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Articles by Ben Walmsley
Why don’t the Conservatives want to talk about arts and culture? Original
The arts and cultural sector is facing a multitude of challenges. With COVID and cost of living crisis following hot on the heels of a decade of funding cuts, many organisations have had to strip back their programmes. Some have closed altogether. In the face of this stark reality, the Conservative party’s 2024 manifesto feels short on solutions. Over 80 pages, “arts” and “culture” are each mentioned only once. This is compared to “heritage”, which is addressed six times.
Policies, Politics and Practices
Row X guest blog by Ben Walmsley, Professor of Cultural Engagement at University of Leeds, UK The chapter "Ethics in Audience Research: By the Book or on the Hop?" by Katya Johanson and Hilary Glow is available for free to everyone. Follow this link, then click on "Open access content is available for this title" to access the chapter. Post your comments and questions to X readers to engage with us about important issues central to audience research.
Culture in Crisis: impacts of Covid-19 on the UK cultural sector and where we go from here
The research is based on over 230 interviews, labour force data from the Office for National Statistics, social media analysis, five waves of a UK population survey (the Cultural Participation Monitor led by The Audience Agency) and an analysis of the cultural ecosystem of Greater Manchester. Over 15 months, research findings were shared in real time with policymakers and more widely, so that cultural sector policy and practice could be informed by evidence emerging from the project.
Tory and Labour cultural policies leave arts organisations squeezed.
Professor Ben Walmsley .30 November 2019 . Analysis, 2019 General Election, Arts and Culture, Art Education, Arts Funding, Brexit, Conservatives, Freedom of Movement, Galleries, Labour Manifesto, Labour Party, Museums, Tory Manifesto, UK Politics While both parties are championing the arts and culture sector, after years of swingeing cuts these promises dazzle but offer little hope to struggling institutions. First published in November 2019.
UK Election 2019: Tory and Labour cultural policies leave arts organisations squeezed
Amid a flurry of manifesto promises over the past week, the UK’s two main parties have both made various pledges to invest in arts and culture. Labour has promised to invest in a £1 billion Cultural Capital Fund to transform institutions in towns that have been “neglected for too long”. Meanwhile the Conservatives have pledged to fund an “arts premium” in secondary schools and offer business rates relief for music venues and cinemas.
Is the northern "cultural powerhouse" an empty bribe?
The reopening of Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery is the latest in a slew of good news in what might be perceived as a cultural coup for the North of England. Or at least for Manchester, which George Osborne has been convinced to place at the artistic heart of his so-called Northern Powerhouse plan.
Tely Chooses nFusion to Rebrand and Launch Challenger Product for Enterprise Space
New AOR Relationship to Redefine Brand and Customer Experience and Drive Awareness for Disruptive Video Conferencing Solution AUSTIN, TX – nFusion, the agency partner for modern marketers, today announced it is the agency of record for Tely, a leader in “huddle space” video conference solutions.
10 objective reasons why London is better than New York
Last night, the think tank Policy Exchange launched a new, baby think tank called the Capital City Foundation, "devoted to the continued prosperity and progress of London". Which is nice. More importantly, however, the event featured a discussion of why, after years of post-war dominance, New York may be losing its crown as the unofficial capital of the world to London.
Is the northern 'cultural powerhouse' an empty bribe?
The reopening of Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery is the latest in a slew of good news in what might be perceived as a cultural coup for the North of England. Or at least for Manchester, which George Osborne has been convinced to place at the artistic heart of his so-called Northern Powerhouse plan.
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