The squeeze: Freelancers in a polycrisis economy
Although freelance work is a term used widely in the sector and in government debates, it is not recognised in policy terms which,…
Posts
My gurus: Navigating crises together
This month Norden Farm Centre for the Arts celebrates its 25th anniversary. Artistic director Jane Corry reflects on some turbulen…
‘We can’t insist councils prioritise culture’, former shadow DCMS minister admits
Council leaders who don’t understand the power of culture to grow the local economy are “really missing a trick,” Mayor of Wes…
The governmental geometry of culture: Who has a seat at the table?
During his international study of the impact of Covid, Anthony Sargent was struck by the differences in where the arts and culture…
Edinburgh festivals fear demise of community work amid ‘funding uncertainty’
Many Edinburgh festivals now “recognise community work as core”, but fear progress will be lost without future funding, accord…
Composer jailed for Covid loan fraud
A video game composer has been jailed for 16 months for fraudulently applying for a second Covid business loan. Peter Connelly, 52…
Not if, but when: The readiness imperative
In the third and final instalment of his global study into Covid and the cultural and creative sector, Anthony Sargent argues that…
ACE engages external advisors to support Covid loan management
Arts Council England (ACE) has sought external financial advisors to assist its in-house team in managing loans made to arts and c…
Cultural organisations give evidence in Covid inquiry
Cultural organisations, including Arts Council England and Music Venue Trust, are set to give evidence in a series of roundtable s…
MPs urge DCMS to consider sale of costly Covid debt
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) should consider selling its Covid-era loan book to provide the best value for t…
Majority of freelancers getting less work post-pandemic
Freelancers in the creative and cultural industries have experienced a drop in work since the Covid pandemic, the findings of a ne…
New model for Scottish artists
Shân Edwards is the founder and director of the Scottish charity Outer Spaces, helping to forge new ways for artists to make work…
The audience legacy of Covid
Although the pandemic brought better insight, the picture is complicated by the effects of the poly-crisis. The Audience Agency’…
Is culture still bad for you?
In 2020, ‘Culture is bad for you’ was published. As its second edition is about to be released, one of its authors, Dave O’B…
DCMS pledges to keep Tate afloat as it attempts to cut costs
Tate has been told it will be given central government support to stay afloat as it attempts to move to a financially sustainable…
Live events reinsurance scheme ‘limited by late introduction’
The former Conservative government’s live events reinsurance scheme had limited impact on stimulating additional activity, accor…
Covid five years on: No return to ‘normal’
Oily Cart has over 40 years’ experience creating immersive sensory shows – in-person, responsive and close-up. When the pandemic…
The lessons we learned from Covid – then forgot
In the first of our series reflecting on the pandemic five years on, Splitpixel’s Lauren James is sad that some of the lessons l…
ACE yet to recoup £1.3m of withdrawn Covid-era grants
Arts Council England (ACE) is yet to recover £1.3m provided to arts and culture organisations through Culture Recovery Fund grant…
Council grants 10-year extension on Covid loan for performing arts company
A Blackpool performing arts organisation has had a Covid-era loan from the city’s council extended to support its recovery. Blac…
DCMS faces questions on Covid loan book ‘conflict of interest’
Senior civil servants have faced scrutiny from MPs over whether the management of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Co…
Soft power: The role of culture in a hyper-globalised world
The new Soft Power Council has been set up in response to a volatile world at a time when democracy is in peril. So, writes Meliss…
ACE revokes Sacha Lord Covid grant over ‘unintended oversights’
A Covid-era grant of more than £400,000 has been withdrawn by Arts Council England (ACE) following concerns raised last year over…
Performing artists and precarity: The true impact of Covid
A new book examining what the pandemic meant for freelance performers has been published. Mimi Doulton thinks its an invaluable re…
