Friday, 20 November 2020
A new study warns the sector faces a unique battle against "the double consequences of Brexit and Covid-19", with communities in need of cultural funding most at risk.
Brexit is likely to cause a two-year hiatus and "major impediments" to cultural collaborations with European organisations, a new study warns.
The paper by Manchester University's Dr Charlotte Faucher, titled Arts After Brexit, says the cultural sector, which relies heavily on in-person services, is in "a particularly precarious position" and will have to address "the double consequences of... read more
Thursday, 19 November 2020
The economic value of music industries reached a £5.8bn high in 2019. Then the "hammer blow" happened.
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zzuuzz
The live music industry's economic value is expected to fall by at least £1bn, according to UK Music.
The latest annual report by the association says the music industry contributed £5.8bn to the UK economy in 2019, an 11% increase on 2018.
It was a record year in terms of economic contributions... read more
Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Research into gender pay gaps and the representation of Britain's female artists show some measures of equality are moving backwards, while others are "incredibly slow" to change.
Female artists in Britain are likely to be earning less than minimum wage amid ongoing struggles for equal representation, new research says.
The gender pay gap in arts and culture is probably wider than in other sectors, Dr Kate McMillan has argued in the fifth annual Freelands Foundation report... read more
Tuesday, 24 November 2020
A new, tougher system of local restrictions will allow theatres and other venues to reopen in theory. But the sector remains on a knife edge.
Photo:
Pablo Sabala
England's arts venues can host half-capacity indoor performances in areas with lower rates of coronavirus from December 2.
The Government's Covid winter plan, published on Monday (November 23), outlines a tougher three-tier system of 'medium', 'high', and 'very high alert' local lockdowns that will... read more
Thursday, 19 November 2020
Croydon is still developing the cultural showcase despite an order against non-essential spending, a review over alleged financial mismanagement, and a £67m deficit.
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A P Monblat
Croydon will host London Borough of Culture in 2023 despite being effectively bankrupt and under review over claims of financial mismanagement.
Croydon Council and the Greater London Authority (GLA), which funds the Borough of Culture scheme, said they remain committed to the project, although... read more
Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Ambitions to increase the number of creators of colour have been raised amid improvements in the incidence and portrayal of Black, Asian and ethnic minority characters.
The representation of characters and creators of colour in children's literature has reached a new high - but the work is far from over, industry experts say.
Research by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) found 10% of the 6478 children's books published in the UK last year... read more
Monday, 16 November 2020
A national arts charity has criticised threats to revoke funding to museums, saying 60% already fear they won't survive the pandemic.
Photo:
Jeremy Bolwell
A national charity for the arts says the Government must "respect" museums' independence on issues of contested heritage as they fight for their survival.
Art Fund has backed the Museums Association's position that instructing museums to keep controversial statues and objects or risk funding cuts... read more
Thursday, 12 November 2020
Creativity, compassion, collaboration and a tendency towards efficiency meant arts workers were highly responsive in a time of crisis, councils say.
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Gerald England
Arts and cultural workers' skills, knowledge and expertise were key in supporting frontline emergency responses during the first national lockdown.
Local authority arts workers provided essential health and social services alongside extended cultural offers that bridged digital divides and reached... read more
Wednesday, 11 November 2020
The Cultural Recovery Commissioner advised organisations to "stop asking for stuff; tell us what you can do to help".
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Quietheart1995
Cultural champion Neil Mendoza says arts and culture have received "a lot of government cash" and should offer to help officials rather than "asking for stuff" when making the case for culture's post-pandemic survival.
Mendoza, who was appointed Commissioner for Cultural Recovery and Renewal in May... read more
Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Research England will bankroll the partnership between four regional universities and The Culture Capital Exchange following a successful pilot project.
Photo:
Isla Haddow-Flood
A new National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange has been established to facilitate and promote knowledge sharing between higher education and the arts and cultural sector.
Research England has invested £1.1m in the four-year project, which is being developed by The Culture Capital Exchange... read more
Wednesday, 11 November 2020
The funder refuses to say how many other grants are under investigation amid complaints it awarded Cultural Recovery Fund money to a dormant venue.
A £223,000 grant to a Telford music venue has been frozen amid allegations the company defrauded the Government.
Arts Council England (ACE) is now investigating Sundissential Limited, which it gave a Cultural Recovery Fund award to in October despite the company's limited activity in recent years... read more
Tuesday, 10 November 2020
New bids for funding won't be accepted as the Welsh Government prioritises existing applications.
Photo:
Jack Offord
Welsh artists and arts organisations will share another £10.7m of Cultural Recovery Fund money.
£3.5m will be ringfenced to open a third fund for freelancers after the initial £7m programme was oversubscribed in some regions in less than an hour.
Up to 1400 people are expected to benefit from this... read more