New Arts News

Benefits of arts engagement in older adults

There is growing evidence for the impact of arts engagement on later life cognition. This latest paper published in the Creativity Research Journal suggests that 1 hr per week of active participation can improve executive function and language, while receptive arts activities could support better memory as well as executive function/language.

Participation Survey

The results of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Participation Survey covering the period from April 2022 to March 2023 have now been released provides.  The survey provides nationally representative estimates of physical and digital engagement with the arts, heritage, museums & galleries, and libraries, as well as engagement with tourism, major events, live sports and digital. The survey started in October 2021 and is the key evidence source on engagement for the DCMS.

Paying the price – the impact of Brexit on musicians

A major new report from the Independent Society of Musicians Paying the price, reveals the devastating scale of the impact that the UK’s exit from the EU is having on musicians and the music sector. Key findings show that the restrictions introduced by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) have affected musicians’ ability to work in Europe:

• Almost half (47.4%) of the respondents said that they had less work in the EU after January 2021 than they did before; over a quarter (27.8%) said that they had no EU work at all
• Over a third (39%) of respondents had to turn down work since 1 January 2021; 40% had had work cancelled in the same period
• The most frequently cited expense was for visas and work permits (23%), followed by carnets (18%) and travel costs (14%)

The report makes a number of recommendations to government, most of which would not require renegotiating the TCA.

Creating a Cultural Strategy for Staffordshire – ITT

Staffordshire County Council is seeking to appoint a consultant to help create a Cultural Strategy. The Cultural Strategy needs to raise the profile and importance of culture, heritage, sport and leisure and the contribution these areas make towards Staffordshire being a great place to live and work. An overall fee of £10,000 including all expenses and exclusive of VAT is available for this contract.

More information and how to apply before the 25 September 2023 deadline are available here.

Understanding visual arts audiences, 13 September 2023, online

What do visual arts audiences really think? How can we best find this out?

To explore these questions, the next Audience Agency TEA Break briefing between 1415-1500 will introduce the work with university partnerships, including the University of Sheffield’s Data Analytics and Society doctoral training programme. Find out more and register for this free briefing here.