DCMS to spend £1.5bn in ‘serious’ uplift to capital funding
A “bumper” £1.5 billion package will “restore national pride” and save more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, and libraries from c…
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Bradford’s success proves civic value of our arts boost, says DCMS minister
Culture minister Ian Murray has diagnosed the “number one issue in the country at the moment” to be a lack of “community spirit”….
Museums and galleries’ financial shift drives DCMS underspend
Financial management of state-sponsored museums and galleries, including increased reliance on visitor income and reserves, was a…
Sponsorship rows here to stay, says leader of festival that ended Baillie Gifford ties
The chief operating officer of annual literary fixture the Hay Festival has said major events like his own will likely see sponsor…
Nandy ‘horrified’ by claim arts funding not a voter priority
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has pushed back against suggestions funding for arts and culture, more of which is expected to be ann…
All-Party Parliamentary Groups: What are they and why are they important to the arts sector?
In 2011, the artist Bob and Roberta Smith painted his now infamous painting Letter to Michael Gove, in which he advocated for art…
London’s creative industries chief warns against taking capital’s cultural heft for granted
Justine Simons has said her “North Star” is to make sure everyone in London can lead a “creative life”, as a “participant, an audi…
London’s creative districts win slice of more than £2m in mayoral investment
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is to channel £2.2 million of funding into the capital’s Creative Enterprise Zones (CEZs), with the su…
DCMS must take ‘concrete action’ on appointing freelance advocate
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has declined to confirm when its promised freelance champion might be named. Cr…
Scottish performing companies demand meeting with finance secretary over ‘baffling’ budget
The Federation of Scottish Theatres (FST) has called on the Scottish government to increase culture funding to 1% of its total bud…
Town of Culture panel to assess applicants’ ‘unique story’
Applications for the UK’s first ever Town of Culture contest will be open until 31 March this year, with three main criteria to he…
Scottish government makes good on £20m culture boost in draft budget
The Scottish government has reaffirmed its pledge to increase cultural spending by £20 million as part of its draft budget announ…
Plymouth to make first City of Culture bid since 2017
Plymouth has become the first to confirm its ambition to become UK City of Culture 2029, with the chief executive of museum and ar…
Business rates rise will menace venues ‘incubating British talent’
Communities could lose their “only form of cultural provision” if Chancellor Rachel Reeves pursues increases to business rates, a…
Short-term funding aggravating ‘acute’ heritage skills shortages
Government capital schemes for local regeneration are creating “inflationary pressures” for heritage organisations because there i…
Cultural heavyweights call for action to help mothers in Gaza after aid ban
Scores of leaders from across the arts and cultural sector, including celebrated Dames Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Joanna Lumley…
British Library ‘looks forward’ to exploring ACE review proposals despite fears of open letter
The British Library has confirmed it ‘looks forward’ to exploring the Arts Council England (ACE) review proposals, despite an…
Calls for ACE to judge ‘acceptable behaviour’ on arts sponsorship decried as ‘deeply problematic’
Climate activists have criticised a report into Arts Council England (ACE) as “ill-evidenced, sweeping, and against current majo…
Establish national philanthropy register and map cultural assets, Creative UK paper urges
The foundation of a national philanthropy register could improve transparency and better measure the success of mixed funding mode…
Key dates for the arts sector in 2026
The year ahead will bring a raft of events that have significant implications for the arts and culture sector. Here, we take a loo…
When you wish upon an ACE review
The Hodge review of Arts Council England resembles a Christmas wish list, but who stands to get their presents? asks Robin Can…
Remodelled Creative Industries Council to play ‘crucial role’ in government’s sector plan
The government has announced a fresh line-up for its Creative Industries Council (CIC), intended to better represent a range of su…
New ACE music advisory group aims to deliver ‘real benefits for artists’
Arts Council England (ACE) has launched an advisory group, formed of artists and industry professionals, to shape how the governme…
‘We have been too prescriptive’, admits ACE
Arts Council England (ACE) has acknowledged its implementation of the 10-year strategy aimed at bringing “world-class art and cu…
