A 'nearly good news' story

Photo of two women, one is celebrating with here hand in the air in front of a macbook
09 May 2019

Christine Hamilton considers how much has changed since the publication of her report on women in the Scottish arts sector three years ago, and what still needs to be done.

Taking inspiration from sport

Photo of Alex Morgan, captain of the United States women's soccer team, by Jamie Smed
09 May 2019

Why are many women in the arts not progressing into leadership roles? Alex Marshall asks if there are lessons to be learned from the world of sport.

How to rewire your thinking

Photo of neon sign that says Slung Low at The Holbeck
23 Apr 2019

Lucy Jamieson explains how pooling resources, creativity and ideas rather than working in silos can bring about effective change.

Price hikes will restrict access, Northern Ireland sector warned

Belfast Grand Opera House
05 Apr 2019

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has reported that average ticket prices have risen above the rate of inflation over the last three years.

Mapping London's cultural riches

Photo of a group of people holding individual letters to spell out "cuture"
28 Mar 2019

City Hall has launched an interactive online map capturing details of the capital’s cultural spaces - from theatres and studios to pubs and creative workspaces. Justine Simons explains how it will support local planners and creative workers.

Arts organisations urged to become ‘evidence champions’

Photo of library
21 Feb 2019

A new guide to evaluating arts and cultural learning explains the importance of sharing  evidence to help organisations improve their work.

Arts attendance in Northern Ireland falls by a quarter as cuts bite

A man playing a guitar on stage
08 Feb 2019

Annually Funded Organisations are suffering “damage to long-term sustainability”, having slashed marketing budgets in the face of core funding cuts of almost 40% over three years.

Mayor launches trust to support affordable artist workspaces

A man wearing gloves working with tools at a table
08 Feb 2019

The Creative Land Trust, backed by seed funding of £4m from City Hall and £2m from Arts Council England, will seek additional finance from property developers and ask London councils to safeguard affordable workspaces.

South West towns join forces in ‘creative coastline’ vision

Photo of Inside Out Festival, Poole
25 Jan 2019

Arts organisations in the new Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch city region have backed a new long-term enquiry into placing culture at the heart of local life.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland could re-introduce multi-year funding

Women dancing on a stage
17 Jan 2019

The funder has also set out plans to create a consultative assembly of arts professionals, after hearing calls to communicate more effectively with the sector.

Politicians polarise in their opinions of Arts Council England

Photo of House of Commons
17 Jan 2019

Labour politicians are increasingly positive about the Arts Council’s work, while sentiment among Conservatives has moved in the opposite direction.

Universities challenge call for fewer creative arts degrees

A young woman in a red hat taking a photograph
11 Jan 2019

Claims by the Onward thinktank that young people should be steered away from “low value” degrees because they leave taxpayers to foot the bill for their studies are "simplistic", say university bosses.

Looking beyond the obvious

03 Jan 2019

It is right to celebrate those local authorities committed to funding culture, but long-term sustainability may depend on developing entirely new approaches, argues Gary Topp.

Culture funding falls in Scottish budget

Part of the V&A Dundee building
20 Dec 2018

The budget allocation for 'Creative Scotland and other arts' includes £10m for Screen Scotland and a £6.6m boost for the regularly funded portfolio to compensate for reduced lottery income.

Income rises at national institutions despite funding cuts

An ornate white conservatory
14 Dec 2018

In real terms, institutions sponsored by DCMS have increased their income by over a quarter in the past decade, despite a 19% reduction in direct funding.

Cultural sector continues to grow faster than the UK economy

A close up shot of a microphone
30 Nov 2018

The economic output from the cultural sector is now just under £30bn, having grown by 7.3% in one year.

Shadow minister: arts funding ‘should be conditional on ethical employment’

Two men and two women sitting at table
29 Nov 2018

Justin Madders made the comments in relation to a tribunal hearing concerning the employment rights of art educators at the National Gallery, which could set a precedent for the public sector.

Review highlights evidence of class bias in arts funding

The outside of London's National Theatre at night
16 Nov 2018

The tendency for people from higher social grades to be more likely to attend arts events is down to a mismatch between current funding priorities and the public’s taste, rather than any lack of demand, an evidence review suggests.

New network to support governance best practice

People sitting at tables in front of a woman giving a presentation
16 Nov 2018

Arts Council England says that if necessary, it will step in and insist on a change of leadership at its funded clients.

Book review: What Matters?

13 Nov 2018

James Doeser dissects the convictions underpinning Meyrick et al’s contempt for proliferating attempts to measure and quantify the value of the arts. 

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