News

1,200 fewer pupils were taught to play a musical instrument in Scottish schools in 2017/18 compared to the year before, according to new research. The news comes as an increasing number of local authorities either introduce or increase their charges for the lessons.

Contemporary painting group Lot 5 Collective is inviting anyone who attends its new exhibition to deface the painting, which had been shown at the National Portrait Gallery. It was painted by artist Helen Masacz, herself a member of the collective.

Venues across the UK will be using live captioning for performances this week as part of a national campaign, but charity Stagetext says that more work needs to be done to make the arts accessible to hearing impaired audiences.

The current owner of the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End has withdrawn from plans to sell the venue to Cameron Mackintosh after receiving higher offers. Mackintosh had been planning to transform the building into a flexible space named the Sondheim Theatre.