Opinion
Taking risks is a risky business
The question of risk, at least as it applies to the arts, is particularly challenging at the moment. Most artists and arts organisations thrive on a degree of risk, but austere times can generate a climate of caution. As public funding declines, our financial controllers are more anxious than ever about the bottom line, and …
Museums must be more than repositories of Treasure
It is no exaggeration to say that the introduction of the Treasure Act in 1996 and the creation of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) have had a transformative effect on how the sector interacts with what is designated as ‘treasure’ and our related archaeological collections. Not only the number of objects being recorded and acquired, …
Engaging a young audience through Circuit
The challenges of getting young audiences to engage in the arts via galleries and museums include a lack of connection and sense of belonging, the spaces provided, and artistic and learning programme sign-posting. Though galleries and museums across the country are producing excellent projects and programmes, they need sustainable long-term resources and funding to deliver …
Changing the way in which we recruit
Investment in young talent is vital for the survival of the cultural heritage sector. Yet with budgets facing erosion, swathes of the sector are struggling to recruit and train new members of the workforce. As a result, many organisations are turning to unpaid staff to plug the gap. In fact, 51% of people in the …
