Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Literary criticism often perpetuates a cycle of destruction. Jessica Swoboda outlines ways of building a more inclusive and pluralistic culture of critique.
Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Scott Reyburn argues that judgement of the visual arts been transformed by neoliberalism from subjective appreciation to objective economic value.
Politics is a very structured form of storytelling, with every word and gesture calculated to persuade and inspire. Theatre makers have all the skills to succeed in this highly performative profession. Blair Nodelman explains.
For an artwork to have copyright it needs to be original. This leads Juyoun Han to ask who is the creative author of AI-generated work?
Why do Scottish musical institutions fail to nurture Scottish musical talent? Why has the Edinburgh Festival never had a Scottish Director? Hugh Kerr bemoans the lack of investment in home-grown talent.
Leading musicians, including Elton John and Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood, have added their voices to the widespread criticism of the Brexit deal for British musicians. Ben Beaumont-Thomas argues the case for re-opening negotiations.
Tuesday, 02 February 2021
With the departure of Sir Simon Rattle from the London Symphony Orchestra, just one amongst several high-profile resignations, Norman Lebrecht considers the chances of survival of orchestras in post-Brexit Britain.
What are the Government’s long-term ambitions for reforming the skills system in the creative industries? Lesley Giles reflects on the latest Further Education White Paper, Skills for Jobs
‘The digital media and its virtual worlds don’t seem real to many people who make, curate, protect and promote art’, according to Francois Matarasso who argues for a hybrid future.
Musical and medical expertise have come together to support those with long Covid symptoms. In a collaboration between ENO and Imperial College London, professional singers offer techniques to deal with breathlessness and anxiety.
In this very personal open letter, Dany Louise explains why, after more than 25 years, she has fallen out of love with the arts sector.
Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Current diversity strategies are singularly failing to alleviate racial inequality in the arts. Kevin Osborne proposes a sustainable alternative.
The Somerset economy suffers devastating losses as Glastonbury is cancelled for the second year, writes Steven Morris.
The DCMS inquiry into the economics of music streaming is entirely misplaced argues Shain Shapiro. What is needed is a complete overhaul of the industry.
Theresa Ruth Howard explores the difference between what is tokenism and what is genuine representation in the ballet world’s response to Black Lives Matter.
The Teeter Totter wall – otherwise known as the pink seesaws – wins the 2020 Beazley Design of the Year demonstrating how art can transcend the barriers that divide us.
Thursday, 21 January 2021
Arts critic Jason Farago lays out an ambitious plan showing how the new administration in the US could save the livelihoods of arts workers who have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Charles Saumarez Smith reflects on the problems facing traditional museums, how the pandemic has amplified them, and wonders whether museums would be better replaced by more contemporary “experiences”.
Pre-pandemic arts business was often not conducive to working parents trying to raise a family. Melanie Gerlis urges the industry to take advantage of this Covid silver lining and not to return to the family-unfriendly arts business as usual.
It's not just Western countries where the cultural sector has been suffering during the pandemic. Ribio Nzeza Bunketi Buse explores why African countries have been so badly affected.