Domingo accuser goes public

06 Sep 2019

One of 11 women accusing opera star Placido Domingo of sexual harrassment and assault has been identified. Angela Turner Wilson was 28 and second female lead in a Washington Opera production in 2000 when she alleges he groped her backstage. A publicist for Domingo rejected Wilson's account as "simply incorrect".

The ‘end of austerity’? ACE unlikely to benefit from DCMS funding boost

Photo of Manchester International Festival
05 Sep 2019

DCMS has received £100m extra annual funding in the spending review, but Arts Council England has not ruled out revising funding agreements for its National Portfolio Organisations.

Five years left for rural arts?

A photo of a dance performance in a hall
05 Sep 2019

England’s rural arts leaders have serious concerns about the future of their organisations and are calling for more support – whether through Arts Council funding, partnerships with city-based venues or organisational development schemes.

Dorset arts centre sold to protect its future

05 Sep 2019

Bridport Arts Centre's Board of Trustees has sold its Grade-II listed building to the owner of Electric Palace, another local entertainment venue, in a bid to reduce expenses. Director Mick Smith said that the building's new owner intends to improve the building "so that it can deliver an even better experience for the community".

Opera house manager convicted of £20k fraud

05 Sep 2019

Eamonn McColgan, former Ticket Sales Manager at the Belfast Grand Opera House, pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud after stealing from the theatre for five years. McColgan would issue refunds for tickets sold and then transfer those sums into accounts or bank cards in his name. He has since repaid the money he stole.

NPOs accused of ‘condescending attitudes’ towards Creative People and Places partnerships

Photo of a CPP delivered performance
04 Sep 2019

A report finds that relationship dynamics regarding Arts Council England’s flagship placemaking scheme are being “partly determined by geographic and class-based inequalities”.

Glasgow School of Art boss sidelined before resignation

04 Sep 2019

Glasgow School of Art Director Tom Inns was ordered to stop working, locked out of the school's IT system and placed on sick leave by Board Chair Muriel Gray despite being "completely well", leaked emails have revealed. Inns handed in his resignation two weeks later during an official inquiry into a destructive fire at the school's Mackintosh building.

Equity secures 'bad offer' for subsidised theatre workers

04 Sep 2019

The union has struck a deal with UK Theatre to increase pay rates for performers and stage managers by 2% over the next three years. Actors described the deal as a "bad offer" and an effective pay cut compared to a 2.1% rate of inflation. Equity said the negotiations had been "prolonged and difficult".

Four in ten organisations pay front of house less than Living Wage, survey finds

Photo of a museum shop
03 Sep 2019

More than half of cultural organisations surveyed anticipate challenges meeting staff costs in the coming 12 months, and a similar proportion rely daily on volunteers.

The Guardian criticised over illustration contest

03 Sep 2019

The media company has changed its illustration contest after initially asking artists to provide free work that it would later copyright and use on branded tote bags for Glastonbury 2020. "Following feedback we have updated the application process to request that only shortlisted entrants will be asked to produce bespoke work and will be paid appropriately," a Guardian spokesperson said.

Final curtain for Scottish theatre company

03 Sep 2019

Junction 25, an award-winning youth theatre company, will close due to funding pressures, its Artistic Directors have announced. Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore said they are "so sad to be ending this chapter", having operated out of Tramway in Glasgow for nearly 15 years.

£10m ‘Hat District’ takes shape in Luton

A photo of a tall brick building
02 Sep 2019

The revamped Hat Factory Arts Centre will form part of a ‘creative cluster’ that aims to create jobs and attract 100,000 new visitors to the town.

V&A Curator returning Nazi-looted art

02 Sep 2019

Jacques Schumacher has identified 80 gold and silver items in the Victoria and Albert Museum's Gilbert Collection that are known to have been in Nazi Germany, Nazi-occupied territories, or formerly part of a Jewish collection, which the curator is now working to return to their rightful owners. Eight pieces of unknown provenance will be displayed at the V&A in December in hope of generating new leads for their return.

University scraps 'schizophrenic' studio plans

02 Sep 2019

Arts University Bournemouth will pursue a simpler design for a new innovation studio, which had previously described as a "schizophrenic broken jigsaw" and an "upturned jelly mould". Poole Council approved plans for the initial design in 2017 but the university faced backlash from residents and councillors after it was announced a 60-week road closure would be required for its construction.

Strike begins at Science Museum Group

A photo of staff on strike holding placards outside the Science Museum in London
30 Aug 2019

The Prospect union says staff have experienced a 13% real terms pay cut since 2010.

Courtyard Theatre complaints indicate wider malpractice, says ITC

30 Aug 2019

The Independent Theatre Council says complaints against London’s Courtyard Theatre are just one instance of “a lot of horrible practice” in the sector. Accusations from theatre-makers against the venue include verbally aggressive behavior, non-payments, and “filthy” conditions. ITC’s Chief Executive said: “We’re aware of dozens of buildings where this kind of practice is happening”.

Northern Irish gallery to close

30 Aug 2019

Nerve Visual in Derry, which hosted the 2013 Turner Prize, is to close on 6 September. The venue sits within the Nerve Centre, a creative media arts hub. The site is owned by the Northern Ireland Executive, who said: "The Executive Office is currently considering options for the section occupied by Nerve Gallery".

ACE awards £7m to develop arts leadership

A photo of three people holding megaphones
30 Aug 2019

The 18 successful bids include projects working with potential leaders from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those with learning disabilities.

£4m Merseyside arts hub gets green light

29 Aug 2019

Egerton Village, which will include an events space, artists’ studios, managed workspace and a restaurant, has been approved by Wirral Council. It will form part of the £4.5bn Wirral Waters regeneration site in Birkenhead.

NLHF defends funding approach after Will Self barb

29 Aug 2019

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has rejected the novelist’s claims that it possesses a “reverse midas touch” and funds elite pursuits using income generated from the poorest parts of society. A spokesperson for the funder said “people are at the very heart of the projects we invest in”.

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