Gateshead’s Trinity Centre to undergo £1.4m redesign

10 Jan 2023

A former church in Gateshead is set to become a community and arts hub after restoration plans secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Gateway Studio, a dance and related arts charity, has received £1.4m in funding. The money will be used to acquire and restore the Trinity Centre, a Grade I-listed former church located on Gateshead High Street, one of town’s oldest sites.

Plans for the development of the building include the creation of studio perfromance space for open mic nights, acoustic sets and art exhibitions to showcase local talent, as well as office accommodation and a café.

Renovations are scheduled to be completed by September 2024.

“Dance and the arts are powerful tools in transforming individuals and communities,” Martin Hylton, Founder and Chief Executive of Gateway Studio, told the BBC.

“This new development will not only put Gateshead firmly on the map, in terms of developing and supporting professional artists, but will also help to transform the local community.”

Angela Douglas, Gateshead Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, said the new arts space was “an exciting and ambitious project”.

“As one of our only dedicated dance spaces in the borough, I'm sure the regeneration of the Trinity Centre will unlock their full potential,” she said.

ACE relaunches support fund for creative practitioners 

15 Dec 2022

An Arts Council England (ACE) funding stream aimed at individuals working in the cultural sector has opened for its 16th edition.

The Developing your Creative Practice (DYCP) fund provides independent cultural and creative practitioners with grants available to “take a dedicated period of time to focus on their own cultural and creative development, to take them to the next stage in their practice”.

The fund covers all of ACE’s supported artforms for activities including creating new work, research periods, travel for national or international work, training, mentoring or networking.

Grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 are available, with prospective applicants advised to identify a clear development opportunity in their application.

ACE says it received more 19,000 applications to the DYCP fund between rounds eight and 15. The 15th round received 1,261 requests for funding before sharing over £3.5m between 377 individuals.

In light of this high demand, anyone that has made one successful or two unsuccessful applications to the DYCP fund since 10 January 2021 is not eligible for Round 16.

Applications are open until 17 January 2023, with decisions announced by 28 March 2023.

Support programme for Northern Ireland artists massively oversubscribed

12 Dec 2022

Nearly three quarters of applicants for a support programme for artists in Northern Ireland have been rejected.

The BBC reports that about 920 eligible applications were received for the 2022/23 Siap General Arts Award fund run by Arts Council of Northern Ireland requesting a combined total of £4.3m in funding.

However, the funding pot of £985,000 was awarded to 262 individual artists received. Three years ago, the total number of eligible applicants was 280.

The fund aims to help artists purchase new equipment and develop new projects.

A spokesperson for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: "The 228.6% increase in applications to Siap's General Arts Award scheme this year, compared to those in 2019/20, has placed new pressures on the funding available for individual artists."

They added that a further £16.6m of funding would be needed to properly support and develop artists and organisations.
 

Fringe performers ‘likely to return’ to festival

07 Dec 2022

A survey commissioned by the Edinburgh Fringe Society has found 70% of performers at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe are likely to bring a show to the festival again in the future. 

The finding forms part of an evaluation survey into this year’s edition, which received more than 10,000 responses including audiences and performers. For performers, the biggest barrier to future participation appears to be accommodation, with 87% of artists agreeing that affordability of accommodation and living costs will be a barrier to future participation in the Fringe.

Concerns were raised around soaring accomodation costs at the time of this year’s festival, with a coalition of Edinburgh's producing venues calling the issue a threat to the festival’s future.

Despite the concerns, 81% of all survey respondents -  including artists, audience members, arts industry professionals, residents and other participants - said they were likely to come to next year’s festival.

Two thirds of visitors would like to see discounted tickets available at next year’s edition, with 91% agreeing a discount should be available for Edinburgh residents.

The festival says the call for discounted tickets is a result of the cost of living crisis, which it says is “likely to extend into 2023”.

Over 2.2million tickets were issued by the end of this year’s edition, with artists from 63 countries performing more than 3,400 shows across the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chief Executive Shona McCarthy said that in a tumultuous year, “it feels miraculous the Fringe happened at all”.

“Improvements can always be made, and the insights and data gained from our recent listening exercise are already being taken forward”, she added.

“We recognise that there are ongoing challenges, and our team are working hard behind the scenes to continue to advocate for our artists, and to support audiences as they plan for Fringe 2023.”

Leeds 2023 signs fair pay union agreement

05 Dec 2022

Leeds Culture Trust has agreed that all creatives working on the LEEDS 2023 cultural programme will be paid fair wages and have safe and secure working conditions.

The agreement forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding between Leeds Culture Trust and trade unions TUC Yorkshire and Humber, Equity, Artists’ Union England, BECTU and Musicians' Union.

The trust says it will encourage partners and stakeholders to also “engage with appropriate unions to create agreements for the creative sector workers they employ”.

A similar agreement was signed ahead of Coventry’s stint as City of Culture 2021 and in Birmingham for the cultural programme that coincided with this year’s Commonwealth Games.

“At a time when precarious engagements and poor pay are threatening to overshadow the UK’s cultural strength, again Leeds is leading the way by putting the terms and conditions of the creative workforce at the heart of what it means to have a year of culture,” Equity General Secretary Paul Fleming said.

“Great art thrives when artists have dignity at and in their work, which is exactly what this Memorandum of Understanding aims to assure.”

My Gurus: Sowing the seeds of possibility

Image of Shanaz Gulnar
01 Dec 2022

Shanaz Gulzar led Bradford's successful bid to become City of Culture 2025. Having now taken up the reins as its Creative Director, she reflects on the people who have inspired her career and will inform her choices for the festival.

Grassroots call for radical change

Artists in covid masks painting
28 Nov 2022

New research that identifies how the pandemic heightened artists’ precarity highlights radically different perspectives for healthy arts ecologies in the future, writes Susan Jones

Mentoring scheme launches to support Ukrainian students

17 Nov 2022

A new mentoring and financial aid scheme will support Ukrainian art students and universities.

The UAx Platform, launched at the Tate Modern, is a partnership between the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), the Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Foundation and an international network of 280 higher arts education institutions.

It will offer war-affected students and staff wishing to stay in Ukraine a network of mentor schemes and institutional partnerships with European universities, as well as an emergency bursary fund for students in severe need.

ELIA has put its largest ever financial grant towards the programme.

The platform will include a "Sister School" network, which in its first year will consist of partnerships between five Ukrainian universities and five institutions in Germany, Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. 

By year three, 15 Ukrainian institutions will become partnered and fully subsidised ELIA members for three years, with access to its networks, resources, programming and other opportunities.

“The need of the higher arts education sector in Ukraine was clear. They did not need an evacuation. They needed support to keep the institutions alive. Support to allow students to keep studying and support to help these young artists keep making art,” ELIA Executive Director Maria Hansen said.

Opera in need of a collective voice

Paraorchestra playing in streets of Bristol
16 Nov 2022

As the dust settles on ACE's announcement of its new portfolio, Mark Pemberton unpacks the numbers to see what the outcome is for orchestras and opera companies.

Musicians fear 'being forced to leave industry' 

14 Nov 2022

Half of UK musicians are either "extremely" or "very" concerned they'll be forced to leave the industry over the next six months due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, a study has found.

A survey by charity Help Musicians found that the cost-of-living crisis is impacting musicians more than the pandemic with 60% saying they are earning less than they were a year ago, and eight out of 10 saying they earn less than before the pandemic. 

The survey, which garnered responses from more than 500 professional musicians, revealed that the situation is having a severe impact on their mental health, with 88% saying that poor mental health is currently negatively impacting their career.

Most are also in a "cost-of-working" crisis, with 91% unable to afford music equipment, while energy and fuel costs are making travelling to gigs and heating rehearsal spaces impossible for many. 

Nearly all UK musicians (98%) are concerned about earning enough income in the next six months, with 90% worried about affording food and 84% concerned about paying their mortgage or rent. This has led to half of UK musicians "extremely" or "very" concerned they'll be forced to leave the industry.

James Ainscough, Chief Executive of Help Musicians said: “It is hard to imagine any point since the Second World War when it has been tougher to be a professional musician - put simply, the current environment is brutal. 

"The pandemic had a catastrophic impact, with most simply unable to perform. Afterwards, venues were booked up for months or years in advance due to rearranged gigs. This has been followed by Brexit, which has impacted their ability to tour, for many emerging musicians a vital step in building a sustainable career. 

“It is clear from the responses to this survey, that musicians need a broad range of support to help them navigate financial challenges of working and living over winter, make the most of touring opportunities, and improve their mental health. 

“We need to put significant time and resource into sustaining musicians over the coming, challenging months, if we are to have a thriving music ecosystem in 2023 and beyond. We cannot afford to lose any of the talent from our passionate community of UK musicians if we want to continue enjoying the music that inspires us all every day.”

Academics urge greater support for creative practitioners

09 Nov 2022

Policymakers should 'learn lessons from the pandemic' and intervene in four key areas to better support creative practitioners, researchers have said.

Visual artists receive £4.6m royalties

02 Nov 2022

The Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) is set to distribute a share of £4.6m in royalties to 96,000 photographers, illustrators, and artists through its annual Payback scheme. 

The scheme pays visual artists and creators annual royalties when their artworks have been published in UK books, magazines, journals or on TV.

Since the scheme's inception in 1999, DACS has distributed more than £70m in payback royalties.

The organisation says to apply for payback, visual artists need to complete their annual claim form between January and April each year.

Those interested in claiming for the first time can register online to be notified when the scheme re-opens in January.

Applications open for £150,000 civic arts award

31 Oct 2022

Cultural organisations from across the UK have been invited to apply for funding for projects that help transform communities.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's Award for Civic Arts Organisations was established in 2020 as a response to the impact of the pandemic and offers a total of £150,000 to organisations that are helping to transform communities.

This year’s award will be on the theme of “co-creating the future”, with the aim of funding projects that ignite joy, hope, compassion and energy, improve wellbeing, forge new connections, or develops solutions.

“In difficult times, it’s more important than ever that art and culture are available to everyone,” said Louisa Hooper, Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s UK branch. 

“By prioritising co-creation, this year we’re looking to recognise organisations that create lasting change by working with and in communities to address their needs and concerns, deepen relationships and use arts and creativity to enable positive change.”

Recipients of previous editions of the award include the first studio sanctuary for asylum seekers in the UK, established at The Art House in Wakefield, and a collective of neurodivergent artists and activists based in Hastings.

The award “is vitally important in encouraging and rewarding genuine engagement and co-creation with local communities”, said Baroness Bull, Chair of the award panel.

“In the years since the award was founded, we’ve seen hundreds of entries from organisations across the UK demonstrating a commitment to changing lives through art.”

Filming bootcamp set for West Midlands

27 Oct 2022

Creatives in the West Midlands are being invited to apply for a free six-week programme aiming to develop the next generation of multi-camera talent.

The Filming Performance Bootcamp, a partnership between The Space, Solihull College and University Centre and part funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, will give participants an overview of how live performances are captured for screen and how various art forms can be filmed for TV and online audiences.

Students will undertake a two-week workshop to learn filming, vision mixing and editing skills, alongside attending masterclasses with industry professionals and gaining hands-on training in capturing live performances and working with artists.

The latest programme, which follows a pilot in Birmingham earlier this year, will run for six weeks starting 30 January 2023.

Applications are open until 8 December to any creatives over 19 that live in the West Midlands, with no prior experience in filming or live capture required.

Skills body ScreenSkills is offering bursaries of up to £2,500 per participant to cover costs incurred while taking part in the course, including a loss of earning access or childcare needs.

CEO of The Space Fiona Morris said the increasing number of opportunities for artists and cultural organisations to present their work digitally is leading to an unprecedented demand for the skills required to film, mix and edit work.

“We’re delighted, therefore, to be working with our partners to provide such brilliant opportunities for trainees to gain hands-on experience and benefit from working with high-calibre creative professionals,” she added.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said the bootcamp will ensure participants are equipped with the sector-relevant skills that will mean they're well-placed to thrive in the months and years ahead: “I cannot wait to see lives changed for the better”.

Merger creates nationwide alliance for the arts

24 Oct 2022

A charity and campaign group have joined forces to create one organisation working to “champion, defend and expand access to arts and culture”.

The National Campaign for the Arts, which launched in 1985, and Public Campaign for the Arts (PCA), which launched in June 2020 to urge the government to deliver the Culture Recovery Fund, will now be known collectively as Campaign for the Arts.

With a combined supporter-base of more than a quarter of a million people, spanning each UK constituency, Campaign for the Arts says it will use digital tools and its UK-wide network to “inform the public, express support and engage more and new people”. 

It plans to continue with the Hearts for the Arts awards, which recognises exceptional arts initiatives in local government, and the Arts Index, which has analysed the health of the nation’s arts and culture since 2011. 

It will further develop the Arts Map, which was conceived during the pandemic for people to check the reopening status of cultural organisations near them.

Former PCA Director Jack Gamble has become the organisation’s first CEO. He says the merger has given him hope “at an extremely difficult time”.

“Creative subjects are being stripped from our state schools, inequality of opportunity is rife and the arts sector is having to contend with unprecedented challenges,” he added

“No one person can turn the tide – we need to do it together. That’s why we’re joining up to form the Campaign for the Arts, and why every supporter of our campaign really matters.”

African arts group launches in Northern Ireland

03 Oct 2022

An arts group planning to showcase African talent living in Northern Ireland and aid community cohesion has launched.

The collective, which aims to be a platform for artists, dancers and musicians, is being established by charity Africa House Northern Ireland which represents the interests of African organisations and individuals across the country.

Cuthbert Tura Arutura of Africa House said African artists felt they were unable to make an impact individually and secure work.

“We have seen that African and Irish people have a lot of shared experiences and art is a way to express that,” he said.

“This type of initiative addresses the isolation some arriving in Northern Ireland, and is also another way that people can network.

“It is all about empowerment.”

African and Northern Ireland artists will gather on Wednesday 5 October to mark the forming of the group at the Markets Community Centre in Belfast.

Edinburgh Fringe seeks feedback to drive improvements

30 Sep 2022

Organisers of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival have launched a major feedback exercise as part of attempts to address issues with the annual event.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is seeking input from artists, audiences, venues, producers, workers, community groups, arts industry delegates, media and those with access needs in order to make improvements for 2023.

Over the next two weeks the festival will be inviting views on a range of topics, from the recent Fringe experience to accommodation costs, barriers to participation, and the work of the Fringe Society. 

Responses to the collection of surveys will provide data the festival says will help it bring together the right people and partnerships to work towards solutions. 

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “This year’s festival was the first step on the road to recovery and we know the biggest challenge is the next three years. 

"It’s important that we gather evidence and case studies from our Fringe participants so that we can ensure the Society is armed with the facts and best equipped to make the case for where improvements can be made in advance of Fringe 2023. 

"We encourage everyone to take time to complete the survey specific to them and to provide as much information as they can.”

Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot gets underway

08 Sep 2022

The Irish Government has chosen 2,000 artists and creative arts workers to participate in its Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme.

The chosen creatives will each receive €325 per week over the three year research programme, to assess the impact of a basic-income style payment on the arts sector.

Over 9,000 applications were made to the scheme, with over 8,200 assessed as eligible and included in a randomised anonymous selection process. 

The selected group of 2,000 includes 707 visual artists, 584 musicians, 204 artists working in film, 184 writers, 173 actors and artists working in theatre, 32 dancers and choreographers, 13 circus artists and 10 architects. 

Of those selected, 84% identified as practising artists, 9% identified as Creative Arts Workers and 7% as Recently Trained Applicants, with 3% working through the Irish language.

Participants will be required to engage in an ongoing data collection programme to assess the impact of a basic income style payment on artists and their creative practice. 

From those who were not selected to receive the payment, 1,000 were selected to participate in a control group to facilitate the evaluation of the pilot.

A basic income for the arts was the top recommendation from the Irish Government's Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report, which examined how the sector could adapt and recover from the pandemic.

Ireland’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media Catherine Martin called the scheme the pilot scheme “a once-in-a-generation initiative”.

“It makes a strong statement about the value Ireland places on the arts and artistic practice, both for its intrinsic value and in terms of our personal and collective wellbeing, and also in terms of its importance to our identity and cultural distinctiveness on the global stage.”

Scottish bursaries for artists and craft makers

05 Sep 2022

Visual artists and craft makers in Scotland can now apply for bursaries to put towards their creative development.

The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) offers fixed bursaries of £500 and £750 to artists at all stages of their career to develop their creative practice.

Funded by Creative Scotland, the scheme is managed locally by VACMA partners, and is available in 25 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, with £130,000 available in total.

Head of Visual Arts at Creative Scotland Amanda Catto said the funding will enable artists and makers to test new ideas, develop their skills and generate work.

“We are delighted that we have so many partners working with us to deliver the programme which generates such important, long-lasting benefits to the creative people working in their local area.” 

Applications for a first wave of funding will close 25 October, with the deadline for a second round scheduled for 7 February 2023.

New digital fund for artists in Northern Ireland

31 Aug 2022

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) has launched a £40,000 fund to support artists working with digital technology.

The Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards are open to artists who are making digital art for the first time, or are working with digital or immersive technology they have not previously used. 

The scheme will fund a range of digital practices, including work that involves the creation of a virtual or augmented reality environment; the use of 3D rendering and printing technology; the translation of data into artistic works; and app development for the delivery of artistic content. Individuals can apply for grants up to £10,000. 

Karly Greene, ACNI Director of Strategic Development, said: “The programme will support artists in the creation of art using digital and immersive technologies, and will also help artists develop skills in the use of these technologies.
 
“This programme reflects the Arts Council’s commitment to encouraging innovative practices that cross art form boundaries and build digital capabilities within the Northern Ireland arts sector.”
 
The programme opened for online applications on 30 August and will close on Friday 30 September.

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