Friday, 18 January 2019
Given recent reports of anxiety and financial trouble for the owner of the Port Talbot garage on which Banksy installed his most recent work, Janice Aitken asks: is his art made in the interests of local communities, and who should pay to protect it?
Howard Fishman explains why, in an age in which a gun can be made with a 3D printer and a reality TV Star can become US President, we need art that feels “like getting slapped in the face, but in a good way”.
Arts funding has been pumped into Narva, an Estonian town on the border with Russia, to empower the Estonian cultural identity and guard against pro-Russian propaganda, writes Carmen Gray.
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
How do you make a musical instrument that works in Virtual Reality for disabled performers? Franziska Schroeder and Matilde Meireles explain their research at Queen’s University Belfast.
Upon winning a Golden Globe, straight actor Darren Criss promised to act in no more gay roles, in order to open up opportunities for LGBT colleagues. Ryan Gilbey asks, is it a problem to act outside of your sexuality?
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
After controversies about underrepresented artists at the National Theatres of Wales and Ireland, Mark Fisher muses on who – and what – a national theatre is for.
Monday, 14 January 2019
Ahead of the screening of a documentary profiling Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra, DW speaks to the star about working with a film-maker, the magic of live performance, and why she still fields questions that no male conductor would be asked.
It can be difficult to give children a first-hand experience of live performance, but Northern Ballet is hoping to enthuse younger audiences with a series of 40-minute films at cinemas across the UK, writes Rob Walker.
Thursday, 10 January 2019
As the NHS long-term plan promises to roll out social prescribing, Ploy Radford reports on the costs and benefits of music-based interventions for dementia patients.
Are West End theatres pricing themselves out of the market? Richard Jordan believes the escalating cost of attending commercial theatre will have serious consequences in the long-term.
Tuesday, 08 January 2019
How are playwrights to continue writing complex and surprising plays if they’re forced to advertise ‘difficult’ moments before they happen via a trigger warning? We must stop treating audiences like children, argues Constance Congdon.
Monday, 07 January 2019
Those calling for a ‘Town of Culture’ award to sit alongside the UK’s existing scheme for cities are right to recognise the transformative power of the arts. But the debate needs to be part of a wider conversation about how to make sure cultural intervention has the broadest possible impact, says Phil Redmond.
The success of rapper Stormzy demonstrates how musicians are increasingly building their own brands without the support of major labels, allowing them to strike better deals with the industry when necessary, says The Economist.
Thursday, 03 January 2019
What drives Lynette Linton, the 28-year-old incoming Director of the Bush Theatre? Bridget Minamore meets Linton to discuss making theatre more open and accessible.
Having your artistic work reviewed is a distressing process. Should creatives ignore their reviews, read them and do nothing, or challenge their critics? Playwright Vinay Patel offers some personal reflections.
Students in US schools face very patchy access to the arts, writes Kerry Breen, as she highlights the organisations working to provide young people with a direct link to culture and creativity.
Wednesday, 02 January 2019
Investors are increasingly concerned with social impact as well as financial returns – which in turn is leading to growing interest in supporting creative projects, writes Anna Louie Sussman.
Friday, 21 December 2018
The role of museums in supporting an increasingly embattled democracy is more vital than it has been for a generation – they must provide a civic arena for contentious debate, writes Tristram Hunt.
The maker of blockbuster video game Fortnite is being sued for allegedly stealing the choreography of actor Alfonso Ribeiro – known for his TV character’s ‘Carlton dance’ – and Russell Horning, the teen famous for his ‘flossing’ dance move. Dance critic Sarah L. Kaufman looks at what these cases mean for artists’ rights.
Thursday, 20 December 2018
Higher education institutions are undervaluing the soft skills which are key to all career paths – particularly those in the growing creative industries, writes Natalie Brett.