Opinion

If the arts are to be relevant to people’s lives, the creative experience and access to subsidy must be available to more than the privileged, and perceived barriers between professional and nonprofessional artists must be broken down, says Vikki Heywood in a prologue to her speech at the No Boundaries conference.

Arts Council England's update of its 10-year 'strategic framework' makes for sober and serious reading. But while there are no dramatic changes in its ambitions and priorities, Mark Robinson finds a worrying lack of solutions for cash-strapped artists and no recognition of the regional imbalance in arts funding.

The arts sector is missing the mark in making its case to the wider public, says Liz Hill. In her session at the Shift Happens conference, AP threw down the gauntlet and challenged the sector to do better.

Kevin Smith asks whether we’re comfortable with companies like BP being associated with some of the most prestigious arts institutions in the country.

Eleonora Belfiore shares her thoughts on the public value of culture.

Nick Williams says the language of the arts sector is turning audiences off.

Leila Jancovich says let’s not pretend ‘we’re all in it together’

Keith Motson likens What Next? to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for arts professionals.

Chrissie Tiller on Thatcher's legacy for business models in the arts.