News

Longrunning strike action at National Museums Liverpool (NML) has ended after museum workers accepted an improved pay offer.

The Museums Association reports more than 60 days of strike action occurred in a dispute over a cost-of-living payment.

NML had said its staff were not eligible for the award, but the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union’s members argued that the institution should make the payment as it is funded by the central government and part of the civil service pensions scheme. 

The two parties have now agreed on a deal in which staff will receive a £1,200 one-off payment, two extra days of annual leave, and a 35% discount in NML shops and cafes.

Lancashire County Council (LCC) will begin a new round of its Crowdfund Lancashire scheme on 12 June, with the aim of supporting grassroots culture and sports projects across the county.

Developed in partnership with fundraising platform Spacehive, the initiative has financed more than 100 projects since launching in 2022.

As part of the scheme, organisations with an idea for a project can get up to £15,000 towards their target from the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund while also allowing the public to support them, with contributions starting at £2. 

Parish and town councils can also submit plans to LCC, with up to £5,000 available. Individuals and businesses that want to benefit their community can get £1,500 towards their live crowdfunding campaigns. 

Preston-based artist studio The Birley has raised £28,307 for its ‘Bringing New Art to Preston’ project via the scheme. Rob Mullender-Ross from The Birley said the visibility the organisation had achieved through its programme of exhibitions and events had "provided us with a platform from which we can now credibly fundraise in the future".

 Peter Buckley, Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services, said: “Crowdfund Lancashire and the culture and sport projects it supports has already made a significant impact to the lives of people living throughout the county."

The deadline for projects to be created, pitched to the Lancashire Culture and Sports Fund and verified by Spacehive is 12 September 2024. The council is also offering online workshops and in-person sessions for the public to discuss ideas.

A scheduled House of Lords debate on government support for opera has been cancelled due to the dissolution of parliament.

The debate, planned for 6 June, was to consider the question: “Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour) to ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support opera.”

It will now not take place due to the dissolution of parliament early in the morning of 30 May ahead of a July 4 general election.

A briefing on issues to be considered outlined concerns about the state of the opera sector in England and the financial pressures it is facing.

An out-of-hours, behind-the-scenes tour of the British Museum has launched for groups of up to eight at a cost of £79 per person.

Operated by Bloomsbury Hotel Montague on the Gardens and only available to its guests, the Conflict and Conservation tour focuses on the museum’s operation during World War Two. Attendees are granted access to the museum and some non-public areas with a guide for an hour before it opens to the general public.

The move is part of a broader trend for cultural sites to offer exclusive out-of-hours access for those willing to pay a premium. Often operated privately, the tours can provide a lucrative source of income, particularly to institutions like the British Museum, where access is usually free.

In April, the Greek Culture Ministry proposed introducing private visits to the Acropolis and the Parthenon two hours before and after regular opening hours.

Costing €5,000 for a group of five, the Hellenic Organisation of Cultural Resources Development estimated that the initiative could raise up to €40,000 a day to support and protect cultural sites.

Young people’s music charity Youth Music has announced a ninth funding round of its NextGen fund.

The fund is designed to help emerging artists and professionals develop the skills needed to participate in the music industry and to equalise access to the music industry for young creatives. 

Grants of up to £2,500 are available for 18- —to 25-year-olds, but applicants can be up to 30 if they are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent. Youth Music says it is encouraging applications from the North East, East of England, East Midlands, and Northern Ireland, in particular.

While performers are welcome to apply, the fund is also available to producers, A&Rs, managers, and agents, as well as roles in the music industry that may not yet have been defined.

To date, the fund has invested nearly £650,000 in 276 early-stage musicians and emerging music industry creatives.

Applications for the ninth round are now open and will close on 28 June, with notification given in September. Further details on Youth Music’s website.

A tenth round is scheduled to open later this year, with an application deadline of 15 November.

A London-based club has launched for people who work in the arts sector and come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The independent organisation, called Arts and Graft, plans to hold networking, hosting events and socialising opportunities. 

It was created by Meg Molloy, Head of Communications at Stephen Friedman Gallery, who told the Art Newspaper that being working class in the art world can feel isolating.

“Whether it's not knowing anyone at a swanky private view, having a certain accent, or having different reference points to colleagues, it's possible to feel that you don't belong,” Molloy said.

“I want to connect people to help build strong relationships, create dialogue, facilitate and find ways to educate and aid our community.”

An online form is available for those who wish to register interest in joining, with an official launch event scheduled for the summer.

A Midlands theatre that was forced to close its performance space last year following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the auditorium and stage roof has announced plans to reopen in spring 2025.

Core Theatre in Solihull was one of several theatres impacted by updated government guidance issued in September 2023 in response to widespread concerns about RAAC's longevity in public buildings dating from between the 1950s and the 1970s.

The Solihull Theatre's auditorium has stayed shut for remedial work, while the rest of the building, including the cafe, library, and gallery, has remained open.

Core said that results from the work completed to date indicate that the auditorium roof should be able to undergo complete remediation works and reopen by April 2025 for shows, performances, and film screenings, followed by a full theatre programme from September 2025. 

During the works, the venue plans to undertake other upgrades.

“It is really positive news that our auditorium will be back in business next year", said Councillor Wazma Qais, Solihull Council's Cabinet Member for Communities.

“We now know the work that needs doing and while the theatre is closed, we will take the opportunity to schedule in some other valuable improvement works and equipment upgrades.

“We have built in some contingency planning into the programme from April which will allow some flexibility.

“By bringing back films, National Theatre Live and one-night performances first, we can have a ‘soft’ opening in the spring. We can then welcome back a full theatre programme from September 2025 and the pantomime in December. 

“We are working closely with theatre user groups as we recognise the hard work, love and dedication they put into their performances. These productions require an awful lot of planning and preparation work, and we are working with them regarding their return."