Latest News
Economic value of creative industries in Wales rises
The economic value of creative industries in Wales came to £1.52bn in 2023, statistics published by the Welsh Government show. The figure represents a rise of 10.6% on the £1.37bn recorded in 2022 but remains 10.9% down on the 2…
Charity leader and former trustees receive threatening letters
Former trustees and the current chief executive of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund (ABF) have been threatened by poison pen letters….
UK a ‘world-leading’ destination for foreign investment in creative sector
National and local-level policies promoting creative foreign investment are needed for the UK’s creative industries to retain it…
Katy Perry ‘proud’ to donate £1 from every UK ticket to grassroots music venues
Katy Perry has announced she will donate £1 from every ticket sold for her forthcoming UK concerts to support grassroots venues a…
Creative universities ‘facing liquidity issues’
A total of 17 higher education providers specialising in creative courses will be struggling with their cash flow by 2025/26, the…
Arts venue left unable to take payments after Worldpay ‘error’
One of the UK’s largest multi-venue arts centres was left without any means to take payments for tickets after global banking comp…
Sutton Trust report ‘shines uncomfortable spotlight’ on class inequalities in creative careers
Education and class background have a significant impact on people’s ability to reach the top of their creative profession, new…
155 sites added to heritage at risk register
Heritage England has published its Heritage at Risk Register 2024, featuring 155 new entries. The register, which provides an annu…
Nandy asked for ‘clarity’ on timescale for music venue levy
The Culture Media and Sport Committee (CMS) has called on Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to provide clarity over the timescale for d…
Government expected to amend gift aid legislation
Legislation included in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024, which could see charities lose out on bein…
Libraries should capitalise on appeal as community hubs, report recommends
Promoting libraries as social spaces could help overcome access barriers, a new report finds. Carried out on behalf of the Departm…
Energy accounts for more than half of NPO emissions
Electricity and gas consumption accounts for more than half of carbon emissions reported by National Portfolio Organisations (NPO)…
Streetwise Opera launches emergency appeal due to ‘challenging fundraising’ climate
An Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation that produces opera with people who have experienced homelessness ha…
Welsh National Opera chorus strike postponed again following talks progress
The union representing chorus members of Welsh National Opera (WNO) has said that while they have made enough progress in talks ov…
Bradford 2025: Plans submitted for arts hub and theatre
A city centre building will be transformed into an arts and culture hub featuring a 200-seat theatre under plans submitted by orga…
Call for central AI infrastructure to help culture sector ‘monetise content’
Arts Council England and UK government should work together to develop centralised artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure to…
Bristol NPO ‘pauses’ festival amid financial challenges
An Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation based in Bristol has revealed it will be “pausing” its flagship arts f…
ACE explores ‘radical’ new business models for arts organisations
Cultural organisations in England are working with Arts Council England to look at “radical” new business models, the public fundi…
National Insurance hike: Arts charities pressure Reeves for sector exemption
More than 100 arts and cultural organisations have joined thousands of charities in signing an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Re…
NPO transfer programme: 24 organisations relocate ahead of deadline
All but one of the organisations signed up for Arts Council England’s Transfer Programme completed their relocation out of Londo…
ACE launches grant scheme for theatre and dance tours
Arts Council England (ACE) has launched a new pilot scheme to support and promote the touring ecology in the theatre and dance sec…
No current plans for statutory private copying levy
The government is currently not planning to introduce a levy that would remunerate creators on the sale of electronic goods capabl…
Cultural devolution: Public ‘should be involved’ in arts funding decisions
A major report into the future of cultural devolution in the UK is calling for the public to be engaged in decision making relatin…
Glasshouse receives £2m to support work with young people
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead has received a £2m donation from The Foyle Foundation to support its w…
Efforts begin to save cultural projects at risk from £100m cut
Figures behind a range of cultural projects facing the loss of millions of pounds of levelling-up funding are scoping out opportun…
Small-scale rural touring could lower audience travel emissions
Performing arts productions that tour smaller rural venues can produce lower audience travel emissions when compared with a single…