Collaboration

English Cathedrals has launched a new partnership with a consultant arts curator to offer support and advice to any cathedral exploring opportunities to use the visual arts to attract new audiences.

Visual arts adviser Jacquiline Creswell will work with interested cathedrals to identify opportunities, curate and deliver projects, select artists and artworks, advise on procurement and, if appropriate, develop site-specific commissions.

The Dean of St Albans and Chair of the Association of English Cathedrals, the Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, said: “Over the centuries the visual arts have always had a central role in our cathedrals’ telling of the good news of God’s love for the world. 

"In our ongoing commitment to the arts, this partnership allows us to celebrate our faith in new ways, open up fresh conversations, encourage spiritual development, engage with diverse communities and challenges all of us to consider who we are and our place in the world.

“This is an exciting development for us here at the Association of English Cathedrals and we hope it proves to be a rich resource to help support our cathedrals.”

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's (RPO) status as the Royal Albert Hall's (RAH) Associate Orchestra will be extended to 2029.

The partnership, formalised in 2019, was initially scheduled to run for five years.

RPO said that following the extension of Vasily Petrenko's contract as Music Director until 2030 and the appointment of Joe Hisaishi as the Orchestra’s Composer-in-Association, the continuation of the relationship will allow both organisations to build on their "shared mission to broaden artistic programmes and the audiences for orchestral music at the Hall". 

James Williams, Managing Director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, said: “The sheer diversity of our concerts at the Royal Albert Hall enables us to present the joy of orchestral music to the broadest possible audience."

Matthew Todd, Director of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said: “With 750,000 people experiencing the thrill of listening to a live orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in 2023, our partnership will help us in our ambition to share orchestral music with as wide an audience as possible."
 

Arts Council England and The National Archives have signed a new collaboration agreement for the three-year period up to 2027. 

The bodies said the agreement outlines how they will build on their previous work together to ensure a comprehensive cultural offer for the public.

As partners, the organisations said they "aim to act strategically and practically to help communities across England engage with culture and ensure that our sectors’ collections and activities are accessible to everyone". 

Darren Henley, Chief Executive at ACE, said: “The Arts Council has many values in common with The National Archives and we have shared sector audiences particularly in museums and libraries which are fully embedded in our Let’s Create strategy. 

"We have already produced joint initiatives such as the Standard Charge and will continue to explore how we can support the sector strategically and practically through the challenges it faces. "

Jeff James, Chief Executive and Keeper at The National Archives, said: "Through this agreement, we will be able to tackle shared challenges across our sectors and make the most of opportunities to advocate, share knowledge and secure funding for arts and culture.”

A total of 20 new partnerships between UK- and Germany-based arts organisations have been awarded funding of £310,000 for 2024/25.

The money is being provided through the third annual programme of Cultural Bridge, a collaboration between the UK and Germany with investment from Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern Ireland, British Council, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales/Wales Arts International, Fonds Soziokultur and Goethe-Institut London.

Projects receiving funding include Co-creating Across Borders: A tale of two cities, a collaboration between Brighton People's Theatre and English Theatre Leipzig, as well as work to develop sustainable models for artist-led spaces being conducted by Assembly House in Leeds and E-WERK in Luckenwalde, Germany.

“We're delighted to continue investing in Cultural Bridge with our partners across the UK and in Germany, and we are excited to see the impact of this next round of partnerships," Simon Mellor, Deputy Chief Executive Arts & Culture at Arts Council England, said.

"They will build on the work the programme has already done to create new connections between communities in England and Germany, giving artists and organisations a chance to develop ideas and projects in collaboration with their peers and to gain new insights by working across borders."

Nottingham-based fringe theatre comany Nonsuch will relocate to a cinema in the city after moving out of its previous premises at the end of last year.

The charity, which was last year unsuccessful in an application for Arts Council England investment as part of the 2023-26 National Portfolio, will now be based at the independent Broadway cinema.

It took the decision to leave its previous premises due to the "ever-increasing costs of operating a venue in challenging economic circumstances".

Announcing the move, it said it will now begin the refocusing of work away from venue operations to return to its roots of producing and touring contemporary performance, working with communities across the East Midlands.

‍Edward Boott, Artistic Director and CEO of Nonsuch, said: “This is an epic move for the whole Nonsuch team as we relocate to refocus on our producing and community programme work. 

"We’re so thrilled and honoured to have been invited by the incredible team at Broadway to become residents in their iconic building and can’t wait for all the magical collaborations and partnerships our new home might bring.”