Friday, 14 February 2020
Dowden’s record suggests he will focus more on the digital part of his portfolio than culture.
Oliver Dowden has been appointed Culture Secretary in Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle and pundits are now puzzling over what impact he might have on the portfolio.
The former Paymaster General and Deputy Chief of Staff to David Cameron has not made any public reference to the arts since joining parliament in 2015. He made one mention of ‘culture’ that year in relation to the contribution of “... read more
Friday, 07 February 2020
DCMS is being told to revise its budget and local authorities plan to cut back on arts and culture services.
Photo:
Subcity WestEnd Festival
DCMS has been told to revise its spending ahead of next month’s Budget, presenting a new threat to the arts and culture it funds.
All Government departments must identify projects that can be culled to free up cash for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s key objectives – extra funding for the NHS,... read more
Friday, 17 January 2020
ArtsProfessional’s Freedom of Expression survey reveals widespread fears of being labelled pro-Brexit and evidence of Brexit views affecting artistic and funding decisions.
Photo:
Sarah McGiven
Arts workers are too scared to share potentially unpopular opinions about Brexit, with many in the sector considering a pro-Brexit stance akin to “career suicide”.
And some have even faced threats or sanctions for expressing their views.
Early analysis of responses to ArtsProfessional’s recent... read more
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Tuesday, 18 February 2020
The museum will continue to receive £220k a year from Arts Council England as well as an extra £100k to explore different business models.
Photo:
Ethan Doyle White
The Jewish Museum London (JML) has withdrawn from Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Portfolio and its Director has resigned amid financial struggles.
The institution will continue to receive annual funding from ACE. It will be granted £220,000 in of 2020/21 and 2021/22 as well as an extra £100,... read more
Thursday, 13 February 2020
Future arts funding depends on National Lottery returns rapidly increasing when a Government cash injection expires next year.
Photo:
Paisley Scotland
Funding for culture in Scotland is at a standstill as the Government waits for National Lottery sales to improve.
Scotland’s Government committed to spend £1.6m more on culture, tourism and major events in its 2020/21 Budget, released last week. The £231.4m allocation is 0.7% higher than this year’... read more
Thursday, 13 February 2020
Wiltshire Council says it now knows asking for experienced, skilled and pre-vetted volunteers “was not the right approach”.
Photo:
David Martin
A local authority has withdrawn an advertisement for a volunteer community artist after it was criticised as “ridiculous”, “exploitative” and an insult to the profession.
Wiltshire Council acknowledged this as a mistake on Wednesday, issuing a statement from its Cabinet Member for Arts, Councillor... read more
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
A political opponent has accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of “cronyism” after his appointee and friend received money from the city’s culture budget.
Photo:
BreakingTravelNews
London’s Night Czar was paid £1000 to host a Borough of Culture event as a “freelance performer”, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has confirmed.
Amy Lamé, appointed in 2016 to stimulate the city’s night-time economy, was independently employed to MC and DJ the Waltham Forest Borough of Culture... read more
Tuesday, 11 February 2020
There is a bigger audience for Welsh music than ever before, but a lack of long-term thinking means there aren’t venues, promoters and services to support artists.
Photo:
Mr.TinDC
Welsh music has been hobbled by a lack of strategy, infrastructure and support services for artists, the country’s National Assembly has heard.
Culture professionals, producers and musicians submitting to the assembly’s inquiry into live music say there is a growing interest in Welsh-language music... read more
Tuesday, 11 February 2020
The coveted year-long cultural festival is “finally coming to south east London” in 2021 and to Croydon in 2023.
Photo:
Lisa Larsson
Lewisham and Croydon have been named as London Boroughs of Culture for 2021 and 2023.
The announcement from London Mayor Sadiq Khan sees the award shift south of the Thames after the inaugural Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest last year and Brent’s turn with the title in 2020.
Lewisham Mayor... read more
Friday, 07 February 2020
The collaborative seeks to address barriers to diversity across artforms and protected characteristics, rather than through piecemeal initiatives.
Photo:
Rennie Harris
Major UK arts organisations are joining forces to create a "manifesto for inclusion" that addresses entrenched inequality in the creative and cultural sectors.
Inc Arts, a grassroots partnership that includes One Dance UK, UK Theatre, Society of London Theatre, Creative Visual Arts Network,... read more
Thursday, 06 February 2020
Creative Wales will initially focus on developing the country’s music, screen, digital and gaming industries.
Photo:
Jeff Buck
A new body has been established to “champion the creative industries in Wales” and provide “a strong and unified voice for the sector”.
Creative Wales was launched by Deputy Culture Minister Dafydd Elis-Thomas last week. Organisations will be able to apply to two primary funding streams – a... read more
Wednesday, 05 February 2020
The independent venue funds high-profile exhibitions by dressing celebrities like Bob Dylan, Kanye West and Angelina Jolie. But after 27 years, its founder says he’s on the losing end of “a long, expensive game”.
Photo:
Silver Tiger
An arts centre housing Europe’s largest post-war fashion collection is facing closure after its rent increased by more than 300%.
The Horse Hospital, which claims to be “London’s longest-running truly independent arts venue”, has operated out of 18th-century stables in Bloomsbury for 27 years. It... read more