Wednesday, 03 March 2021
Another £300m for the Culture Recovery Fund, a wider safety net for the self-employed, and continued VAT and business rates cuts extend financial supports beyond the anticipated reopening dates.
New measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in Wednesday's Budget have "hit the right note", according to the ISM and other professional organisations.
An extra £300m for the Culture Recovery Fund, £90m for museums and a further £18m for a small handful of regional cultural infrastructure projects have won a warm welcome from the arts and cultural sector.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden... read more
Monday, 22 February 2021
Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown includes the possibility of lower capacity events by May 17 and full reopening with testing before the end of June.
Photo:
Dominic Lipinski
The cultural sector in England could reopen fully by June 21 pending continued wins in the fight against Covid-19, the Prime Minister has announced.
Boris Johnson unveiled his four-stage "roadmap" out of lockdown on Monday afternoon, cautioning that progress towards the final step - an end to... read more
Friday, 19 February 2021
The City of London has nixed the beleaguered project in favour of a "major renewal" of the Barbican Centre instead.
Plans for a new concert hall for London have been scrapped following five years of funding difficulties.
The City of London says the 2000-seat Centre for Music "will not be progressed", instead announcing a "major renewal" of the Barbican Centre - one of the project's former partners. It could not... read more
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Wednesday, 03 March 2021
The Association of British Orchestras says there are three options moving forward: a new deal with the EU, financial support from the Government, or touring against the law.
Photo:
Choo Yut Shing
Orchestras may be forced to tour illegally if a solution to the cabotage crisis cannot be found, a leading industry body says.
Mark Pemberton, Chief Executive of the Association of British Orchestras (ABO), says the barriers to touring in the EU erected by new road haulage limits have only three... read more
Wednesday, 03 March 2021
New research highlights a disparity between organisations that say they are BAME-led receiving higher funding awards than those with a majority of Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders.
Photo:
Rambert
Just 15% of organisations that said they were Black, Asian or minority ethnic-led (BAME) on successful Culture Recovery Fund applications actually are, new research claims.
Off/Stage, an online zine by Tribe Arts dedicated to Black and Asian arts, has calculated 40% of grantees for the first round... read more
Tuesday, 02 March 2021
The UK City of Culture year will press ahead with a full calendar of festivals and events from May 15 - two days before the Government's 'no earlier than' date for live shows.
Photo:
Herry Lawford
Coventry 2021 will press ahead with a full calendar of events starting May 15, two days before the national 'no earlier than' date for in-person cultural activities.
Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director for the UK City of Culture year, said the cultural showcase will go ahead regardless of the... read more
Monday, 01 March 2021
Local authorities in Yorkshire and the Humber are being called on to "defend and when possible increase" spending on culture as Leeds City Council announces major cuts.
Photo:
Rcsprinter123
Local authorities should "defend and when possible increase" spending on arts, heritage, culture and libraries, according to a new cultural manifesto.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling on councils in Yorkshire and the Humber to invest at least 50p per resident per week in arts and culture... read more
Thursday, 25 February 2021
As Oliver Dowden establishes a working group on "retain and explain", arts workers afraid of exclusion, censorship and funding cuts are speaking up.
Photo:
Caitlin Hobbs
Arts workers afraid of exclusion, censorship and funding cuts are fighting back against the Government's policy on contested heritage.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced a new working group to put the "retain and explain" approach into practice following a meeting with major arts, cultural... read more
Tuesday, 23 February 2021
New research shows 70% of visitors to Surrey arts venues would not have come into town - and spent an extra £40 on average - if it weren't for those institutions.
About 70% of visitors to select arts venues in Surrey would not have travelled to the area otherwise - or contributed significantly to the local economy.
Research from the University of Surrey with three venues - Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Watt's Gallery Artists' Village and The Lightbox gallery and... read more
Tuesday, 23 February 2021
Imperial College researchers will estimate the probability of infection at two theatres and consider whether a covered venue can "behave" as an outdoor space.
Photo:
Arcola Theatre
A study into the likelihood of Covid-19 transmission in theatres may help redefine 'outdoor' entertainment.
Imperial College researchers will use scenario based modelling to estimate the probability of infection at Arcola Theatre, London, and Arcola Outside, a 70-seat big top venue due to open in... read more
Monday, 22 February 2021
Feeling the Brexit blues? Abu Dhabi is courting British creatives with a 10 year work permit, routes to citizenship and heavy investment in arts and culture.
Photo:
Francisco Anzola
Abu Dhabi is courting British creatives with a new 'golden visa' and a path to citizenship.
Applicants approved by the city state's Ministry of Culture and Knowledge or Department of Culture and Tourism will receive a 10 year stay and rights to work anywhere in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Abu... read more
Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Arts Council England will relocate its 8,000-piece collection to a former IKEA store in an effort to create a legacy for Coventry City of Culture.
Photo:
Coventry City Council
A National Collections Centre is a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to create a unique landmark facility - and a legacy for Coventry City of Culture.
Coventry City Council will vote next week on plans to start refurbishing a five-storey former IKEA building in the city centre in the coming year,... read more