ACE raises regional grant by £170m
Arts Council England has increased its funding in the regions by £170m for 2018-22, without reducing average grants.
£15m for Hull’s heritage
Hull, the UK’s 2017 City of Culture, has been awarded £15m by the Heritage Lottery Fund to help it tell its maritime story.
John Glen given new government arts brief
John Glen, the Conservative MP for Salisbury and South Wilitshire, has been given the new role of ayliamentary Under Secretary of State for Arts, Heritage and Tourism in the post-election reshuffle.
Breast feeding mum wins husband portrait prize
This portrayal of his wife feeding their eight month old daughter has won Suffolk painter Benjamin Sullivan the BP Portrait 2017 prize, the 28th winner.
UK’s sculpture to go online
Art UK has launched a £3.8m three year programme to put about 170,000 sculptures in the national collection on line.
Fears over tax relief plans
Museums Association concerned that tax plan could be dropped by minority government
Lottery boost for NPG’s £35.5m transformation
The National Portrait Gallery has been awarded £9.4 million of lottery money for its biggest development project since the opening of its Ondaatje Wing in 2000.
Nadia Fall to lead Stratford East
Nadia Fall, one of Britain’s most influential young directors, has been appointed artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, succeeding Kerry Michael at the end of this year.
Bradley, Hancock, back at DCMS
Karen Bradley has been reappointed culture secretary, and Matthew Hancock return ]s to the role of culture minister, in the post-election government reshuffle.
PATRICK KELLY'S BACK PAGE AI's best of what's to come
The Ryedale Festival in North Yorkshire has a reputation as one of the most exciting and enterprising in the country in a wide range of events in spectacular venues including Castle Howard, Hovingham Hall, and Ampleforth Abbey. Major artists in this year’s line-up includes Simon Callow, Sir Mark Elder, Sally Beamish, The Tallis Scholars and John Tomlinson (pictured). The Ryedale Festival runs from July 14-30.
SIMON TAIT'S DIARY Hull’s heart
This tribute isn’t, as you might expect in Manchester. It’s in the City of Culture for 2017 and this array of flowers, cuddly toys and messages appeared almost overnight at the Victoria Memorial at the centre of Hull, a spontaneous expression of empathy.
PASSING BY... Acting the fool
The arrogance of some actors and directors in wanting to change the intentions of writers and composers leaves Antony Thorncroft in a fury
MY STORY Empathy Day’s literacy challenge
he first ever National Empathy Day is on June 13, created by EmpathyLab, a new organisation started by Miranda McKearney OBE who founded The Reading Agency to confront the social issues created by low literacy and to enhance the role of the public library in the community. She ran it for 12 years but has now launched EmpathyLab to explore how empathy, literature and social action working together can improve the lives of 4-to-11 year-olds, and build stronger communities.
Lan to leave Young Vic
David Lan is to stand down as artistic director of the Young Vic after 17 years, the most successful period in its 48 year history.
THEATRE Made in Bolton
The Octagon has been making theatre in a Lancashire town for 50 years. On the eve of a major revamp, Patrick Kelly asks what makes this theatre special