Access and diversity in the arts

The Mayor of London has released the Cultural Infrastructure Plan, the first for the capital, which seeks to safeguard and grow creative spaces in the city.

As well as the plan, which you can download and read below, there is also a cultural infrastructure toolbox which includes a map which includes transport data and population growth, as well as research and guidance, and help to find, protect and lend a property for cultural use.

Arts Council England and the Centre for Towns are collaborating on a project to find out more about cultural infrastructure and engagement in towns across England.

Aiming to publish findings in autumn 2019, the organisations looks to fill the gaps of other studies which have traditionally skipped over cultural engagement in towns.

Acclaimed Italian theatre director Pippo Delbono opens his "theatrical ode to joy, surprise and enchantment", La Gioia, at Hong Kong Arts Festival on 22–23 March 2019.

La Gioia highlights the consequences of living without understanding. It brings anguish and ecstasy to the stage, accompanied by paper boats, flamenco dance, flowers by the thousand and a circus parade.

Delbono is described as one of Europe's most distinctive artistic voices, in the firmament of Pasolini, Beckett, Bausch and Kantor.

Innovative Sheffield Project will give free event tickets to thousands

Arts Council England is launching the Digital Culture Network, using partnerships, providing opportunities, training and sharing best practice for culture organisations to make the most of digital tools and evolving technology.

Nine expert Tech Champions have been chosen, one for each regional office, who will cover expertise in a range of digital knowledge including SEO, content, CRM, analytics, e-commerce, social media and web design.

The Creative Land Trust has been launched, supported by the Mayor of London, Arts Council England, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Outset Contemporary Art Fund. It aims to secure long-term and affordable space for artists and creative people in London.

This innovative new organisation seeks to secure land and building space while keepong affordable rent rates by:

1. Purchase of freehold properties or long leases

2. Receipt of properties gifted or transferred by public or private partners

3. Purchase of buildings with a studio provider

Thousands of publicly-owned artworks will be digitised and catalogued online by Art UK in a two-year project, announced officially on 21 February 2019.

The charity has already documented Britain’s 200,000+ publicly-owned oil paintings. Art UK's aim is to make sure that access to the nation’s public art collection is as wide as possible. As a lot of public art is not on display, this is a way of getting it to the biggest possible audience.

Whether it’s volunteering, hosting your own micro-festival, participating in a show or just meeting new friends, there are an abundance of ways for you to get involved in MIF19

Host your own micro-festival

Seven projects

Funding awarded to MIF by Jerwood Arts will provide mentoring fellowships for six Manchester-based creatives.

Six Greater Manchester-based artists have been selected for an opportunity to learn from some of the best artists and practitioners in the world in a scheme launched by Manchester International Festival. The chosen artists, who are within the first ten years of their creative practice, reflect the rich diversity of the festival programme with work spanning poetry, film, music, theatre, technology and visual art.