December 2022
20 December - Creative Scotland uses reserves to maintain arts funding levels
Creative Scotland pledges to support arts and culture organisations at current levels for further year despite 10% cut by Scottish Government.
19 December - 'Potentially irreversible': arts leaders decry £7m cut to Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland’s government funding has been slashed by more than 10% in a decision that has caused widespread dismay in the country’s performing arts sector.
16 December - The Guardian view on social mobility in the arts: an enduring scandal
New research shows there was never a golden age of opportunity. All the more reason to start pulling down the barriers now
16 December - Cultural coverage needs levelling up to support regional theatre
Theatre companies outside London aren’t getting the attention they deserve, says Julia Sowerbutts
14 December - Strategic review of SOLT and UK Theatre planned for 2023
A strategic review into the future set-up of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre will be conducted next year, in which the potential merger of the organisations will be investigated.
13 December - ATG launches paid technical-training programme to plug skills gap
Ambassador Theatre Group has launched a paid technical-theatre training programme aimed at securing backstage jobs for unemployed people or those who have experienced homelessness.
13 December - ACE refuses to publish 'sensitive' ENO letters
Arts Council England rebuffs move to have discussions with English National Opera over possible relocation to Manchester published, claiming doing so could ‘jeopardise the commercial viability’ of National Portfolio applicants.
12 December - Hampstead confirms commitment to new writing in updated business model
Hampstead Theatre has confirmed its “commitment to presenting new work” in the venue’s downstairs space, as it unveils a new business model following its 100% cut from Arts Council England.
08 December - 'Precarious position': independent theatres fear closure this winter
Two-fifths of independent theatres fear closure without strong sales this Christmas, according to a new study that has highlighted the “precarious” situation facing the sector.
08 December - Arts funding in the devolved nations
Arts Professional has been heavily focused on arts funding in England in recent weeks. But how are arts councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland managing their funding budgets? Patrick Jowett has been finding out.
08 December - What can the UK learn from US theatre’s Covid recovery?
I’m just back from a few days in New York and it’s interesting to contrast theatre’s post-pandemic lockdown recovery there with our own in the UK.
Speaking to producers and looking at weekly grosses, it’s clear Broadway is still a way off 2019 levels of audiences and income.
08 December - Depriving London’s theatres of funds is not ‘levelling up’ – it shortchanges us all
Pitting the capital against the regions is a cynical political ploy and the Arts Council’s cuts are a catastrophe for new writing – as well as the entertainment industry
08 December - Report outlines recommendations for local councils to improve arts access
Local councils should provide low-cost workspaces for creatives and facilitate discussions between schools and cultural organisations to better support access to the arts, a new report has recommended.
08 December - Senior Conservative MP responsible for examining government policy on arts and culture suspended by his party following complaint to police.
The Chair of the influential select committee that scrutinises arts and culture policy has been suspended as a Conservative MP after a complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police.
Julian Knight, who has been an MP since 2015, will now sit in parliament as an independent. No details of the complaint or what it relates to have been disclosed.
07 December - New writing under threat following Hampstead Theatre changes, industry warns
Hampstead Theatre’s decision to end its new-writing model is a “clear illustration of the threat” facing original work, the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain has warned.
Theatres have been called on to “do whatever they can” to protect their writer development schemes and provide new commissions, following the news that Hampstead Theatre will no longer focus on new writing.
07 December - 'Monumental cock-up': MPs grill culture secretary on 'Brexit festival' Unboxed
Culture secretary Michelle Donelan has admitted there are “lessons that could be learned” from the controversial Unboxed festival, with Conservative MP Julian Knight labelling the event a “monumental cock-up”.
07 December - MPs heavily criticise Arts Council's 'scandalous' decision to cut ENO
Cross-party MPs including Margaret Hodge and Nickie Aiken have heavily criticised Arts Council England’s decision to cut English National Opera from their funding portfolio, with claims that the decision has “undermined and discredited” the government’s policy to promote the arts across the UK.
07 December - 90% of EdFringe performers fear accommodation costs will prevent future participation – survey
Almost nine out of 10 artists who performed at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe fear rising accommodation costs will be a barrier to their participation in future festivals, a survey commissioned by the Fringe Society has revealed.
07 December - Hampstead Theatre's artistic director steps down following 100 per cent Arts Council grant cut
Following the Arts Council’s decision to cut 100 per cent of its funding, announced last month, the Hampstead Theatre has revealed it must “change direction” and can “no longer continue solely as a new writing theatre”.
05 December - Leeds 2023 signs fair pay agreement with creative unions
Leeds 2023 has signed an agreement with creative unions to guarantee workers are paid a fair wage and ensured safe conditions.
01 December - Talent drain poses 'existential threat' to theatre – BECTU
Skills shortages in offstage roles are worsening, according to research by BECTU, with the union warning the ongoing talent drain now represents an “existential threat” to theatre.
01 December - Eco guide the Theatre Green Book expands to cover all art forms
Sustainability project the Theatre Green Book has been expanded to cover all cultural sectors with support from Arts Council England and the Greater London Authority.
Launched in 2021, the Theatre Green Book provides guidance to organisations and buildings in the UK performing arts sector to move towards zero-carbon status.