UK 'risks being left behind' in global music race

Tom Kiehl speaking at a panel debate
07 Nov 2023

UK music exports generated £4bn in 2022, but an industry body has warned that the sector needs more government support to compete internationally.

UK needs a ‘creativity bank’

Culture Minister Lucy Frazer addresses an audience of creative industries professionals at Creative UK's annual conference at Southbank Centre
07 Nov 2023

The UK urgently needs an investment initiative for the cultural and creative industries, similar to those that exist for social enterprise, tech and the green economy, argues Caroline Norbury

Plans for £25m heritage railway project revealed

CGI image of Barnsley Council's plans for a new heritage railway destination
06 Nov 2023

Plans to transform a former Yorkshire ironworks have been unveiled by Barnsley Council as it explores funding for the £25m project.

Heritage sector receives over £1m to tackle workforce issues

06 Nov 2023

The National Lottery Heritage Innovation Fund has announced 17 organisations that will benefit from a share of £1.17m of funding to explore how challenges facing the sector’s workforce can be overcome.

The grants, worth between £50,000 and £75,000, will support a staff member for up to 12 months to test solutions for issues ranging from recruitment and retention of volunteers and heritage skills shortages to attracting young people to the sector and improving digital products and capacity.

This testing phase is the second of the programme’s three stages, which started with 34 organisations. Of these, 17 will progress to the test phase, while a third phase is planned for late 2024.

Projects moving to the second stage include the British Film Institute, which will test new entry routes to film conservation and the role of formal accreditation in professionalising the practice.

Meanwhile, Hampshire Cultural Trust will look at different approaches to creating paid career pathways for volunteers across heritage organisations.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "I'm delighted to see these 17 projects progress to the next stage. The cohort approach has already led to some impressive development of skills, confidence and capabilities – I'm excited for what they come up with next.

"Investing in innovation supports organisational sustainability, one of our four investment principles, and will ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future."
 

Belfast Council votes to contest arts cuts

02 Nov 2023

Belfast City Council has voted in favour of a motion to support a campaign calling for a reversal of arts cuts in Northern Ireland. 

The motion asked government officials for “a reversal in cuts to the arts” and committed the council to signing an open letter from Equity Noerthern Ireland to Colum Boyle, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities.

MPs unanimously endorsed the motion, which recognised that Permanent Secretaries are “being forced to take, without a mandate, difficult decisions that should be taken by locally elected ministers and a devolved Executive and Assembly” and that “too often the council is forced to step in and financially support arts and cultural organisations who have lost funding from Stormont departments”.

A 10% reduction to Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s budget was proposed in April, which was later lowered to 5%. In its letter, Equity NI said that reduction in the decrease was of "no comfort", claiming that Arts Council NI funding has decreased, in real terms, by 30% over the last decade.

Around 130 Equity members and supporters held a rally at Belfast City Hall ahead of the vote on Wednesday night (1 November). Speaking at the protest, Equity president Lynda Rooke said: “12,500 people signed Equity's petition demanding more investment in the arts and no to further cuts, I echo this with the backing of 47,000 Equity members from across the four nations of the UK."

MU calls on government to save UK orchestras

02 Nov 2023

The General Secretary of the Musician’s Union (MU) has called on the Chancellor and Culture Secretary to take urgent action to save some of the UK’s best-known orchestras.

Naomi Pohl has written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer asking for support for Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations Northern Ballet, English National Opera and Royal Opera House, as well as other organisations “struggling with real terms funding cuts that threaten musicians’ jobs and pay”.

In her letter, Pohl said: “The financial pressures include the lingering impact of the pandemic closure period, rising costs such as energy, travel and accommodation, plus at best static public funding. 

“For organisations like ENO and Royal Opera House that run listed buildings, the costs of doing so have risen sharply, and this is affecting their budgets for creative output.”

“While the Covid recovery loans were intended to keep organisations like these running through the height of the pandemic crisis and out the other side, many cannot afford to repay them now without making significant additional cuts to their budgets.”

The MU has requested the government to consider a range of actions, including writing off Covid recovery loans for the live performance sector and making the extension of orchestral and theatre tax relief permanent.

Exclusive: Donor revenue for cultural sector falls by a quarter

The exterior of the Royal Opera House
02 Nov 2023

The amount of money being donated to UK cultural organisations dropped sharply last year.

ENO chorus cuts causing 'profound anxiety'

02 Nov 2023

Proposed cuts to English National Opera's (ENO) chorus will cause "profound anxiety" to freelance singers and have "repercussions" that will "ripple across the entire UK opera workforce", according to members of performers' union Equity.

Equity's Singers and Opera Deputies Committees have released a joint statement expressing its concern over the impact of job losses and pay cuts to ENO’s chorus.

According to Equity, the proposals include reducing the chorus' contract length from 10 to six months of the year and a 40% cut in salary. It would also see a reduction in the size of the chorus on the new six-month "permanent" contracts to 36 singers, down from its current membership of 37 and three fixed-term fellowship positions. 

The cuts emerged alongside plans to downsize ENO's orchestra and cut some of its technical staff.

In the statement, the committees were critical of ACE's handling of ENO's core funding. It said: "These cuts have not occurred in isolation. Arts organisations are looking to rebuild after the pandemic with insufficient public funding.

"When Arts Council England removed ENO from the National Portfolio in November 2022, it did so seemingly without any strategy or rationale behind how funding decisions were made.

“Meanwhile, cuts were also made to other companies, which have reduced the amount of work available for singers, both in terms of the amount of opera produced and the number of singers engaged, putting the workforce under strain.

"Towns and cities such as Milton Keynes and Liverpool will be deprived of large-scale touring opera, running directly counter to the aims of bringing opera to new and regionally diverse audiences.

"Regular work, underpinned by good terms and conditions, is vital in ensuring that those from all backgrounds can access, and remain in, a career in opera.”

The committees have urged ENO to find “a sustainable solution” that would “protect the employment” of chorus members “with a viable income” and called upon ACE to develop a strategy to “provide funding for the public provision of Opera for all, including its dedicated workforce."

ENO has said the cuts are necessary following a reduction in its funding from ACE. The company, which has until 2029 to move its headquarters out of London under ACE plans, has said that following negotiations with the funding body, it was “no longer facing mass permanent redundancies” but was reevaluating employment levels “across every part of the organisation”. 

Curious Monkey theatre company to close after 12 years

Curious Monkey's production of Hold Me Tight
02 Nov 2023

Curious Monkey, a theatre company that has worked with marginalised communities for more than a decade, will close next year citing the current economic and political climate.

Levelling up in the North East is 'quietly catastrophic'

Hamzeh Al Hussien in Penguin by Curious Monkey, Live Theatre, September 2023
02 Nov 2023

When one cultural organisation closes, it has a damaging knock-on effect across the region, says Jack McNamara. Funders must not ignore the interdependence of the sector.

Arts charity for vulnerable people to close

01 Nov 2023

An arts charity which helps children and vulnerable people has announced that it will close due to financial pressures and falling volunteer numbers.

The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts (The Bridge) in Darlington said it will close permanently on 31 March 2024.

"The last few years have been challenging ones, as they have been for many charities," a statement issued by the charity said.

"Even with financial support from various grants provided, the current income falls well short of the core costs of operating The Bridge. As a registered charity, the Trustees would be irresponsible to knowingly let the charity run into bankruptcy."

The statement added that a "rapidly dwindling" number of volunteers able to give the time and effort needed to keep The Bridge in operation was also a consideration in the decision. 

"The few remaining were finding it an increasing burden and, for a variety of understandable reasons, are unable to increase that personal support," it said.

Edinburgh's Summerhall launches arts charity

01 Nov 2023

Multi-arts venue Summerhall has announced it is setting up a charity in a bid to become “Edinburgh’s leading arts organisation”.

The company said that the action had been planned “for a long time” but that the charity’s launch was “now urgent and necessary at a time of drastic cuts in the arts and culture sector”. 

The new venture, called Summerhall Arts, will be based within the Summerhall venue but governed independently from the organisation’s existing commercial operations, which will continue to be run by Summerhall Management Ltd. 

Summerhall Arts will offer a year-round theatre programme as well as independent cinema, live music, spoken word and exhibitions. A key focus of the organisation will be providing a platform for new work and emerging talent across multiple arts with commissions and access to free development spaces. 

Housed in a sprawling former Veterinary College, Summerhall already hosts a diverse range of artistic activities and performances, as well as private hire events, and has become a key hub during the Edinburgh Festival. During its 12-year history, it has never received public funding.

According to a report in The Scotsman, the new charity will be seeking support from Creative Scotland in its next major funding round, as well as approaching supporters, philanthropists, trusts and commercial sponsors to fund its work.

Everyday barriers to creativity

Children attaching paintings to a wall
31 Oct 2023

New guidance on Supporting Everyday Creativity has been released by Arts Council England. But, as Kirsty Lothian of Fun Palaces argues, the main barriers to exercising everyday creativity lie well outside ACE’s remit.

More than music: The power and purpose of orchestras

Lincoln Centre's Summer for the City. From the audience's perspective, looking towards the stage.
31 Oct 2023

Rather than berate and fulminate against managers and funders, Robin Cantrill-Fenwick argues we must support orchestras through their current funding crisis.

Warning of £56m hole in Scottish arts funding

31 Oct 2023

The organisation that distributes money to arts organisations in Scotland on behalf of the government has indicated that it is facing a £56m funding gap.

Creative Scotland, which finances organisations, venues, festivals and events across the country, revealed the shortfall after the deadline for bids to its three-year funding programme passed on 25 October.

The agency said it received applications from 361 cultural organisations with a total ask of £96m per year, compared with its current budget of £40m yearly. 

Initially, 507 organisations registered their intention to apply for the long-term funding, with a predicted ask of £114m annually.

Earlier this year, the Scottish government introduced a reduction to Creative Scotland’s £63m budget of more than 10% for 2023/2024. Before the cut was imposed, Creative Scotland warned that it would not be able to continue to support as many organisations on a multi-year basis as it did previously and that the application process would be “highly competitive.”

The £6.6m budget cut went ahead despite widespread objections, which led the government to abandon the plan in February before reinstating it. Creative Scotland will use some of its financial reserves to cover the shortfall in funding for this year. 

In recent weeks, the SNP has committed to restoring Creative Scotland’s budget next year, though Creative Scotland has said it has "no indication" of its funding pot for 2024/25 and beyond.

Last week, MSPs rejected a bid by Scottish Labour to reverse the funding cuts this year.

Labour challenge to Creative Scotland cuts rejected

26 Oct 2023

A bid by Scottish Labour to reverse the government’s decision to cut art funding by £6.6m has been rejected by MSPs.

The Labour motion calling for a reduction to Creative Scotland's budget to be reinstated with “immediate effect” failed after Culture Secretary Angus Robertson brought an amendment to the motion that passed with 65 votes for Yes and 52 for No.

Labour MSP Neil Bibby tabled a motion at Holyrood yesterday (25 October) that “condemns the Scottish government’s decision to break its promise to the sector not to cut Creative Scotland’s budget by 10%” and "calls, therefore, on the Scottish government to reverse the 10% budget cut to Creative Scotland with immediate effect".

Robertson's amendment removed the original motion's condemnation of the Scottish government and calls to reinstate arts funding this year, stating instead that "in common with other sectors, arts and culture organisations are experiencing significant pressure due to increases in the cost of living as a consequence of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the actions of the UK government".

It also welcomed Creative Scotland's use of its financial reserves to "ensure that funding for regularly funded organisations has been maintained in 2023/24" and "supports the Scottish government’s plan to double arts and culture funding by £100m over the next five years" adding that "the UK Government should match this stated ambition and at least double its investment in arts and culture over the same period".

Creativity initiative in Portsmouth gets ACE backing

25 Oct 2023

Portsmouth Creates is moving ahead with a project worth £1.1m to grow creativity and culture in Portsmouth after receiving backing from Arts Council England (ACE).

The organisation successfully bid for ACE Place Partnership funding worth £650,000 over the next three years.

Portsmouth Creates’ founding partners – Portsmouth City Council, the University of Portsmouth and Victorious Festival – are contributing £450,000.

A statement from the organisation says funding will be put towards an “an ambitious programme aimed at driving growth and developing talent and inclusion for creatives and communities through collaboration, building capacity and creative pathways”.

Plans include a Business Support Programme, Creative Directory, and Sector Mapping exercise to identify skill gaps and opportunities across the city.

Opportunities for young people include the development of a Youth Board Mentoring Scheme and Apprentice Programme.

Portsmouth is set to host the We Connect Annual Conference and We Shine 2024 and 2026. In 2025, a programme of citywide celebrations will spotlight Portsmouth’s role within the world of literature.

“As a Priority Place for Arts Council England, now is our time to ensure that the creatives, cultural organisations, and communities are given the skills and the confidence and opportunity to reach their full potential and beyond,” said, Gemma Nichols, Portsmouth Creates CEO.

“Portsmouth is a city full of creativity, through our programme our aim is to unlock much more of this."

Glasgow museums shut amid staff strikes

24 Oct 2023

Museums in Glasgow are closed this week due to industrial action taken by staff over plans to cut jobs.

Members of Unison working in Glasgow museums and collections are taking part in five days of strikes, ending on Saturday (28 October), impacting flagship institutions, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Glasgow Museums Resource Centre.

Unison says that Glasgow Life, an arm's-length organisation that runs the city's art, leisure and culture sector on behalf of the council, proposes 38 job cuts in specialist roles, including gallery curators and conservators.

The union has warned the cuts to conservators could result in a "high-profile accident" to items in the £1.4bn Glasgow Museum collection. "Collections do not look after themselves," a union spokesperson said.

"Deep cleaning of display venues by specialist conservation staff will greatly reduce or completely disappear. World-class textiles at the Burrell Collection, taxidermy specimens at Kelvingrove and other vulnerable organic objects will be at particular risk of pest damage without regular, vigilant cleaning by highly-trained specialists."

Defending the cuts, Glasgow Life said it had to make £7.1m of savings after cuts to its budget from Glasgow City Council which is grappling with a £50m deficit.

Glasgow Life said: “We recognise how valued our museums and collections are to Glasgow’s communities and the city’s international profile, and we understand the concern any changes may cause.

"Wherever possible, we have identified ways of making savings by reducing, rather than losing Glasgow Life services programmes and events; retaining the potential to rebuild them in the future."

"However, we have been saying for some time now that the savings we are making this year add up to around 9% of our annual service fee from the Council and ensure none of our facilities will have to close."

Plans for Eastbourne arts centre revealed

24 Oct 2023

Proposals for a new arts, education and cultural centre sited on a 19th Century dairy farm in the South Downs have been announced. 

The project, called Black Robin Farm, is part of a partnership between the contemporary art gallery Towner Eastbourne and Eastbourne Borough Council, with a design by architects Feilden Fowles recently submitted for planning approval.

The submission follows Eastbourne Borough Council's successful £19.8m funding bid to the government's Levelling Up Fund. It is hoped that Black Robin Farm will draw 100,000 visitors annually within five years, helping to boost Eastbourne’s economy. 

Working with East Sussex College Group, Towner Eastbourne will use the site to offer qualifications and skills training for young adults to support career development in the creative, leisure and tourism sectors. It also plans to provide artist opportunities through commissions, residencies, showcasing and workspace.

If planning permission is granted, the next steps for the project will be working with stakeholders and communities over the next four years. 

Joe Hill, CEO and Director of Towner Eastbourne said: ”Our ambition is to ensure genuinely inclusive access to art and culture through artist commissions and other professional development opportunities, skills development initiatives and creative engagement programmes for children and adults, especially those from Eastbourne's most disadvantaged communities.

“Our vision is to change lives through high-quality creative and cultural experiences that raise aspirations, change career directions and improve life outcomes."
 

Hastings schools chosen for art education pilot

24 Oct 2023

A pilot project to develop a new approach to arts education will be run across a group of schools in Hastings, East Sussex.

The Clore Duffield Foundation is working with the Ark group of schools to explore how it can support multi-academy trusts to "deliver excellent and inspiring arts education".

During the project, Ark will work with local and national artists and arts organisations to give all pupils the chance to develop their creativity. 

A range of arts initiatives and partnerships will be trialled, culminating in an arts festival in Hastings in July 2024.

Kate Bellamy, Director of the Clore Duffield Foundation said: “We believe that an excellent arts education is essential for children, young people and the creative industries to thrive. 

"The Foundation has spent the past 20 years supporting cultural institutions to create Clore Learning Spaces for arts education. 

"But not all schools and families can easily access these. So, we are partnering with Ark Schools to explore how multi academy trusts can develop inspiring arts education programmes, ensuring all their pupils benefit."

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