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.

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.

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.

Theatres call for £56.7m energy fund from next government

LED lights on a truss
26 Oct 2023

It's estimated that measures funded by a proposed support package to adopt energy saving measures would save UK theatres as much as £6.2m a year.

Peers criticise Royal Albert Hall 'conflicts of interest’

25 Oct 2023

Fears that governance arrangements at Royal Albert Hall, which allow trustees to sell tickets on at huge profit, could influence decisions about how the venue is run.

What is an equity steering group?

Crafts Council's Equity Advisory Council
25 Oct 2023

Maher Anjum, Julia Bennett, Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas and Rose Sinclair reflect on how an inclusive steering group helped place equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of their work. 

British Museum digitises collection to prevent thefts

18 Oct 2023

The British Museum has announced plans to digitise its collection in response to the stolen artefacts scandal that has embroiled the institution.

A five-year plan to digitise the museum’s collection and make it available online will help “improve security”, according to the museum's Interim Director, Sir Mark Jones.

Appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on Wednesday (18 October) he said:  “It is my belief that the single most important response to the thefts is to increase access because the better a collection is known - and the more it is used - the sooner any absences are noticed.

"So that's why, rather than locking the collection away, we want to make it the most enjoyed, used and seen in the world.”

The process of digitising the collection is already underway and involves the uploading or upgrading of 2.4 million records. 

The British Museum’s Chair of Trustees, George Osborne, said the organisation had been “victims of an inside job” when around 2,000 items from its collection were revealed to be missing in August, leading to the dismissal of a Senior Curator. 

“There are lots of lessons to be learnt," said Osbourne. "We have changed our whistleblowing code, changed our policy on thefts... tightened up security on thefts." 

The museum has also announced plans for enhanced access to study rooms, where members of the public and academics can view items from the collection by appointment.

Osbourne revealed that the museum will acknowledge the thefts in an exhibit of the missing items, 350 of which have been recovered so far. 

ENO: Compulsory dissolution dropped

English National Opera auditorium
11 Oct 2023

Latest English National Opera accounts yet to be submitted, resulting in move to have it closed down by government agency overseeing UK companies.

Entire board departs NPO arts producer

Exterior of The Sharp Project, Manchester.
09 Oct 2023

Arts Council England says it has been “made aware" of changes to the board at SICK! Productions.

Scores of NPOs yet to register for Illuminate

The PricewaterhouseCoopers logo hanging from the side of a building
05 Oct 2023

More than 50 National Portfolio Organisations miss deadline imposed by Arts Council England to register with new data platform that has been beset by delays and glitches.

DCMS pushes 'retain and explain' approach on contested statues

Statue of Edward Colston being pulled down by demonstrators in 2020
05 Oct 2023

Guidance designed to help custodians of controversial public statues and monuments deal with calls for their removal has been published by government.

Charity governance in need of urgent overhaul

Silhouetted figures at a boardroom table
04 Oct 2023

In recent years, the model of charitable governance has become increasingly challenging, as Michelle Wright explains.

Arts charity bids to rejoin National Portfolio

People attending a Wikipedia edit-a-thon in the Live Art Development Agency's study room
12 Sep 2023

The Live Art Development Agency hopes to return to National Portfolio within six months following leadership overhaul.

British Museum to review security following artefacts theft

17 Aug 2023

The British Museum has said it will conduct an independent review of its security after items from its collection were found to be “missing, stolen or damaged”.

In a statement released yesterday [Wednesday 16 August], the museum confirmed it has dismissed a staff member over the loss of several artefacts, with a police investigation now underway.

The majority of items in question were small pieces kept in a storeroom, including gold jewellery and gems of semi- precious stones and glass, dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD.

None of the items had been on public display and were kept primarily for academic and research purposes.

The independent review into the museum’s security will be led by former trustee Sir Nigel Boardman and Lucy D’Orsi, Chief Constable of British Transport Police. 

The museum’s statement says the pair will make recommendations regarding future security arrangements at the museum and “kickstart - and support - a vigorous programme to recover the missing items”.

British Museum Chair George Osborne said the museum's trustees learned of the thefts “earlier this year”.

“Our priority is now threefold: first, to recover the stolen items; second, to find out what, if anything, could have been done to stop this; and third, to do whatever it takes, with investment in security and collection records, to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he added.

Director Hartwig Fischer said it was a “highly unusual incident”.

“The museum apologises for what has happened, but we have now brought an end to this – and we are determined to put things right. 

“We have already tightened our security arrangements and we are working alongside outside experts to complete a definitive account of what is missing, damaged and stolen. This will allow us to throw our efforts into the recovery of objects.”

Jerwood Foundation to merge operations under unitary board

27 Jul 2023

Jerwood Charity operations will become part of Jerwood Foundation and the boards are set to merge, the foundation has announced.

The foundation endowed Jerwood Charity with a fund of £25m in 1999. Following a period of review, the new merger will see Rupert Tyler appointed as Chairman, while Lara Wardle, Executive Director of Jerwood Foundation, will lead and manage the organisation. 

Kate Danielson, a consultant for both Jerwood Foundation and Jerwood Charity, is leading a strategic review to make the merger as seamless as possible and to ensure the charity is best prepared to continue its public offering.

 “Our vision is for a streamlined Jerwood organisation, which is relevant and receptive to the contemporary funding landscape,” Wardle said.

“We will continue to support, nurture and reward excellence and dedication in the arts in the UK and maintain our commitment to early-career artists, ensuring John Jerwood’s original philanthropic vision is honoured.”

Coventry Culture Trust: ACE aware of 'acute difficulties' in 2021

The Walk evening performance, Coventry City of Culture 2021
18 Jul 2023

Public spending watchdog reveals Arts Council England knew of serious financial problems at Coventry City of Culture Trust 18 months before its collapse.

DCMS outlines 'lessons learned' from UNBOXED festival

Live finale of GALWAD at Blaenau Ffestiniog, part of UNBOXED, Creativity in the UK.
04 Jul 2023

DCMS identifies lessons to be learned from the management of UNBOXED festival in letter to Public Accounts Committee.

Succession – without the drama

Karen Watson and Jon Wakeman, founder Directors of East Street Arts, Leeds. They stand in the doorway to a house, both smiling.
04 Jul 2023

Succession is often a challenging experience for both the outgoing leader and those left to pick up the reins, as Claire Antrobus and Sandeep Mahal have been finding out.

English National Opera board member resigns over ACE plans

External view of English National Opera current base, the Coliseum
05 Jun 2023

Arts Council England's plans to move English National Opera out of London labelled a 'delayed death sentence' due to anticipated impact on box office revenue.

Coventry collapse: Watchdog to examine DCMS and ACE role

volunteers during Coventry's City of Culture year. two volunteers are facing the camera, smiling, wearing blue City of Culture branded jackets
02 Jun 2023

National Audit Office will examine public bodies' oversight of money provided to Coventry City of Culture Trust prior to its collapse.

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