October 2023
31 October - Spotlight under fire for 'unfair' premium subscription
Spotlight’s “monopoly” in the industry has been called into question after the casting site introduced a premium subscription tier that has been accused of bordering on “exploitation” and of creating class barriers due to its increased cost.
26 October - Labour challenge to Creative Scotland cuts rejected
A bid by Scottish Labour to reverse the government’s decision to cut art funding by £6.6m has been rejected by MSPs.
25 October - 'Institutional change' needed to boost creative sector diversity
Access to creative Higher Education courses is ‘highly unequal’ and institutional change is required to improve diversity within the sector, report finds.
25 October - Theatregoers 'reduce carbon emissions by 41% in three months' under pilot travel scheme
Theatre audiences using a green travel-advice scheme have reduced their carbon emissions by 41% over the past three months, together saving an estimated eight tonnes of carbon, according to organisations behind the scheme.
25 October - Culture is essential infrastructure
Imagine a world without culture. How would we orient and co-ordinate our actions? How would we generate new ideas? How would we know our lives are worth living? Arguably, the very act of imagining would be impossible without culture, contend Patrycja Kaszynska and James Purnell.
24 October - Real Living Wage increases to £12 in UK and £13.15 in London
Over 460,000 people working for 14,000 real Living Wage Employers throughout the country are set for a vital cost-of-living pay boost, as the Living Wage Foundation’s real Living Wage rates rise to £12 an hour across the UK (£1.10 increase), and £13.15 an hour in London (£1.20 increase).
24 October - Theatre concrete disruption continues in run-up to Christmas
While some venues are planning to reopen or move performances to temporary venues, others remain closed as disruption caused by discovery of aerated concrete in buildings persists.
24 October - BECTU head: ENO cuts are devastating and signify government's cultural vandalism
BECTU head Philippa Childs has labelled a host of forthcoming English National Opera cuts as “devastating and unacceptable” for workers in technical roles, adding that the government has overseen a “vandalism” of creative and cultural institutions.
24 October - Music hubs losing pupils and schools over rising costs
Research finds music hubs and services are being forced to increase prices amid rising costs and funding gaps, but parents and schools are not always able to absorb the price hike.
23 October - Theatre must sort out its skills deficit to gain politicians' support
Labour has promised to champion the arts – but first the sector must demonstrate a commitment to upskilling
23 October - Greenwich Dance to close at the end of the year
Decision to wind down the organisation follows the loss of regular local authority funding and an unsuccessful application to Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.
23 October - Creative education needs 'urgent' overhaul – parliamentary group
A parliamentary group focused on creative diversity has recommended the “urgent” revision of creative and cultural education provision.
20 October - Chichester Festival Theatre launches artist development scheme
The scheme will be open to emerging local artists and will cover a range of disciplines, including actors, producers, directors, writers, composers, video artists and designers.
19 October - Freelance frustration
Arts Council England’s call for freelancers to participate in yet another survey has been met with anger and dismay by the freelance workforce, for reasons Chrissie Tiller explains.
19 October - National Theatre in London to pilot earlier start times
Midweek performances to start at 6.30pm from February to fit with post-Covid working patterns
18 October - £100m boost for Scotland's arts sector, first minister pledges
Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf has pledged to increase Scottish government arts spending by £100 million within five years.
18 October - ACE rules out additional money for ENO in face of proposed cuts
Arts Council England has ruled out further funding to English National Opera following news the company is to make cuts across the organisation.
18 October - Playwright Rory Mullarkey: New-writing cuts threaten future of theatre
The writer, who is behind upcoming Royal Court comedy Mates in Chelsea and has had four previous works staged at the London venue, warned that spaces that prioritise new writing are “already under threat”.
17 October - ENO cuts: plans to reduce size of chorus emerge
English National Opera (ENO) wants to reduce the number of singers in its chorus and cut the salaries of remaining members, it has emerged.
17 October - What’s going on at ENO?
Tensions between musicians and the executive have long been at the heart of the opera house’s miseries
17 October - National Theatre to trial 6.30pm start times
As part of a major season announcement, the National Theatre has revealed plans to start shows earlier in the evenings on select days of the week.
17 October - Campaign launches to ensure every child visits theatre
A campaign led by Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre is aiming to give every child the opportunity to go to the theatre before they leave school.
16 October - Are we looking in the wrong place for future backstage talent?
Fewer young people are moving into the theatre world, but getting the attention of students who are not already passionate about the arts is a challenge
16 October - Ireland increases Arts Council funding to €134m
Ireland’s Arts Council will receive €134m in government funding in 2024, an increase of €4m.
The allocation was confirmed as part of the Irish government’s budget for next year, published last week.
16 October - Theatre cannot pick and choose when it wants to be a climate crisis ally
The industry can either play violin while the ship sinks or recognise that only by allyship and embracing a proactive role can it secure its own future
15 October - ENO’s music director resigns over proposed cuts to music staff
Martyn Brabbins has announced his resignation as music director of English National Opera. His decision follows the announcement on 13 October of a proposal to axe 19 orchestral positions and employ its remaining musicians on part-time contracts.
14 October - Defunded theatre has lost its way, says writer
National Theatre Wales was told in September that its annual £1.6m funding was being cut to nothing by Arts Council of Wales (ACW).
Roger Williams, among other members of the artistic community, said the theatre had “lost its way”.
13 October - Carrie Cracknell: 'Some of the directing pathways that were there for me aren't there anymore'
The accomplished director has plenty on, with a revival of Portia Coughlan at London’s Almeida Theatre, an opera in New York and several films in development. She tells Fergus Morgan about the moments that have made up her career
13 October - Labour vows to put creative industries 'at the heart' of future plans
Shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire has vowed to put the creative industries “at the heart” of Labour’s plan for economic growth if it comes into power.
12 October - Debbonaire unveils National Culture Infrastructure Plan
Shadow Culture Secretary also reiterates importance of creative curriculum and commits to action on visa waiver system for artists.
11 October - Minister makes ‘gold-plated’ pledge to restore arts funding
The Scottish Culture Secretary has assured MSPs that Creative Scotland’s budget will be restored next year after re-imposing a £6.6m cut on the organisation.
11 October - Opera North boss: It's disgusting what is happening to opera – cuts are criminal
Opera North general director Richard Mantle has labelled cuts being made to the art form a “criminal act”, calling for funding reductions to be stopped.
09 October - Financial barriers to creative work increasing, research finds
The number of people from backgrounds underrepresented in the creative industries that don’t apply for jobs because of financial constraints is increasing, according to research by Creative Access.
09 October - Labour: A new deal for arts funding?
Labour was the political party to define the creative industries in the 90s. But how times have changed. DCMS (the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) is sometimes dubbed the Ministry of Fun. Charitably, this could be because its responsibilities include the things that make life joyful – music, fashion, film, art, sport, games, architecture, television, books.
06 October - Theatre producer and Just Stop Oil campaigner pens open letter to industry
A theatre producer who is also a supporter and spokesperson for the campaign group Just Stop Oil has written an open letter to the industry, urging those in it to back the work of the organisation.
05 October - Anoushka Lucas: Creatives are treated far worse than actors
Writer and actor Anoushka Lucas has claimed there is a “lack of interest in emotional well-being” for creatives, claiming they are treated worse than performers.
04 October - National Theatre Wales appeals over funding cut
National Theatre Wales has said it will contest Arts Council Wales’ decision to remove its core funding, warning the company faces closure within six months.
04 October - Performing arts' value to economy up on pre-pandemic levels
The value to the economy of the music, performing and visual arts sector has increased by just under 18% on its pre-pandemic levels, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK.
03 October - Creative sector regulator secures funding for launch
Regulatory body will launch by the end of next year, providing advice and support to people working in film, television, music and theatre who are suffering abuse, harassment or bullying.
03 October - Theatres Trust: Concern for small to mid-scale theatres
The trust unveils plans to expand its free advice service and build the UK’s first comprehensive theatre database as part of three-year vision.
03 October - There is a shortage of skills in stage management, but I have a solution
There is a skills shortage in stage management, as highlighted in June by the latest Big Freelancer Survey report. Employers are struggling to find experienced staff. In recent years, especially since Covid, stage managers have left the industry for better paid roles with more flexibility in other industries.
02 October - Northern Ballet music cuts are cultural vandalism - union
A ballet company’s decision to ditch its orchestra in favour of recorded music has been labelled as “cultural vandalism” by a union.
02 October - Ofsted finds inequalities in music education persist
An Ofsted report examining music in schools has found inequalities in opportunities to learn an instrument continue to impact pupil success in the subject.