Government Stuff
BEIS has published its long-awaited Innovation Strategy, setting out its long-term vision to stimulate innovation in the UK. Includes increasing annual R&D investment to £22bn.
DCMS has unveiled proposals to boost competition in the UK digital economy, including new powers for the CMA’s Digital Markets Unit to level the playing field.
DCMS has also released plans for a new governing body aiming to make digital identities as trusted as passports.
And a new Online Media Literacy Strategy from DCMS to help educate and empower internet users in the UK to make safe choices online.
The Lords Comms and Digital Committee has published a report on freedom of expression in the digital age. Covered here in The Telegraph, too.
The Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation has a new report out too, on data intermediaries and their role across sectors.
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Culture Stuff
Arts & Culture
The Office for Students has confirmed a 50% cut to funding for arts and creative courses in higher education institutions. Yeesh.
A new report from the AHRC, supported by DCMS, gives the first comprehensive analysis of the impact of COVID on the UK’s cultural sector.
2,000 job cuts have been proposed at the British Council.
Creative jobs that list salaries attract 40% more applicants, according to a study by Creative Access.
The AHRC has also launched a call for two AHRC Engagement Fellowships linked to the Beeb’s centenary in 2022.
The Art Newspaper ponders the future of US cultural policy under President Biden.
Design
A long-awaited 3D-printed stainless steel bridge designed by Joris Laarman has sprung up in Amsterdam. Erg fijn.
Look up. Higher. Higher. Ok, stop. Here’s Dezeen with six new supertall skyscrapers changing New York’s skyline.
Theatre & Dance
Sam Mendes’ Theatre Artists Fund is to be developed into a two-year bursary programme to provide long-term support to theatre freelancers. Great to see.
The opening night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical adaptation of Cinderella was cancelled at the last min due to a case of the bug. She shan’t go to the ball.
Bristol Old Vic is to offer socially distanced shows until next year.
Tourism & Heritage
Liverpool has lost its UNESCO world heritage status following years of development on its Victorian docks.
A £1m National Lottery fund has launched to support digital volunteering in heritage sector.
Museums
The shortlist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021 is here, including Firstsite in Colchester and Experience Barnsley in Bodmin. JOKE ALERT. It’s in Barnsley. We have fun, don’t we!
The Whitworth and Vastari have announced a new project, with an NFT being included within a museum exhibition from its inception for the first time.
Press, Books & Libraries
Analysis from the Global Media Monitoring Project suggests it will take at least 67 years to close the worldwide gender equality gap in traditional news media.
A bunch of politicians, including the Prime Minister, have given their picks for the Publishing Association’s summer reading list. Ed’s is probably Jack Reacher.
Exhibitions and Events
The Times doing my job for me here with their list of the 20 best art shows to see in the UK this summer.
Raven Leilani and David Baddiel are among the authors appearing at this year’s Cliveden Literary Festival, taking place IRL (in real life) in the autumn.
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Eat my goal. You can now get your hands (*goalie gloves) on a Roy of the Rovers replica shirt, in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust.
The Scottish Sun has a chinwag with Steve Bristow, assistant head of design on Sniper Elite VR, about how the series made the leap into virtual reality.
Rebellion chats to the team about how they got into the games industry.
2000 AD Thrill-Cast sits down with comic plotter-writers Michael Carroll and Maura McHugh to talk crossovers, creators, editing, and more.
TIGA has called upon the government to retain funding for Applied General Qualifications – and looked at the possibility of a visa waiver for creative industries.
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Creative Industries & Tech Stuff
Creative UK Group (comprised of Creative Industries Fed and Creative England) has a new report underlining how COVID cost the sector £12bn in GVA and over 110,000 jobs - but it could generate an extra £28bn for the economy by 2025.
Film & TV
Good news. Amazon has renewed Clarkson’s Farm for a second series. Here’s The Guardian on why it’s the best thing Jeremy’s done in 15 years.
Never Mind The Buzzcocks is returning to our screens this year, with Noel Fielding back, alongside Daisy May Cooper and Greg Davies. Bring back Preston, too.
Fashion
LVMH has acquired a majority stake in Virgil Abloh’s fashion label Off-White. Vogue breaks down what it means.
Burberry opened the doors of its new global flagship store on Sloane Street in West London this week.
Music & Radio
This year’s Mercury Prize nominees include Celeste, Ghetts and Arlo Parks. But I reckon Wolf Alice are gonna win again. Trust me. I’ve literally never been right.
Bono’s son and his band Inhaler have topped the UK chart with their debut album. Chip off the old Joshua tree.
New album from Dave out today, tagged by the Evening Standard as “the greatest rapper in Britain today”. Hard to disagree. Sorry Stormzy! Hope we’re still pals!
Gaming
Huge deal this one. Chinese giant Tencent is buying British games studio Sumo for $1.27bn.
Goodbye Pro Evo Soccer. Welcome, the new free-to-play replacement, eFootball.
Tech & Telecoms
The number of decacorns (that’s $10bn+ tech companies) has more than doubled to 12 since the start of 2021, according to new Tech Nation data.
AI from British firm DeepMind has solved one of the greatest puzzles in biology by predicting the shape of all human proteins.
Index Ventures has announced $3.1bn in new funds to support tech founders across stages and geographic locations to scale their companies.
The Guardian reveals how Pegasus, a cyber-surveillance weapon from NSO Group, has been misused to target politicians, activists and journalists.
Marky Mark Zuckerberg chats to The Verge about how Facebook is betting big on the metaverse. Next logical step for the newsletter, too.
Ofcom has released a new report on the affordability of broadband and mobile internet services.
Snapchat is growing faster than it has in years.
Jeff Bezos has blasted into space and, a quote, “I wanna thank every Amazon employee and customer because you guys paid for this”. Nicely put, Jeff :) :)
Starting a petition to get this Boston Dynamics robot on Strictly next year. Imagine his Paso Doble.
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Appointments & Movers
Ros Kerslake is standing down as CEO of the Heritage Fund; Edinburgh International Festival director Fergus Linehan is stepping down next year; Sue Perkins has been announced as the new host of Radio 4’s Just A Minute; the BBC’s science editor David Shukman is leaving after 39 years at the Beeb;; BAFTA has announced the newly-elected chairs of its film, games and TV committees; Uzma Hasan has been appointed chair of the Bush Theatre’s board of trustees; Craig Charles is taking over 6 Music’s weekday afternoon show; AllSaints creative director Wil Beedle is leaving after 18 years; Phil Castang has been elected chair of the Music Education Council; Angharad Jones has been appointed director of theatre company New Perspectives
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Ed Stuff
Wrote a blog for the Centre of London on whether London will sustain its role as a global, cultural capital.
Talked contested heritage on The Culture Bar podcast.
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...And Finally
Honestly, it’s so hot, just gather me up and catapult me into a lake out of a plane like these thousands of fish in Utah. Kerplunk.
If not, I’ll be up at Granary Square in North London rolling around in a water fountain with a mate of mine who also happens to be a golden retriever. Smartest guy I know.
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