Work begins on School of Digital Arts

04 Dec 2019

The development, which will expand Manchester Metropolitan University's creative, digital and tech facilities, is due for completion in spring 2021. The five storey building will include film studios, green screens and editing suites, and accommodate up to 1000 students per year.

Musicians call for protections to limit Brexit damage

03 Dec 2019

A new manifesto says freelance workers have “little protection from exploitation” and warns of a grim future for touring performers.

Fine art gallery opens in Cardiff

03 Dec 2019

Art collector Jamie Aherne has opened what is believed to be the city's first original fine art gallery, Blackwater Gallery. Aherne said he wanted to showcase his personal collection: "Cardiff has always had a range of art galleries but none that sell original works from international artists." The gallery is preparing for its first road show.

Arts centre boss alleges dismissal over pay cut

03 Dec 2019

Andrew Aldis has alleged he was fired after refusing to take a £4000 pay cut following East Riding Council's restructure of local concert venue Bridlington Spa. He said: "I was told by the Director of the section that the General Manager at Bridlington Spa is no different and needs no additional skills to running a leisure centre. It was absolutely horrendous." 

He added: “It’s devaluing the arts and it’s certainly not recognising the importance of an employee to the people who are paying the council tax.”

East Riding Council was contacted for comment.

Arts project from 'world's best teacher' to launch nationwide

02 Dec 2019

Londoner Andria Zafirakou, who won the $1 million Varkey Foundation global teacher prize in 2018, will roll out her artists in residence initiative to schools in Newcastle, Manchester, Dorset, Scotland and Wales next year. Under the scheme, artists visit schools for six weeks and help teachers deliver creative projects. The programme currently has a waiting list of more than 80 schools.

Dance school expands to meet demand

02 Dec 2019

Leanne MacVeigh Dance Academy in Alford, Aberdeenshire has converted industrial units into a purpose-built studio with a £37,000 match loan and the savings of its owner, Leanne MacKay. MacKay said she had been struggling to grow the school because of the cost of hiring village halls for classes: "I am now able to add the additional classes for the children who have been on waiting lists."

Swansea's regeneration to begin

29 Nov 2019

A revamp of the city centre, which includes a 3500-seat arena, will start next week with a view to finishing in 2021, the local council says. The project is expected to deliver an extra £17m per year to Swansea's economy and create 600 long term (non-construction) jobs.

Exhibition to support the homeless with art sales

29 Nov 2019

The artwork of young, formerly homeless people will be exhibited and available for sale at Supercity Aparthotels in aid of youth homeless charity Accumulate. The exhibition will showcase the experimental artwork and photography created by participants in Accumulate’s series of workshops at hostels and in museums and galleries across London. 

 

City of Culture ‘changed Hull’s image for the better’

28 Nov 2019

An evaluation says the programme brought “profound but somewhat fragile” changes to Hull’s economy, community and cultural sector.

Governments opt out of international creativity tests 

28 Nov 2019

Maths, science and reading will continue to be assessed against international standards, but DfE says testing young people's creative thinking is "not the best use of resources".

Fundraised income grows by 10% in a year

28 Nov 2019

Publicly funded arts organisations attracted more fundraising in 2018/19, but the growth isn’t keeping pace with inflation and falling grant-in-aid.

Young Brits confused about Mozart

27 Nov 2019

A survey from classical music streaming service Primephonic found three-quarters of young people in the UK (aged 18-34) had never heard of Mozart, with 20% believing the famed composer is still alive. Classic FM Composer in Residence Debbie Wiseman said she was “saddened” by the findings but “not at all surprised”.

Failed theatre company owes council £43k

27 Nov 2019

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which allegedly owes £5m to several companies for four poor-selling international productions, owed York Council £43,000 when it went into administration, the council has confirmed. The company ran a pop-up Shakespearean theatre in Oxfordshire and York earlier this year.

Election 2019: what’s in it for the arts? (Part II)

27 Nov 2019

AP looks at the promises set out in party manifestos. This week: Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, SNP and the Brexit Party.

Literary Arts Festival ended by lack of funding

27 Nov 2019

The John O'Connor Writing School and Literary Arts Festival has announced the end of a three year run. Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Head of Literature Damian Smyth expressed sadness at the school's closure: "The Arts Council was indeed delighted to support the weekend festival for three years and the level of funding was significant for a new initiative ... unfortunately, other funders and sponsorship couldn't reach sufficient levels to make the festival sustainable."

New radio station to celebrate musical theatre 

27 Nov 2019

‘Magic at the Musicals’, produced by Bauer media, is wholly dedicated to the world of musical theatre, targeting “musical loving fans of all ages”. Building on Bauer’s association with the Society of London Theatre and musical producers around the UK, it will also cover the Olivier awards.
 

Cultural partnerships to lead high streets regeneration

Photo of Royal Court Theatre Wigan
26 Nov 2019

Historic England envisages the community-led scheme will become a “catalyst for wider regeneration” in a similar way to Creative People and Places.

Yorkshire theatre bans plastic toys

26 Nov 2019

The Victoria Theatre in Halifax has issued a ban on plastic children's toys ahead of this year's Christmas pantomime due to environmental concerns and complaints that the toys can distract performers. The theatre will instead sell its own toys: hand and finger puppets will "encourage pantomime visitors and their children to make and share stories inspired by their pantomime experience ... for years to come", a statement said. 

Dresden Museum burgled

26 Nov 2019

Several art treasures collectively worth up to €1bn were stolen from the German institution in the early hours of Monday morning. Intruders broke in through a ground floor window, then used an axe to smash a display case in the Jewel Room. German newspaper Bild reported that this may be the largest post-war art theft in history.

Arnolfini offers address to homeless people for General Election vote

25 Nov 2019

The arts centre is supporting rough sleepers in Bristol to register for a vote, printing voter registration forms, letting people use their address and giving them a free hot drink while they register. The electoral commission has also approved a Bristol brewery as a place where homeless people can register.

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