Policy

UK Music chief warns of AI threat to industry

13 Jul 2023

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has written to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer calling for reassurance that artificial intelligence (AI) firms will not be allowed to “crush the human creativity which is the beating heart and soul of our world-leading music industry”.

Njoku-Goodwin’s letter warns the rapid advance of AI poses many “difficult questions” government must urgently address.

It comes amid the growing use of AI to clone voices of musicians to create new music, creating issues around copyright and consent. UK Music and its members have put forward a five-point plan to support musicians in the face of developing AI technologies, which Njoku-Goodwin’s letter calls on the government to support.

The five principles include ensuring the creator or rights holder retains the legal rights to their creative output, and ensuring technology providers keep an auditable record of the music ingested before an algorithm generates new music.

It also suggests music generated by AI should be labelled as such, and that a new 'personality right' be created to protect the personality and image of songwriters and artists.

“As we look to unlock the potential of the creative industries, we must ensure the music industry and the tech sector grow in partnership, and the right guardrails are in place as we develop our AI sector,” Njoku-Goodwin’s letter states.

“I would be delighted to discuss this further with you or your officials and look forward to working with you to ensure the development of AI is a benefit rather than a barrier to our fantastic music industry.”

House of Lords debates creative industries policy

image of Lord Parkinson

11 Jul 2023

Peers say government must consider skills development, careers guidance and research and development tax relief in discussion on creative industries policy developments.

The forgotten creatives: Why visual artists deserve more

Image of artist Francis Bowyer working in his studio

11 Jul 2023

The Creative Industries Sector Vision unveiled last month had one glaring omission – visual artists. Christian Zimmermann thinks it’s time to recognise their contribution.

Starmer promises greater emphasis on creativity in education

photo of Keir Starmer delivering a speech in front of a red background

06 Jul 2023

Labour leader says every child will be given the opportunity to take arts subjects until the age of 16 as part of the party’s plans for education policy.

Children and young people

APPG inquiry recommends action on decline of arts education

Schoolchildren and teacher sitting around table in art/design class. They are wearing blue and yellow aprons.

05 Jul 2023

Government must urgently address a crisis in training, recruitment and retention of art and design teachers, according to an inquiry commissioned by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design.

Creative Scotland warns of ‘extremely challenging’ funding climate

image of the Kelpies structure of two giant iron horses located near Falkirk, Scotland

04 Jul 2023

The funder says it could be forced to reduce the number of organisations it supports if it does not recieve an uplift in funding from the Scottish Government.

It’s time we moved to Denmark

Exterior of Musikkens Hus (House of Music) in Aalborg, Denmark.

04 Jul 2023

What can the UK learn about cultural policy from its tiny Nordic neighbour? Robin Cantrill-Fenwick finds out - stopping off at Naples along the way.

Holyrood seeks cultural sector views on budget 'perfect storm'

03 Jul 2023

The Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament is seeking the views of arts professionals on the impact of rising costs on the sector.

The call follows last year's pre-budget report for 2024-25 which said arts and culture organisations were facing a "perfect storm" of long-term budget pressures, reduced income generation and increased operating costs.

The committee called on the Scottish Government's "refreshed" Culture Strategy Action Plan to provide a "clear and strategic sense" of how government plans to create a more sustainable future for arts and culture in Scotland.

Their report concluded that the current funding crisis "provides an opportunity to accelerate innovative solutions to the budgetary pressures within the sector".

The committee is now inviting responses to what it sees as three key questions for Scotland's culture sector.

Firstly, how has the sector responded to the perfect storm outlined in the pre-budget report, and what is the impact of the 2023-24 Budget on the sector?

Secondly, what progress has been made in the last 12 months to accelerate innovate solutions and what could the Scottish Government implement to support the sector?

Finally, how can future budgetary decisions in the sector be informed by the Culture Strategy Action Plan?

The consultation is open for responses until 18 August 2023.

The arts and emerging technology

Performance of Golem. Person in clown makeup alongside 'Golem' – a creature crafted from clay. They are both stood on stage.

28 Jun 2023

Catherine Allen’s expertise spans augmented and virtual reality, including the development of the immersive sector. Here, she outlines how the arts have always been and continue to be crucial to the development of emergent technology.

Artificial Intelligence

Frazer seeks theatre 'power shift' from US to UK

London's West End at night

27 Jun 2023

Culture Secretary says mix of theatre in London is 'stronger than ever' and wants Creative Industries Sector Vision to spark a shift in the balance of power from Broadway to the West End.

ACNI says government funding ‘simply not enough’

Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Chair Liam Hannaway and Chief Executive Roisin McDonough

27 Jun 2023

Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive and Chair speak out on the impact of a 5% reduction to the level of government funding.

Northern Ireland

Labour slams government’s arts education provision

A group of school students take part in an art class

26 Jun 2023

Shadow Arts Minister Barbara Keeley says Labour would ensure all children have access to high-quality arts education as she criticises government for the ‘systematic exclusion and downgrading of arts subjects’.

Children and young people

Making the case for the creative industries

Sir Peter Bazalgette, co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council.

21 Jun 2023

Following the publication of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, Peter Bazalgette, who advised on its content, speaks to Arts Professional’s Neil Puffett about the impact it will have.

A framework for innovation to thrive

Colourful hands encircling a paper globe on a white backdrop, symbolising diverse cultures and international cooperation.

19 Jun 2023

The Creative Industries Council - the joint forum between the creative industries and UK government - played a central role in developing the Creative Industries Sector Vision. The British Council's Rehana Mughal is a member of that forum.

Grassroots music gets £8m funding boost

musician playing guitar

15 Jun 2023

Government increases support to grassroots music venues and artists breaking overseas markets as part of Creative Industries Sector Vision.

Heading in the right direction

Graphic of lightbulb with coloured lines emanating from it

14 Jun 2023

Christopher Smith welcomes the government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision published this week, saying it is a recognition of the value of the UK’s creative industries.

Creative sector blueprint pledges support for young people

14 Jun 2023

The Creative Industries Sector Vision pledges to provide equal access to a creative education, promote creative career pathways and invest in creative skills and training.

Children and young people

Government unveils Creative Industries Sector Vision

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

14 Jun 2023

An additional £77m will be invested by government to help grow the creative industries but theatres, museums and galleries miss out on financial support.

Frazer tells music industry to support grassroots venues

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer appearing before the Culture Select Committee

08 Jun 2023

Culture Secretary tells MPs she is sending a 'strong message' to major music arenas that they need to do more to help grassroots venues.

Workplace guides address sexual harassment in theatre

06 Jun 2023

Two "vital" and "long-needed" guides addressing sexual harassment in the performing arts have been launched as part of efforts to support organisations and individuals working in the sector.

Published by the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the guides have been informed by the Harassment in the Performing Arts (HiPA) Working Group, an independent working group convened by the federation.

The first guide, Navigating Sexual Harassment at Work: A Guide to Support Freelancers and Individuals, hopes to help those experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace.

The second, Tackling Sexual Harassment at Work: An Action Guide for Theatre Companies and Arts Organisations, aims to support organisations in their response to complaints of sexual harassment.

The guides' author Lisa Sangster, who was also co-chair of the HiPA working group and is a trained sexual violence support worker, said: "The new HiPA guides are an important contribution towards supporting a culture change in the sector.

"They aim to empower individuals to take action when they witness harassment, and support people experiencing it to feel reassured that they have options and deserve support."

She added: "Having resources that are easy to read, jargon free and open to all is critical in improving responses to incidents of sexual harassment.”

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