Museums being 'let down' by DCMS, 'persistent' inequalities in Scottish arts sector + making fundraising decisions

[Arts Professional]

News, features and opinion from Arts Professional View online  NEWS & FEATURES News | Museums being ‘let down’ by ‘lack of leadership’ from DCMS, says public accounts chair The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has been criticised for “an almost hands-off approach” to challenges faced by… News | Scottish arts participation inequalities ‘persistent’ and ‘ingrained’, report warns “Persistent” inequalities in arts and culture participation across Scotland, including by disability, ethnic group, gender and geographical location, require more… Guide | Risks, reputation and fundraising: Have we lost confidence in decision making? In an increasingly complex landscape, Cause4’s Michelle Wright considers the difficulties for arts organisations when making fundraising decisions. News | ‘Joy feels radical at the moment’: Southbank Centre artistic director on 75th anniversary The Southbank Centre marked the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Royal Festival Hall last night (22 June) with… Opinion | Outdoor arts: Moments of joy and belonging The outdoor arts sector has developed steadily in the UK over the last 20 years to become a significant, if often overlooked, part of our cultural sector, writes Ralph Kennedy of Without Walls. News | Stewart Lee accuses theatre bodies of being ‘cowardly and naive’ with Reform toolkit Comedian Stewart Lee has criticised the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre for encouraging theatres to engage with… News | National Portrait Gallery video installation withdrawn by artist after Churchill row A video installation displayed at the National Portrait gallery (NPG) has been withdrawn by its artist after a row over… News | StubHub UK fined nearly £900k by regulator for ‘hidden fees’ Major ticket reseller StubHub UK has been fined £889,200 after failing to include mandatory fees in the initial price of… News | Edinburgh International Festival issues audience plea over mobile phone usage The Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) is tightening up its guidance around phone usage by audience members this summer, in response… Feature | Can the Fringe still launch a touring play? Actor and writer Michael Reid thinks it can, but not in the ways you might expect. Here he offers his tips on how to make the best use of Edinburgh's launchpad. News | ACE releases checklist for authority-owned museums ahead of council reorganisation Arts Council England (ACE) has designed a toolkit to help museums which are owned and operated by local authorities prepare… News | Scottish Culture Secretary to press ahead with making Screen Scotland a distinct body Scottish Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan has reaffirmed her party’s pledge to separating Screen Scotland from the country’s arts funding body.… News | Crowdfunding campaign for Bridport theatre roof backed by Olivia Colman A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to fund “urgent roof repairs” and secure the future of The Lyric Theatre in… Read more... PROMOTED Sector Survey: What does leadership in culture need right now? Leadership is becoming more complex. We want to understand why. Clore Leadership and Green Park are gathering insight from sector leaders on recruitment, succession planning, inclusion and workforce pressures. Complete our 5-minute survey and help shape future leadership support across the sector. Closes 12 noon, Monday 29 June. Have your say  CHANGING FACES University College Oxford selects Maria Balshaw as new Master Following University College Oxford’s January announcement that Baroness Valerie Amos was stepping down as Master,… Fuel makes changes to board and staff team Theatre company Fuel has announced a series of changes to its board of trustees and… King’s Head Theatre CEO steps down after overseeing ‘major period of change’ The King’s Head Theatre has announced that Sofi Berenger is stepping down from her role… Tara Theatre marks ‘ambitious’ new chapter with chair and board appointments Tara Theatre has announced the appointment of a new chair and five new trustees, saying… More changing faces... TOP JOBS Chief Executive The Arts Theatre Cambridge Cambridge   Closing: 07 August 2026 As we enter a bold new chapter, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive with vision, ambition, excellent leadership skills, and a clear sense of purpose. Creative Director Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye, London and other festival locations £80,000 IRO Closing: 08 July 2026 The Creative Director is responsible for defining and leading the artistic vision, creative strategy and public programme framework for Hay Festival UK. Producer (fixed term) Paraorchestra Bristol £35,858 Closing: 30 June 2026 Paraorchestra are looking for a Producer with experience of producing medium to large scale artistic projects, to join our team for 12 months. Head of Development English Touring Opera Ltd Sheffield £45,000 - 50,000 Closing: 08 July 2026 ETO is recruiting a dynamic fundraiser, strategist, team-builder and opera lover. This senior role will work closely with ETO’s CEO and Artistic Director. More jobs... EVENTS & LEARNING Theatre Conference 2026 with Spektrix - presented by Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre Southbank Centre, London June 30, 2026 The Theatre Conference returns to the Southbank Centre on 30 June, uniting theatre professionals to explore this year's theme: Ambitious Futures: Theatre in a Changing World. How to spend digital ad budget for arts audiences HdK Online June 30, 2026 In this panel discussion featuring thought leaders from across the culture sector, we’ll explore how arts, cultural and heritage organisations can utilise digital ad spend for optimal results. Make it or fake it! Artists on AI, creativity and what’s at stake The Space Online July 7, 2026 In this webinar, we’ll hear from four creatives who are working with and sometimes against AI to make ambitious, boundary pushing work. AMA Conference 2026 - Together Arts Marketing Association Leeds/Online July 15, 2026 - July 17, 2026 The UK's biggest conference for arts, culture and heritage marketers returns this summer, heading back to Leeds for three days of learning, connection and inspiration. A Curious Tapestry: Crafting New Cultural Ecologies Symposium IOU Creation Centre Yorkshire July 15, 2026 In collaboration with the University of Huddersfield, the IOU Symposium returns to consider what an effective cultural ecosystem can be. Evaluation for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Principles and Practice Centre for Cultural Value Online A free-to-access online course to help you understand the principles and master the practice of carrying out evaluation. Sector Survey: Help shape the future of arts finance Figurative Online Take part in our short survey as Figurative looks to develop a new type of finance for the cultural and creative sector. Win a £250 donation to a charity of your choice. Safeguarding Courses Artswork Professional Development Online Tailored safeguarding training for the creative, cultural & heritage sectors: interactive, sector-specific learning. Project Management Courses Artswork Professional Development Online Project management for creative, cultural & heritage sectors - interactive courses on a range of practical topics. Communication, Behaviour & Practice Courses Artswork Professional Development Online Interactive courses on wellbeing, trauma, behaviour, risk and safety, and supporting young people tailored for creative & cultural settings. eLearning Courses Artswork Professional Development Online Learn safeguarding, inclusion, communication skills & more anytime, anywhere with our flexible self-guided eLearning courses. Measuring Impact & Evaluation in the Creative, Cultural & Heritage Sectors Artswork Professional Development – June 29, 2026 – Online A comprehensive full-day course for practitioners seeking a practical understanding of evaluation in the arts. Enquiry-Led Practice: Reflective Questioning Artswork Professional Development – July 6, 2026 – Online Using enquiry and reflective questioning for connection, clarity and collaboration. Effective Consultation in the Arts Artswork Professional Development – July 7, 2026 – Online A one-day course to help creative professionals plan and deliver effective consultations that inform inclusive decision-making. More events... FROM THE ARCHIVE This time last year... June 26, 2025 Private investment in creative sector limited by ‘several barriers’, DCMS report finds Efforts to attract private investment in the creative sector are being hampered by a “perceived lack of commercial focus” and… This week five years ago... June 23, 2021 Culture Recovery Fund missed out vital parts of the sector, inquiry finds DCMS "must urgently consider" events insurance and other non-cash supports, MPs say, raising "big questions" about the fund's effectiveness. Way back when... June 24, 2016 Public against an increase to arts funding, research finds People from high socio-economic backgrounds are almost twice as likely to say public spending on arts and culture benefits them… Unsubscribe / mailing preferences   |   View online Arts Professional Media Ltd Milton Hall, Ely Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6WZ Copyright Arts Professional Media Ltd. 2026, all rights reserved