Drama of Becket's assassination, back in the cathedral
Great drama has a way of always being relevant whenever it is performed, even if, like T S Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral, it isn’t performed very often, writes Simon Tait.
TAITMAIL Come to Dada
What do you think this is, a swastika or two noodle strands arranged in a visual pun? And how seriously should you take it?
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE RSC/Barbican see new hope for arts in Ofsted move
Figures show that arts subjects in schools are still declining but, following the announcement of their joint conference series starting in January, Jacqui O’Hanlon of the RSC and Jenny Mollica of the Barbican show a new Ofsted framework offers renewed hope
THE ART OF PHOTOJOURNALISM Image of the month
Black Saturn, 2019, by Martin Lewis
Alan Sparrow introduces this month’s image
THE WORD The art of reviving a high street
Historic England is the caretaker of a £95m fund to help struggling high streets. Its chief executive, Duncan Wilson, explains how his organisation will involve arts and culture to help these areas get their mojo back.
TAITMAIL The Fed’s road map away from the abyss
Just over a year ago the Creative Industries Federation was facing an abyss. Staff were leaving, so were the members that provide its revenue, and a large part of its reserves was being spent on non-disclosure agreements.
The fabulous Zandra
Zandra Rhodes is celebrating 50 years in the fashion business with an exhibition at her own museum. Simon Tait reports
Sara Shamma: Slavery and motherhood
The Syrian painter Sara Shamma has chosen modern slavery as her residency subject at King's College, and through the pain and fear of her interviews she saw the importance of motherhood in their stories. She spoke to Simon Tait
Designing the new Africa Centre: what does ‘Welcome’ feel like?
The Africa Centre has commissioned the young architectural practice Freehaus to help design its future, and tomorrow evening (Sept 18), as part of the London Design Festival, the centre’s director Kenneth Tharp and Freehaus’s Jonathan Hagos will have an open discussion about their collaboration, and the challenge. Simon Tait spoke to them first
Fighting to save the ‘rarest spirits’ of the De Morgans
AI PROFILE: Sarah Hardy, curator and manager, The De Morgan Foundation
THE ART OF PHOTOJOURNALISM Image of the month
Elizabeth Taylor, London, November 1948, by Chris Ware
Alan Sparrow introduces this month’s image
TALK OF THE TOWN HALL Preston’s pressing problem
By Patrick Kelly
There’s lots of talk these days about “anchor institutions” - a loaded term, perhaps, and one that might sound like a bit of a drag. But it seems that local economies can’t do without them.
