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The National
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Lisa Nandy aide 'drafted note saying BBC is institutionally antisemitic'
Nandy is due to meet with Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely at an unconfirmed date and was advised by a policy officer to make the claim against the BBC. But a source at the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport told The National that this was dropped and the Culture Secretary would not brand the BBC 'antisemitic' at her meeting with the ambassador. They said: 'It was an initial draft.' READ MORE: How the UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel It comes after independent journalist Matt Kennard revealed that briefing notes for the meeting had also advised the Culture Secretary to tell Hotovely that 'one mistake is an editing error but if you have multiple mistakes you need to look at the leadership'. The BBC found itself under fire from the upper echelons of the UK Government after broadcasting punk band Bob Vylan (below) leading at chant at Glastonbury which called for 'death to the [Israeli Defence Forces]'. (Image: Yui Mok) Kennard also reported that Nandy was also advised to tell the Israeli ambassador that 'Glastonbury continues to host acts with vile and inflammatory views' and more investigation was needed. The Bob Vylan chant was denounced as 'antisemitic' by Nandy, who last week told MPs: 'There is a clear difference between speaking out for Palestine, which is the right of everybody in this house and everybody in our country, and antisemitism, which is not and never will be. 'When the rights and safety of people and communities are at risk and when our national broadcaster fails to uphold its own standards, we will intervene.' READ MORE: Tony Blair's staff took part in 'Gaza Riviera' project, reports say She has discussed the matter with BBC director-general Tim Davie and demanded an explanation as to why the segment was broadcast. Nandy said last week: 'When you have one editorial failure, it's something that must be gripped. When you have several, it becomes a problem of leadership.' Bob Vylan's comments were reported to the police, with Avon and Somerset Police confirming footage would be "assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed". The band had their US visas revoked ahead of a tour of the country and the BBC later announced it would no longer broadcast "high risk" live performances.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Lighting the spark in U.K.-India cultural relations
May was a month of magical bonanza for United Kingdom-India relations. The long-anticipated Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both Prime Ministers, and it was another milestone that illuminated a different but equally significant dimension of their partnership: culture. On May 2, U.K. Secretary of State for Culture, Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, and India's Minister for Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, signed the Programme of Cultural Cooperation (POCC). This landmark agreement promises to light up the cultural corridor between the two nations, reaffirming their shared creative spirit. The POCC outlines five programme areas: digital technologies for culture, exhibitions and collections, performances and events, cultural property, and sustainability. These themes directly support the creative economy, a core sector driving the U.K. government's industrial strategy. This agreement signals a shared commitment to cross-cultural collaboration and economic growth. Before arriving in Delhi to sign the POCC, Ms. Nandy, the first Labour Cabinet Minister of Indian heritage, was the highest-ranking international delegate at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) Summit, held in Mumbai. In her keynote, she powerfully highlighted the collaborative potential of the India-U.K. cultural and creative industries, sustainable by nature and an employment multiplier. The growth of the creative arts sector Globally, the creative arts sector is rapidly growing, projected to reach 10% of global GDP by 2030. At the G-20 New Delhi Leaders' Summit in 2023, global leaders unanimously called for greater investment in the sector. India hosting WAVES for the first time underscored its commitment, resulting in significant business deals and international agreements. The POCC between India and the U.K. builds on this momentum. It brings together the Indian Ministry of Culture, the U.K. government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the British Council in India, alongside major U.K. cultural institutions — including Arts Council England, the British Library, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum Group. With over 1,700 accredited museums in the U.K., the scope for partnerships with their Indian counterparts is tremendous, especially around leveraging digital technology for sharing cultural experiences and heritage. At its core, the POCC signals hope: the creative economy can foster a more inclusive future, encompassing tech-driven sectors such as gaming, digital content, film, OTT, television and more — creating opportunities for skilled workers and innovators. That is great news for India. With its deep cultural heritage, cutting-edge technology, skilled artisan base, and the world's largest youth population, India is uniquely positioned to lead. India's creative economy, valued at $35 billion, employs nearly 8% of its workforce, second only to agriculture. According to the Asian Development Bank's report (2022), 'Creative India: Tapping the Full Potential', six of India's top 10 creative hubs — from Badgam in Jammu and Kashmir to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu — are in non-metro regions. This shows India's diverse cultural heritage. India, with over 300 universities and 3,000 colleges offering courses in design, arts, and architecture, is nurturing a global creative workforce. A role for the U.K. In 2023, during India's G-20 presidency, the U.K. played a pivotal role in supporting the cultural agenda. Artistic partnerships, creative project grants, and year-long cultural exchanges, such as Wales in India, which culminated at the 2024 Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, furthered that agenda bilaterally, redefining India-U.K. cultural ties and building lasting bonds. Why do these global partnerships matter so much? First, the creative economy is evolving rapidly. It faces challenges including skilled labour shortage. To meet this, we need sustained investment in education, vocational training and apprenticeships. International collaborations can help empower creative professionals with global competencies and best practices. Second, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) are transforming the sector. As the British Council's recent report, Arts and Technologies in India: Reimagining the Future argues, it is time to integrate it into India's creative education framework. Cultural exchange and cross-border partnerships can support professionals in navigating this digital shift. India's creative canvas is expanding, driven by cultural wealth, youth potential, and a bold vision. Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions India as a global creative hub — and with a three-pronged approach focused on education, skills, and international collaboration, we are well on our way. But it will require sustained cooperation between government, industry and academia to make that vision a reality. Businesses and projects Indian companies, too, are doing their bit. Take Royal Enfield, the iconic U.K.-India motorcycle brand, which is working in the Himalayas through its Social Mission. In partnership with UNESCO, it is helping to safeguard intangible cultural heritage and working with over 580 artisans through its textile conservation project, The Himalayan Knot. This initiative not only preserves sustainable textile traditions but also creates new market linkages for craft communities. Ms. Nandy heard this story first hand at the reception hosted in her honour by British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron and this writer in Delhi, where the Serendipity Arts Festival's Birmingham chapter was also launched — a moving reminder of how businesses can be storytellers too. What truly binds the U.K. and India together are their people and their stories. In a world grappling with conflict and uncertainty, culture and creativity remain among the most time-tested healers of relations between people and nations. And in that, we have every reason to celebrate — and invest in — the creative spark that unites us. Alison Barrett, MBE, is the Country Director India at the British Council
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Introducing a tourism tax would revolutionise our crumbling cultural landscape
I've lost count of the government meetings I've attended framed by the health warning: 'Sorry – there's no money.' This is the refrain that greets beleaguered arts and cultural organisations up and down the country. While the odd, welcome dollop of cash has sometimes been found in a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) budget, or the now-defunct Levelling-Up Fund, our cultural infrastructure is crumbling. Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane points to a 'systematic underinvestment' in our rich cultural assets over many years, and a country that has 'stymied its local leaders' capacity to raise taxes to invest in them'. This has not just manifested itself in a horrendous backlog of repairs and a dearth of creative opportunities: civic museums, playhouses and libraries are closing, and informal spaces like pub theatres and grassroots music venues are disappearing completely. All of these make up the unique social and cultural fabric of places and communities. At the same time, Britain's arts, culture, history and heritage support a multi-million-pound tourism industry – worth about £1.6 billion a year, according to the latest Visit Britain figures. London alone provides the greatest concentration of artistic and creative endeavour in the world, with museums and galleries (national museums are free), libraries, theatres, heritage sites and concert halls being the top reasons why overseas visitors flock here. Other major cities across the nation, like Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh, are also hives of cultural and creative industries, and bustling tourist hotspots. So, when the government says, 'no more money' and asks for 'any ideas for new funding models?', I believe there is a potential answer. My think tank, the Cultural Policy Unit, has recently published a report proposing a modest 'City Tourism Charge', a mandatory scheme along the lines of the hotel levies that operate in so many other countries across the world. For the most part, this levy involves a small daily sum – a few pounds, for example – added to hotel or guesthouse bills. You may well notice this 'local tax' when you come to settle up, but it's unlikely to have stopped you from booking in the first place. We suggest that the charge is both modest and 'progressive', so that, on a sliding scale, higher-end accommodation charges more. So, for instance, a three per cent levy on an £840 double room at London's Claridge's would cost an extra £25.20 a night, while a standard double room at Euston's Premier Inn (approximately £120) would cost £3.60. A vital part of our proposal is that the funds generated be 'ring-fenced for cultural infrastructure and placemaking'. Put simply, this embraces everything from major heritage sites to cultural festivals, film production hubs to makerspaces and artist studios, and grassroots venues to the creative districts that so many visitors enjoy. It's important that the funds raised are reinvested back in the cultural and tourism sectors that generate them, creating a self-sustaining 'circular' model. And to make sure this levy benefits every part of the country – not just London – we recommend that the money is distributed locally, overseen by metro mayors, and that a portion of it is redistributed regionally. It is essential, both for the hospitality sector and the cultural sector, that the result is transformational, particularly because the tourist economy is currently facing increased taxes. Drawing on costings by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and most recently the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, we calculate that a three per cent 'city charge' on visitors' hotel bills would generate over £1 billion a year. To put this into perspective, the sums raised could be well over twice as much as Arts Council England has available to invest in its portfolio of organisations. Hoteliers may not like everything about this proposal – and there are legitimate concerns. But I hope our report will help navigate some of the thorny issues. Firstly, we are recommending a mandatory rather than a voluntary charge, which reduces the administrative burden on accommodation providers. Secondly, the charge should be modest and designed in collaboration with the hospitality sector, so as not to discourage visitors. Thirdly, all the funds generated must be 'additional' – not hijacked to make up for shortfalls elsewhere. And finally, transparency about how the money is spent is key. A recent survey, for instance, in the Puglia region of Italy, found that visitors were happy to pay more if the money raised was used to protect and enhance the region's natural environment. Our USP is our vibrant cultural landscape. What depresses people most is when taxes or levies are swallowed by Treasury coffers. This 'charge' must make a tangible difference to visitors and residents alike. At present, England is something of a global outlier in not introducing a mandatory tourist charge; even Scotland and Wales are well down the track of legislating for hotel levies (Scotland's scheme kicks off in 2026). So, let's work together with hotels and the wider hospitality sector to show that we not only cherish our reputation as the cultural powerhouse of the world, but also, through instituting a 'city tourism charge'', that we mean business.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Colchester Castle to receive £1.2million to repair its 'at risk' roof
COLCHESTER Castle is to set to receive more than £1million to repair the historic building's roof. Colchester Castle is one of 29 museums across the country to receive a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings as part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's Arts Everywhere Fund. Colchester Castle – which is a registered 'at-risk' building by Historic England due to drainage issues on its roof - will receive £1,293,625 in the fund. This fourth round of the government's Museum Estate and Development Fund, worth £24.8 million, is for the next financial year, starting this April. A spokesman for Colchester Council said that works are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025. Visitors will see scaffolding on the building, but the museum is not expecting any closures during the works. Drainage - The puddles tend to build up in winter when the water does not evarporate, seen in November 2023 (Image: Newsquest) Nationally, hundreds of libraries, heritage buildings, and arts venues will also receive a share of more than £270 million as part of the Arts Everywhere Fund which aims to protect the 660,000 cultural sector support jobs across the country. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'The funding we are announcing today will allow the arts to continue to flourish across Britain, creating good jobs and growth by fixing the foundations in our cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage institutions. 'As a government that is on your side, our Plan for Change will ensure that arts and cultural institutions truly are for everyone, everywhere.' Historic - Colchester Castle is the largest Norman keep in Europe (Image: Submitted) A spokesman for Colchester Council said: "Colchester Museums have worked closely with Historic England to find a solution that addresses long-standing issues of damp while being sensitive to the castle's historic fabric. "The repairs will not only improve the castle for visitors and collections but also make it more environmentally sustainable and protect the historic building for the future." Councillor Natalie Sommers added: 'We are incredibly grateful to DCMS and Arts Council England for their generous funding, which will enable us to carry out these essential repairs. "Colchester Castle is a vital part of our heritage, and these works will ensure that it remains a cherished landmark for future generations. The exceptional craftsmanship involved in this project will preserve the Castle's historic character while making it more sustainable and accessible for all.' Colchester Council says it has allocated significant match funding to support the project.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Georgia Harrison fronts ITV sexual abuse documentary
Georgia Harrison has said she continues to "really struggle" with how a sexually explicit video of her remains readily available reality TV personality has been outspoken about her former partner Stephen Bear being convicted of sharing a private film of them having sex in waived her right to anonymity and Bear, 35, of Loughton in Essex, was jailed for 21 months in 30-year-old is fronting a two-part series with ITV, where she looks into the issue of deepfakes and image-based sexual abuse. Asked about the biggest challenge in making the documentary, she said: "I would say obviously the hardest part for me was having to see how widespread my video still is."I have a lot of people messaging me all the time, sending me clips of it. It's always something in the back of my mind, but having to really face head on exactly where it is and how many places it's in was a real struggle for me."The only way for it to be impossible for not only my video but any victim of image-based sexual abuse's video not to be online in the future is for there to be more awareness and for the government and higher-up companies within the internet to get together and face it head on."For me, I know it wasn't the easiest thing to do, it was the best thing I can do for my future and other women's future."In 2023, the previous Conservative government passed the Online Safety Act, requiring social media companies to protect users from harmful last month, the Labour government's technology secretary Peter Kyle described UK laws on internet safety as "very uneven" and "unsatisfactory".The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has been approached for comment. Harrison, who has appeared on The Only Way is Essex and Love Island, also said she was regularly contacted by mothers whose children have been affected by fake videos created with artificial intelligence."It is the same feeling of humiliation, a violation of literally being de-clothed without your consent," she said."It's unconsented image-based abuse. Just because it's fake, doesn't mean it doesn't evoke the same emotion within the victim it affects."Harrison hopes "raising awareness" of these issues can "hopefully" mean "change within the internet, so in the future not just me but any person who has been a victim of revenge porn won't have to wake up every day wondering if it's still out there". As part of her two-part series, Harrison met victims, a representative from a porn site and said: "I have so much faith that eventually we will live in a world where unconsented imagery is far harder to share, especially on the normal web."Harrison has also spoken to MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee and at the Labour Party Conference about her was found guilty of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause was released in January 2024 after serving about half his sentence in Harrison: Porn, Power, Profit airs on 18 and 19 February at 21:00 GMT on ITV2 and ITVX Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
