£20m fine arts hub planned for West London

30 Sep 2019

Residents of London’s affluent area of South Kensington will have a new art hub in their neighbourhood from May 2020. The £20 million development, billed as a new arts district ‘to rival Mayfair’, will include a membership club, exhibition space and restaurant. The complex has been created by a conversion of five listed buildings and has already signed up membership of 40 established names in fine arts, including old masters dealer Baring Fine Art and antiques specialists Oliver Hoare. Rental prices for the smallest gallery start from £2,000 a week. 

'Quiet crisis' facing museum treasures, leaders warn

30 Sep 2019

A letter from the heads of the National Museum Directors' Council, the Museums Association and the Art Fund says £200 million is needed to improve crumbling museums' infrastructure. Regional museums are becoming unable to satisfy insurers about the safety of their buildings and ability to preserve collections, the letter said.

Huawei scrubbed from sponsor list

30 Sep 2019

Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea has removed the Chinese technology firm from a published list of its sponsors. The company had previously been listed as a corporate patron, having sponsored exhibitions including a "selfie" collection taken on its smartphones.

Cash strapped arts organisations choose audiences over income: ArtsProfessional’s Pulse Survey, ‘The Art of Pricing’ 

27 Sep 2019

More than 600 sector professionals have responded to ArtsProfessional’s survey looking at the delicate and emotive battle between balancing the books and keeping arts activities affordable.

Museum operates illegally for 22 years

27 Sep 2019

In a quirk of law, Newark Town Council has been operating the museum in its Town Hall illegally for the past 22 years, it has emerged. The museum and gallery existence breaches the Local Government Act 1972, which allows local authorities to run libraries and museums but not town or parish councils.

Tovey curates art treasure hunt

27 Sep 2019

Doctor Who star Russell Tovey has curated Margate NOW, a trail of unusual art celebrating this year's Turner Prize. The trail will include an installation of 5,794 cans of baked beans - 2.6 million beans in total - and a giant inflatable Tina Turner head.

Culture ‘falling off the list’: Aberdeen arts funding in crisis

26 Sep 2019

A 40% cut in funding over a decade, with 19% of cuts made in the past year: arts groups call for government action on the crisis facing Aberdeen’s arts sector.

Theatre firm facing liquidation blames Brexit

26 Sep 2019

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions said it faced "unsustainable losses" from low audience figures, a situation it blamed on the economic uncertainty arising from Brexit. The company ran two pop-up Shakespearean theatres in York and Oxfordshire. Business leaders in York said it was "sad news for the city".

Climate strikers threaten RSC boycott

26 Sep 2019

A letter from schoolchildren protesting climate change says that the Royal Shakespeare Company "needs young people far more than it needs BP", which sponsors the company's £5 ticket scheme for 16 to 25 year olds. "Shakespeare said ‘the great globe itself shall dissolve’. By endorsing BP, the RSC is allowing his words of the past to become a horrifying reality," the letter says.

Creative Industries Federation and Creative England to merge

25 Sep 2019

Joint venture aims to 'supercharge' UK arts lobbying and business development 

Ex-BBC boss: 'UK creative control is under threat'

25 Sep 2019

Mark Thompson said that global digital giants like Netflix are threatening the broadcaster's "financial firepower" and possibly its survival. "British creators make first-class programmes for Netflix, Amazon and the other American streamers, but there's a crucial difference between producing great content to fit someone else's creative agenda, and commissioning and controlling it yourself," he said.

Vertical stage for smartphone users launched

25 Sep 2019

Samsung staged a gig on a nine-metre-high, three-storey structure at a recent smartphone launch event. The stage was designed for smartphone users to film the event after research indicated about four in five users find vertical videos more interesting.

Heritage key to creative industries’ success, report claims

24 Sep 2019

The Heritage Alliance is calling for greater recognition and funding to support the historic places and objects that underpin creative and cultural activities, challenging the stereotype of heritage as “a decorative incidental backdrop to contemporary creative work”.

Cultural districts not fulfilling potential for social impact, report finds

23 Sep 2019

A study concludes there is “considerable potential for enhancement” in how cultural districts across the world make a difference to people’s lives.

Music scheme improved deprived children’s creativity and wellbeing 

23 Sep 2019

A new report on the impact of a music making programme has highlighted positive changes in the “creativity, emotional literacy, motivation and self-efficacy” of young people, the scheme’s manager says. 

Arts support for abuse survivors

23 Sep 2019

A new £10 million fund to offer emotional and practical support to survivors of childhood abuse has opened for applications Scottish organisations, including arts and cultural groups. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "we know that individuals' needs vary considerably and so we expect to see a wide variety of creative and high quality applications, aiming to strengthen resilience and wellbeing, and connect our local communities."

BBC gives spotlight to young diverse creatives

23 Sep 2019

The BBC has unveiled a new talent development scheme that's set to promote the work of 500 artists from diverse backgrounds. The Arts Council England funded New Creatives scheme has kicked off by showcasing 76 short films by artists aged 16 to 30. The work will be featured on BBC4, BBC Sounds, local and national radio as well as in New Creatives hubs in Tyneside, the Midlands, South-West and South-East England. The initiative aims to develop the skills and create opportunities for artists from backgrounds currently under-represented in the arts. 

Olafur Eliasson named UN Ambassador for climate change

23 Sep 2019

Artist Olafur Eliasson has been named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. In a newly-created role, the Danish-Icelandic artist will advocate for increased action on climate change. Eliasson is known for his environmentally-themed work, which includes the installation Ice Watch, displayed during the UN Climate Summit in 2015. He is the subject of a retrospective show currently on display at Tate Modern, London. 

$100m initiative to protect ancient culture

23 Sep 2019

The Getty Trust, established by oil tycoon John Paul Getty, has announced the fund to save ancient culture from war, climate change and ageing. The fund will sponsor earthquake strengthening works for scultpures, emergency conservation training for specialists, and digital mapping of archaeological sits at Pompeii and Catalhoyuk, central Turkey.

World's first Vagina Museum to open

20 Sep 2019

The London-based institution will open in November following a successful £50,000 crowdfunding campaign. Director Florence Schechter said the museum will feature art exhibitions, plays, workshops, comedy nights and child-friendly programmes for families and schools.

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