Cross artform

Labour has said it is intent on backing the UK's creative industries "to the hilt" if it comes to power.

The Stage reports that Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer spoke at a launch event for the Labour Creatives Network, which has been established to help develop the party's policy and manifesto for the next general election.

During the event, held last week, he stressed the importance of the sector to the economy.

In a message to the arts, Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell said: "A Labour government is coming and we will back Britain’s creative industries to the hilt."

Addressing attendees, Starmer went on to say: "What you do is so important to the fairer, greener, more dynamic country I know we can become. 

"There isn’t really a debate about this – not a credible one. The reasons are perfectly clear – £178 billion worth of growth every year, £50 billion worth of exports, two million jobs, 750,000 businesses."

“Britain is a creative industries superpower around the world – other countries look at your strength with envy.”

The Labour Creatives Network aims to bring together artists who share Labour values. Attendees included actor Sir Patrick Stewart, TV producer and writer Steven Moffat, comedian Tracey Ullman, and chair of the Creative Industries Council Sir Peter Bazalgette.

Creatives in the West Midlands are being invited to apply for a free six-week programme aiming to develop the next generation of multi-camera talent.

The Filming Performance Bootcamp, a partnership between The Space, Solihull College and University Centre and part funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, will give participants an overview of how live performances are captured for screen and how various art forms can be filmed for TV and online audiences.

Students will undertake a two-week workshop to learn filming, vision mixing and editing skills, alongside attending masterclasses with industry professionals and gaining hands-on training in capturing live performances and working with artists.

The latest programme, which follows a pilot in Birmingham earlier this year, will run for six weeks starting 30 January 2023.

Applications are open until 8 December to any creatives over 19 that live in the West Midlands, with no prior experience in filming or live capture required.

Skills body ScreenSkills is offering bursaries of up to £2,500 per participant to cover costs incurred while taking part in the course, including a loss of earning access or childcare needs.

CEO of The Space Fiona Morris said the increasing number of opportunities for artists and cultural organisations to present their work digitally is leading to an unprecedented demand for the skills required to film, mix and edit work.

“We’re delighted, therefore, to be working with our partners to provide such brilliant opportunities for trainees to gain hands-on experience and benefit from working with high-calibre creative professionals,” she added.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said the bootcamp will ensure participants are equipped with the sector-relevant skills that will mean they're well-placed to thrive in the months and years ahead: “I cannot wait to see lives changed for the better”.

Post-pandemic audiences for live music and theatre are returning at a slower rate than for cinema and exhibitions, according to new analysis of DCMS data.

The study published by Data Culture Change in partnership with the Campaign for the Arts, covers the nine artforms included in the DCMS Participation Survey of audiences in England, looking at participation data for October 2021 to June 2022.

The data shows a positive upward trajectory for audiences, but the recovery is uneven.

Of the less popular artforms covered in the data, craft exhibitions, live dance and street arts events are recovering at a slower rate than events connected with books and writing.

Campaign for the Arts Director Jack Gamble said: “We all know that the pandemic had a big impact on people’s ability to organise and engage with arts events, but this report shows just how considerable that impact was, and that the ripples are still being felt.

"It’s encouraging to see a trend towards increased participation overall, but it’s a much slower recovery for some artforms, and especially in light of the energy and cost-of-living crisis, we need to ensure that the trend towards recovery can continue.”

Creatives in Glasgow are being invited to apply to a funding programme aimed at using art to tackle stigma around mental health.

The Anti-Stigma Arts Fund, from mental health charity See Me Scotland, offers grants between £500 and £5,000 and accepts applications from individuals, groups or organisations.

First launched in 2021, the programme is currently funding six ongoing projects including films, a comic book and programme of therapeutic arts.

See Me's Project Officer for Communities and Priority Groups Maeve Grindall said the first round of funding “showed us the power of the arts and how creativity can tackle mental health stigma and discrimination”.

“We’re excited to see what projects and ideas might come from our second year of funding and placing a real emphasis on projects which aim to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in the communities where it is most prevalent.”

Applications for the second wave of funding are open until 6 November.