TAITMAIL British Council cuts: ‘An act of wilful self-harm’
The UK’s soft power pre-eminence, the British Council reported in 2019, “is vital for its post-Brexit future”. But the cuts to the BC’s operations announced this week will significantly disempower us, said our former national security advisor Lord Ricketts: “I find this completely perverse”.
ACE’s priority places for 2030
Arts Council England has announced 54 places across England as part of its latest ten year delivery plan to implement its Let’s Create strategy, published today.
Rattle's head to aid musicians
Conductor Sir Simon Rattle has had his portrait sculpted by artist Frances Segelman, completed from start to finish during a fundraising event for the charity Help Musicians.
Nadine Dorries made culture secretary
Oliver Dowden has been moved from the culture portfolio in the Cabinet reshuffle to be the cabinet office minster in place of Michael Gove, the new housing minister.
Getting it together - in the garden on top of a Tube station
The roof of Temple Underground Station, between the Thames and The Strand, is to come to blazing life of colour for the first time in its 150 year history.
‘Creative industries failing minorities’ – Bull report
The creative sector needs to be transformed if it is to be truly inclusive, according to a new parliamentary report.
Soft power front blunted by ‘perverse’ British Council closures
Britain’s efforts to use culture to influence the world post Brexit and the pandemic is to be severely cut back with the British Council “significantly reducing its operations” to cut costs because of the impact of Covid.
MY STORY Taking new music out of its niche
Tim Williams, artistic director of Psappha
As the Manchester-based classical music ensemble Psappha, which specialises in modern classical music, marks its 30th birthday its founder Tim Williams has announced he is standing down as artistic director. Described by its patron Mark-Anthony Turnage as “one of the most important - and most capable - ensembles in the world”, its anniversary tour will see it playing in London, Cambridge, Halifax and Sheffield and of course Manchester, as well as Italy and the United States.
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE Allowing theatres to breathe again
Philip Dowds is the founder and director of OKTO Technologies and OKTOair that specialise in smart buildings and air cleaning technology. Here he explains how theatres and concert halls can quickly be made safe again
Doran steps down at RSC to nurse terminally ill Sher
Gregory Doran is stepping down temporarily as artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company to take compassionate leave as he cares for his husband, the actor Sir Anthony Sher, who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
AI PROFILE The drumbeat of creativity in the fourth industrial revolution
Dr Paul Thompson, vice-chancellor, Royal College of Art
ACE/BBC commission disabled artists
Arts Council England has launched five commissions in partnership with the BBC that celebrate the work of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists about living through the Covid-19 lockdown.
Shelley Warren steps down at Arts Foundation
Shelley Warren has resigned after 22 years as director of the Arts Foundation to pursue a musical archive project.
Artists notch £100m from resale rights
Artists and their estates have passed the £100m mark in resale right royalties since the Artists’ Resale Right became law 15 years ago
‘Why aren’t tech bosses sponsoring us?’ asks V&A’s Hunt
Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, has criticised tech giants for not supporting cash-strapped museums and galleries.
Purcell Room reopens as contemporary hub
The Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room is to reopen on September 16 after an 18 month refurbishment.
THE ART OF PHOTOJOURNALISM Image of the month
Derby Day, Epsom, 1939; tipster Prince Monolulu by Frank Rust for the Daily Mail
MY STORY Finbar Conran and Oscar Mitchell
Fels is an online gallery and store created by two artists, Finbar Conran (right in our picture, grandson of the late Terence Conran, founder of Habitat and of the Design Museum) and Oscar Mitchell, who met at art school. With Jan Henzel Studio they are presenting an exhibition, Against the Grain, exploring contemporary design. It is at the Copeland Gallery in Peckham from September 22-26 and is part of the London Design Festival
Women sculptors take limelight
The largest showing of the work of women sculptors – 50 of them - spanning 75 years including work by Barbara Hepworth, Helen Chadwick and Sarah Lucas, is to go on a national tour through the autumn and winter.
Colette Bailey goes to WOW
Colette Bailey, artistic director and CEO of Metal Culture, is to be the new executive director of Women of the World (WOW), the charity set up by Jude Kelly in 2010 to set up festivals and events across the world.
Blue plaque for Kenneth Clark
Kenneth Clark, at 30 the youngest director of the National Gallery and best known for his television series Civilisation, has had a commemorative blue plaque unveiled in his honour.
Birmingham invited to join in biggest dance fest
For the first time in two years, Birmingham’s annual celebration of contemporary dance returns live in September, this time with an invitation to the public to take part in the city’s streets, squares and public spaces.
First female soccer stars remembered – in dance
A historic moment for female footballers is being commemorated in the town of the game’s first great team - in dance.
Rare Bailey 60s images to feature in Photo London
Rarely seen images by the chronicler of 60s fashion and the fashionable, David Baley, are to be part of Photo London, the annual photographic festival.
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