Business rates hit 'British talent', the 2026 cultural horizon + Gaza mothers campaign

[Arts Professional]

News, features and opinion from Arts Professional View online NEWS & FEATURES News | Business rates rise will menace venues ‘incubating British talent’ Communities could lose their “only form of cultural provision” if Chancellor Rachel Reeves pursues increases to business rates, a letter from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee has claimed. Cinemas, identified within… Opinion | The cultural horizon: 2026 Anne Torreggiani and The Audience Agency team look to the year ahead and share their thoughts on the trends shaping the sector’s immediate future. News | Cultural heavyweights call for action to help mothers in Gaza after aid ban Scores of leaders from across the arts and cultural sector, including celebrated Dames Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Joanna Lumley and Meera Syal, have lent their names to a campaign urging… Features | Choirs, knitting and printing: Everyday creativity and community bonding We can’t get the whole population to the National Theatre, but we can foster connection in our libraries, music venues and village halls, writes Jess Plant, policy director at Creative Lives. News | Museum Wales leader warns of sector expertise ‘lost’ to cuts The chief executive of Museum Wales has said we “need to be talking about” the threat of specialisms “lost forever” within the sector, as funding cuts endanger skilled roles. Jane… News | Short-term funding aggravating ‘acute’ heritage skills shortages Government capital schemes for local regeneration are creating “inflationary pressures” for heritage organisations because there isn’t a skilled workforce in place to use that funding effectively, in turn “pushing up… News | West Yorkshire venues to make ‘meaningful’ access upgrades with £230k in funding Improvements to creative and cultural spaces across West Yorkshire will “break down barriers” facing disabled artists and audiences. A £230,000 sum split across 17 organisations including Bradford’s National Science and… Read more...  CHANGING FACES Art Fund leader one of three to join theatre company board The director of Art Fund has joined the board… British Youth Music Theatre refreshes board with ‘high calibre’ professionals British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT)has appointed RACHEL COX, ELAINE… Former gallery leader to head up visual arts charity Visual arts charity Engage will welcome HELEN STALKER as… Edinburgh Fringe programmer joins Aberdeen Performing Arts Aberdeen Performing Arts will welcome RACHEL HARRIS as its… More changing faces... NEWS IN BRIEF Bayeux Tapestry insurance under scrutiny Art historians and conservation specialists are challenging the proposed £800 million insurance valuation for the Bayeux Tapestry ahead of its planned loan to the British… British music a ‘global headline act’ UK recorded music consumption rose by nearly 5% during 2025 to reach a new high of 210 million albums, with more than 200 billion audio… Culture sector closures as country braces for Storm Goretti Several arts, culture and heritage attractions have announced closures in the coming days ahead of Storm Goretti, with up to 30cm of snowfall expected in… TodayTix bosses make annual theatre power list Bosses at live entertainment platform TodayTix have made the top 20 of theatre newspaper the Stage’s annual power list, the Stage 100. Brian Fenty and… British Museum recovering lost items ‘one object at a time’ The man tasked with trying to recover thousands of items lost by the British Museum has suggested the hunt could continue until he is “retired… More news... TOP JOBS Head of Marketing and Communication Cryptic Glasgow/Hybrid £40,000 - 45,000 Closing: 28 January 2026 As we enter an exciting new chapter, Cryptic is looking for a creative, strategic, and inspiring Head of Marketing and Communications. Programming Manager Norwich Theatre Norwich £36,375 Closing: 25 January 2026 This exciting, busy and varied, oversees the full lifecycle of programmed work from initial booking through to delivery and final settlement. Creative Tendring: Programme Director Arts Trust Productions Hybrid/Tendring £45,000 Closing: 06 February 2026 We are recruiting a Programme Director to lead Creative Tendring, a new, district-wide cultural programme for Tendring.  Development Manager: Heritage Sheffield City Council Sheffield £47,181 - 51,356 Closing: 19 January 2026 We're excited to offer an excellent opportunity to join the Culture Sheffield team at Sheffield City Council as our lead for Heritage. Development Manager BADA London/Hybrid £50,000 - 60,000 Closing: 19 January 2026 The British American Drama Academy (BADA) is seeking an experienced, individually motived fundraising professional Development Manager. Senior Artistic Producer Vox Liminis Glasgow £35,000 - 42,000 Closing: 19 January 2026 To lead the creative development and delivery of an ambitious two-year community artistic programme working within criminal justice. Executive Director Transform Leeds £42,000 Closing: 02 February 2026 Transform is seeking an exceptional executive leader to oversee the financial, fundraising, administrative, governance and operational functions of the company. Head of Communications and PR Curious Minds North West England/Hybrid £39,837 - 43,570 Closing: 19 January 2026 Curious Minds is looking for a Communications and PR leader who wants their work to create real change in children’s lives. Director of Appetite Programme New Vic Theatre Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire £48,743 Closing: 30 January 2026 We’re looking for a Director to lead Appetite, our acclaimed Arts Council England Creative People and Places programme. Director of Development  – Gabrieli - Remote/London Executive Director  – The Big House - Islington, London Development Manager  – Cause4 - Remote Chief Executive  – Hastings International Piano - Hastings with hybrid working Education & Youth Engagement Director  – Theatre Royal Dumfries - Scotland More jobs... EVENTS & LEARNING Essentials in Application Writing Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy Online January 14, 2026 - January 21, 2026 Learn how to write strong applications and effectively communicate about your work to successfully achieve funding from Trusts and Foundations. HdK’s roadmap to writing a website brief HdK Online January 27, 2026 Planning a new website? Learn how the right brief can set you up for success. Webinar: Building Financial Resilience Figurative Online January 29, 2026 Join the team at Figurative for a free webinar exploring financial resilience and repayable finance. Learn how cultural organisations can diversify income and leverage impact investment alongside grants. Essentials in Fundraising Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy Online February 3, 2026 - February 10, 2026 This course is ideal for individuals who are new to arts fundraising or those with prior fundraising experience who are looking for a refresher. Let's Get Real Conference 2026: AI The Audience Agency London March 19, 2026 The 2026 conference will focus on AI by exploring tools, use cases, governance and strategy, all in the context of what it means to be a cultural organisation trying to get the best from technology. 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. Supporting People, Safety & Wellbeing Courses Artswork Professional Development Online Interactive courses on wellbeing, trauma, behaviour, risk and safety, and supporting young people tailored for creative & cultural settings. eLearning (Self-Guided Courses) Artswork Professional Development Online Learn safeguarding, inclusion, survey design & more anytime, anywhere with our flexible self-guided eLearning courses. 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. More events... Unsubscribe / mailing preferences   |   Read online Arts Professional Media Ltd Milton Hall, Ely Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6WZ Copyright Arts Professional Media Ltd. 2026, all rights reserved