Tuesday, 20 November 2018
Can theatre really make a difference for people in prison? Bruce Munro meets current and ex-offenders who say performance has given them a new lease of life.
From Damien Hirst’s demon statues ‘discovered’ underwater to an exhibition showcasing a Finnish business dedicated to anchovies and black holes, artists are increasingly using ‘imaginary facts’ to thrill audiences. Anna Turner assesses why, in an age of concern about fake news, such a practice has become so popular.
Monday, 19 November 2018
Tamara Rojo, artistic director of English National Ballet, shares her thoughts on the importance of board diversity, the changing culture of ballet and why she believes she was ‘not particularly gifted’.
Anti-fat culture is just as much of a problem in the arts as it is in wider society, says Scottee – which is why he and Sophie Hagen are hosting a show where they can share their ‘fat rage’ and force people to confront their demeaning attitudes.
Thursday, 15 November 2018
One artist’s work on visually representing the HIV virus is helping a group of scientists approach their research in a more creative way, write Greg Towers and Richard Milne.
Art projects have helped Paris come to terms with deadly attacks that three years ago left 130 dead and almost 500 injured across the city, including at the Bataclan arts venue. Alissa J. Rubin and Elian Peltier meet the artists, writers and painters forging a new future.
Cultural prescribing is a good idea, but Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s plan to harness the health benefits of the arts won’t work while financial difficulties force artists to give up their practice, writes Penny Anderson.
Monday, 12 November 2018
Chris Dercon, a former director of Tate Modern, stood down as head of Berlin’s Volksbühne theatre earlier this year following protests against his appointment, which was seen by some as an example of how outsiders are changing the city’s character. Alex Marshall notes that his new role in Paris will be more familiar territory.
Anthony Ekundayo Lennon has been at the centre of a recent controversy after it emerged that he had taken a place on a scheme for ethnic minority theatre professionals, despite having white Irish parents. Here, he argues that his situation is more complex than has been reported, and part of an evolving conversation about identity.
Thursday, 08 November 2018
As we move towards a cashless society, Sam Wollaston finds that buskers are increasingly going contactless.
Artists in Brazil fear an increase in censorship and intimidation following Jair Bolsonaro’s recent victory in the presidential elections, writes Oliver Basciano.
People choose whether or not to participate in arts and cultural activities for many varied and legitimate reasons. To build a strong community, we must respect them if they refuse to join in, writes Francois Matarasso.
There may be more students of colour in our drama schools, but the curriculums and faculties remain heavily biased towards the white experience, writes director Steven Kavuma.
Tuesday, 06 November 2018
The Royal Opera House’s Music Director Antonio Pappano tells Fiona Maddocks about the ‘grave threat’ facing the organisation, and why he’s not got no intention of stepping down fully until 2023.
Monday, 05 November 2018
The ukulele is replacing the recorder as the ‘go-to instrument’ for early music education in the view of many teachers, writes Elle Hunt – but a small proportion of pupils still want to learn this one-time staple of school concerts.
Friday, 02 November 2018
Alexandra Villareal meets ballet dancers who have had the courage to identify – and challenge – a culture of sexual misconduct in the industry.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s inequitable distribution of funding across the country is scandalous and indefensible - the quango should be shut down, writes Ciarán ó Maoláin.
Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Most people in the cultural sector dislike self-identifying their class, and context can affect how comfortable people are responding to questions about inequality, says Dr Susan Oman in a blog outlining her research on measuring social mobility in the arts.
In Berlin, the lion’s share of cultural funding goes to large institutions, with just 5% reserved for individual projects and grants. Friederike Landau assesses how the city ensures that creativity continues to flourish.
Tuesday, 30 October 2018
Working class artists are still forced to drop their accents and navigate a system of unpaid internships and closed professional networks. Will the system ever become accessible, asks Eleanor Halls.