recommendations for arts venues to operate safely, for both the performers and audience". Ensuring that spaces are appropriately ventilated to reduce the risk of airborne transmission is key to the recommendations.

The research also looked at the amount of aerosols and droplets generated by performers, and concluded singing does not produce substantially more respiratory particles than speaking at a similar volume.

Read also: Many venues could be made safe for capacity audiences, SAGE report suggests

Employment opportunities for Deaf and disabled people in the commercial music sector are being given a boost by a new three-year programme led by Attitude is Everything. ‘Beyond the Music’ will explore the barriers and discrimination facing Deaf and disabled people, as well as helping them to gain the skills, experience and contacts they need to work or volunteer in the music industry. A year-long Future Leaders programme will help to develop skills for lead the industry in the future, and training, resources and guidance will be provided to help music businesses build an inclusive work environment.

A whole company of actors in Belarus has resigned after their director was fired for participating in political protests.

Pavel Latushka, General Director of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre, spoke out against the government after two people were killed and thousands detained by police during turmoil over President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed election victory last week.

Latushka previously served in Lukashenko's government as ambassador to Poland, France and Spain and as the spokesman for the foreign ministry.

He told Reuters he considered it his "moral duty" to protest against the violence. 

The company actors theatrically quit after their director was sacked, slamming their resignation letters down on a stage in front of Belarus' Culture Minister Yury Bondar.

"We agreed straight away that if they fire the director we’ll leave straight after him," actor Sergei Chub said.

The Government is promoting 'Love Culture Week' to encourage Britons to visit and support cultural organisations.

The effort, part of the Government's 'Enjoy Summer Safely' campaign, aims to boost patronage of museums, galleries, cinemas and theatres that can now reopen to socially distanced audiences.

Neil Mendoza, Commissioner for Cultural Recovery and Renewal, said venues and attractions "have been working hard for months on measures to keep visitors safe, so there has never been a better time to visit the museum you’ve always been meaning to".

Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage echoed this, saying arts organisations "need us all now more than ever".

"Summer is the perfect time for people to fall in love with culture again."