It's widely agreed that arts and creativity can boost mental health and wellbeing. But less well known is the positive effect that writing can have, says Christina Bunce.
How can we build a fairer cultural sector that works for artists, organisations, and communities? Mark Robinson explores some tactics for the tightrope act of shared culture.
A charity in the West Midlands is championing young people’s voices and youth leadership through a range of different activities. Tom Inniss nurtures the talents of aspiring arts and culture journalists.
It’s easy to blame the challenges now facing theatre on the longest shutdown of stages since the mid-17th century. But these problems began well before the pandemic, argues Dan Hutton.
The first National Portfolio Organisation lost to the effects of the pandemic will close its doors next week, leaving a gap in support for writers, artists and activists.
A parliamentary report into writers' experience of Covid-19 says "a clear line of communication between the Government and the creative workforce" would address gaps in support - and save an £11bn industry from a cliff edge.
Poet and climate writer, Linda France shares how she is creating spaces for connection, discussion and personal reflection, encouraging us to respond to the climate emergency and see ourselves as part of the solution.
The largest Paul Hamlyn Foundation grant since 2006 will provide a sustainable basis for the theatre’s ongoing work, plus money to evaluate its long-term impact.
Ambitions to increase the number of creators of colour have been raised amid improvements in the incidence and portrayal of Black, Asian and ethnic minority characters.
New guidelines have been drawn up to protect playwrights whose future work is under threat, existing work is being streamed free, and who are under pressure to accept digital work for low rates.
An evaluation of a three-year scheme finds writing programmes should prioritise writing for pleasure, rather than trying to improve technical accuracy.
In Wales, people living with dementia, and their carers, are being offered fiction as well as self-help books to help them manage the condition, explains Debbie Hicks.
The national funder is concerned by low income for writers and a lack of diversity in the sector, and has pledged more support for authors, publishers and independent bookshops.
When project funding slowed after the financial crash, Jaybird Live Literature was unable to put on the technically complex poetry shows it was known for. Julia Bird explains how it adapted its work to stay in business.
Literature Wales was stunned by the review, which recommended stripping the body of its main responsibilities and handing them over to the government-sponsored Books Council.
