Wednesday, 05 August 2015
David Stevenson asks Scotland to remember that subsidising specific arts events is not the same as delivering culture for all.
With the Met Opera finally responding to complaints about its use of blackface – by abandoning it – Alison Kinney examines the history of Black Americans and Opera.
Tuesday, 04 August 2015
Theatre makers wanting to be successful should consider the conundrum: if only 8% of the population regularly attend the theatre, what are the other 92% interested in, asks Gavin Stride.
Crowdfunding is fun, innovative, and encourages donations and emotional investment from people who may never see its finished products. Jenny Kidd advises museums in the UK to engage with it.
Professor / art adviser Magnus Resch’s recently released book of business solutions for art galleries goes a long way in explaining why so many of them are failing, says James Tarmy.
Friday, 31 July 2015
British politicians wouldn’t be seen dead at the opera – but they need to embrace the arts if they want to stop seeming distanced and removed, says Martin Kettle.
Eli Van Sickel is troubled by those who see able-bodied actors playing disabled characters convincingly as beacons of acting talent.
Thursday, 30 July 2015
If we continue to expect orchestras to survive indefinitely, they’ll have to play the funding game and move into the mainstream, says Peter Phillips.
Mark Lawson compares the set design of a number of high-profile theatre shows in the UK, finding that the boards of the British stage are dissolving under a wave of innovation.
Tanya Meyers talks to Rachel Ward about the challenges of turning 60,000 words of research into a compelling and accessible show about dementia.
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
With decreasing government funding for music, many music services are cutting back on staff and hiring freelancers – to the detriment of a generation of teachers. Janet Murray meets some of them.
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Lyn Gardner praises outdoor theatre – the most democratic of artforms – and encourages more companies to take it seriously.
Monday, 27 July 2015
Should our national museums and galleries charge us for entry? Well, it’s better than the alternative, says Jonathan Jones.
As he prepares to move on after six years as Artistic Director, David Thacker reflects on what makes the Octagon Theatre great.
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Nicky Morgan’s recent speech suggests the government can’t decide whether arts education is the icing on the cake, or the yeast, says Joe Hallgarten. It’s time for the arts to rise above the short term fray and consider the issue more broadly.
The rural touring sector puts the audience, rather than the artist, at the centre of its activity, observes Lyn Gardner. Perhaps city-based venues have something to learn.
Profit share collaborations aren’t exploitative, they are the only viable option, says Phil Willmott. And Equity’s campaign to the contrary is making a new generation of directors too scared to make theatre.
Monday, 20 July 2015
Ulrike Knöfel laments the state of Berlin’s “eerily empty” museums and galleries, saying they cater more to collectors than visitors.
Nancy Malitz discusses the necessity of using different forms of social media to attract different audiences, looking at the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s hugely successful online presence.
Don’t assume crowfunding is the saviour the art world needs – it’s not even the saviour we should want, says Jonathan Jones.