Locally-led arts sustained communities through lockdown

25 Aug 2021

Working around Covid-19 restrictions actually bolstered the vitality and value of local arts projects, research finds.

Covid-19 crushed Swansea's City of Culture plan

25 Aug 2021

Swansea Council says the pandemic changed its plans to enter the UK City of Culture 2025 contest.

The city bid for the title in the first three years of the competition and was shortlisted for the 2017 and 2021 years.

Council Leader Rob Stewart said: “Our current efforts are firmly focused on helping Swansea and its cultural community lead Wales out of the pandemic”.

Stewart added it is likely it will consider a bid in future years.

Wales is represented on the 2025 longlist by Newport, Powys, Conwy County, Bangor and Northwest Wales.

Wales' arts funders 'shouldn't force white-led organisations to diversify'

23 Aug 2021

A report commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales says it is entrenched in white supremacy and has ignored calls for change. It appears to be doing the same again.

Call to patronise local museums as visitors favour big name sites

19 Aug 2021

Museums have not yet returned to full strength despite restrictions lifting. The challenges for smaller and larger sites this summer differ.

Disabled audiences will eschew venues with lax Covid rules

19 Aug 2021

Two thirds would choose venues with Covid certification on entry over those taking a laissez-faire approach. 

Freedom Day? Arts organisations double down on restrictions amid vaccine passport U-turn

22 Jul 2021

Venues are pleading for leniency on isolation rules that threaten to derail their reopening, but audiences remain hesitant.

Cultural vaccination centres an opportunity to reach new audiences

photo of Sadiq Khan speaking to NHS workers
21 Jul 2021

Art galleries hosting pop-up sites hope to capitalise on increased footfall and reconnect with young locals.

Medway’s City of Culture bid on track despite UCA closure

photo of UCA Rochester campus
12 Jul 2021

Medway Council promises a "resilient" bid as local politicians and students oppose the University of Creative Arts’ decision to close its Rochester campus.

Young people taking the lead

Attenborough Arts Centre's resident youth group, Next Gen
06 Jul 2021

A new programme aimed at engaging 18-to-25 year olds with museums and galleries hands over control of the creative direction to the young people themselves. Sophie Alonso explains. 

Two thirds of livestreaming performers expect to continue post-pandemic

08 Jun 2021

A lack of infrastructure and interaction with audiences are pressing issues for artists streaming live - but monetisation remains the most major concern.

Engaging young wealthy donors: heartstrings before purse strings

02 Jun 2021

Recent research provides insights to building lifetime relationships with the funders of the future. Lisa Rose outlines the main findings.

'No guarantee' of funding for UK City of Culture 2025 winner

02 Jun 2021

The contest will continue into 2029 and beyond, with £40,000 grants to develop longlisted applications regardless of whether they win or lose.

Bradford cultural strategy to 'harness the power of our diversity'

01 Jun 2021

The city aims to add 3,000 jobs to its cultural sector by 2031 - half of them from underrepresented groups - as its current offer lacks "the power to engage all our diverse communities".  

'Lack of trust' in disabled audiences' access upon reopening

26 May 2021

Just 7% of disabled arts professionals are in full-time employment according to a new survey that paints a "shockingly fragile" picture of disability in the cultural sector.

Venues aim to be dementia friendly upon full reopening

18 May 2021

Forty London arts organisations have signed up to a new charter as other initiatives promote the arts in care homes across the UK.

Vaccine passports could deter more people from venues

16 Apr 2021

New research hints at the complexity of Covid status certification as debate rages over its use in cultural spaces.

'Priority places' list to guide increased ACE investment

15 Apr 2021

New capital and business development programmes are in the pipeline as ACE looks to "refresh" the criteria for existing funding streams and "broaden" its National Portfolio.

Don’t take your opera audiences for granted

13 Apr 2021

James Clutton says supporters have stood by cultural organisations through the toughest of times. They deserve transparency, care and as much opportunity to engage as possible.

Attractions' visitor numbers fall by 70% in 'devastatingly hard year'

08 Apr 2021

UK cultural attractions are calling for a new bank holiday to boost tourism, and the popularity of outdoor attractions, starting to reopen from next week, has skyrocketed.

Battersea Arts Centre brings in 'pay what you can' model

07 Apr 2021

The National Portfolio Organisation has pursued its plan to widen access in spite of the pandemic and says funders have been "universally supportive".

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