Cross artform

A fundraising event staged by fashion magazine Vogue has raised £2m for London-based arts organisations that saw their support cut by Arts Council England (ACE). 

Promoted as an event to "celebrate a mix of opera, dance, theatre and fashion", Vogue said it will donate 100% of net proceeds from ticket sales to 21 arts and cultural organisations in London in the form of grants. 

Those set to receive the grants include the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet, Southbank Sinfonia and the Rambert Dance Company. The funds can be used for anything related to their core mission and objectives.

The recipients comprise three types of organisations, including larger institutions classed as  ‘Vogue World cultural partners’, which helped to produce the event. Donations will also go to organisations that support freelancers and small companies in London that have recently received funding for the first time or had their funding reduced.

In a press release, Vogue said: “In addition to ticket proceeds, Vogue is working with a number of organisations and donors to increase donations to the fund through individual contributions.”

Vogue Editor Anna Wintour previously said the decision to give proceeds from the event mainly to London-based organisations was a response to arts funding being shifted outside the capital for the 2023-26 National Portfolio after ACE was required to reduce funding for London-based organisations by 15%.

“The arts are under threat in the UK, and Vogue World will be a timely reminder of how important they are, how vital a part of our lives, and how much they need our support,” Wintour said.

“The London art scene is so important economically to the city. So many people come to London as tourists to appreciate the art scenes.”

The 37-minute show, held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Thursday night, was directed by Stephen Daldry and included a host of well-known actors and musicians who paid tribute to the importance of the arts.

The UK Government's decision to rejoin a European Union research programme will help drive growth in the creative industries by providing access to grant funding opportunities, Creative UK has said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that from this week British researchers can apply once again for grants from the £85bn Horizon programme.

In total the UK will contribute about £2.6bn on average a year to Horizon and Copernicus, an Earth observation satellite programme, with the UK’s contributions due to start from January.

Creative UK Chief Executive Caroline Norbury said the Horizon deal has “transformative potential” to increase investment in the creative industries for start-ups and innovation.

"Cross border collaboration through research and development is crucial to fuelling the power of creativity to drive innovation, and access to the Horizon Europe programme promises to turbo charge this potential," she said.

"In unlocking access to Horizon Europe funds, the UK’s creative sector will now be able to benefit from €170m made available by the new European Knowledge and Innovation Community, which Creative UK co-founded. 

"This initial investment seeks to increase the innovation capacity and competitiveness of Europe’s Cultural and Creative Industries, and is expected to leverage a further €700m for start-ups and innovation.

“The transformative potential of investments such as these are precisely why Creative UK is working tirelessly to ensure the UK’s cultural sector and creative industries continues to play a leading role in global collaboration. 

"As Horizon Europe opens its doors to the UK once more, we will be equally determined in ensuring our creative economy makes the very best of the opportunity today’s agreement represents.”

Staff at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action for the first time in the organisation’s history.

The action will take place on Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21 September, after 93% of union members voted in favour on a turnout of 79%.

Union members were balloted for strike action following a below-inflation pay offer.

One member of staff told The Observer management refused to negotiate from an offer of £1,000 for all staff following five rounds of discussions.

They added negotiations had been “totally dismissive, anti-democratic and hypocritical”.

RSA’s impact report for 2022/23 shows money spent on the leadership team’s total remuneration package increased by 170%, from £359,000 to £976,000. Its reserves currently stand at £32m.

Confirming the action on Twitter/X, RSA Union said the strike “is easily avoidable if management return to the table with an improved offer that would cost them less than 3% of unrestricted reserves”.

Founded in 1754, the London-based charity became joint-hosts of the Creative Policy and Evidence Centre earlier this year.

Ahead of the ballot result, RSA released a statement claiming its reserves are not available to cover operating costs including staff salaries.

It adds the charity is committed to a review of staff pay in September following reforecasting income and expenditure and rebuked the claim executives have seen a 170% increase in pay, stating the rise was down to filling vacancies and the CEO returning from a secondment.

Salford City Council has set aside a total of £475,000 for arts, culture, and heritage with money from the UK government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

Under the scheme voluntary and community organisations will be able to bid for money for projects celebrating the city’s arts, culture and heritage.

The funds are being managed by Salford CVS and applications for grants of up to £10,000 are open until noon on Monday 9 October.

Salford City Council secured the funding after submitting proposals to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which manages the fund in the city-region.

Councillor David Molyneux, Greater Manchester’s lead for Resources and Investment and leader of Wigan Council said: “Putting local authorities at the forefront of the funding allows those working at the heart of communities to engage with local people and ensure funds can be spent in a way to deliver maximum benefit."

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said: “We’re looking forward to bringing our proposals to life for the benefit of local people and visitors to our vibrant city.”

The conversion of a former hotel in Lincoln into an arts centre will begin this autumn, with financial support from the government’s levelling-up initiative.

Plans to redevelop the disused Barbican Hotel, which has been empty since 2008, include the creation of freelance art studios, a public gallery and a café.

Originally built as a Victorian gentleman’s club, the transformation of the Grade II listed building is one of several regeneration schemes being financed through a £19m levelling up grant secured by Lincoln City Council in 2020. 

It is being led by a partnership between between Lincolnshire Co-operative and the University of Lincoln.
 
In total the project is set to cost £3.3m and is due to open next summer. Of this £1.7m comes from the government funding with the rest being put forward by City of Lincoln Council and Historic England.

Sally Denton, the Executive Director of Barbican Creative Hub at the University of Lincoln, said the project was making “exciting progress”.

"Following on from the initial exterior stonework renovations, work will commence shortly on phase two of the project, which will see the interior of the building being fully refurbished whilst celebrating the heritage of this iconic building," she said.