A busy, useful day in #Southampton - Philip Hoare’s remarkable So This Is Real Life at John Hansard Gallery just one highlight among many - so evocative in capturing the stories, the spirit and the aesthetics of the punk/post-punk era. A joy to behold.
There’s much more to do, of course. But it’s a strong start, and we look forward to audiences and communities from across the south west enjoying the benefit of this investment. (5/5)
…and support for libraries in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Devon through the Libraries Improvement Fund (4/5)
…three awards through the MEND programme for museums in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – in Bursledon, Brading and Whitchurch (3/5)
…a raft of essential awards across the region - from Newlyn Art Gallery to the Lyric Theatre, Bridport and the Brewhouse, Taunton, to the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth (2/5)
Proud of today's announcement that we'll invest more than £20 million into the south west's cultural infrastructure on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, including flagship multi-million pound investments into Theatre Royal Plymouth, Wiltshire Creative and Bristol Museums. (1/5)
A peaceful Saturday morning running errands in Wells: local produce from the market for lunch; a slim, well-loved volume of Seamus Heaney from the second hand bookstall, an old Pere Ubu single in a charity shop, the prospect of currant buns for tea.
Bruce Foxton in fine form at Trinity tonight. Sheerwater Mods forever. “And what you give is what you get”.
...didn't we all!
I’m about 100 pages in. It’s a great read.
Current reading stack, hovering somewhere between enticing and intimidating.
Plymouth in glorious spring sunshine, and the chance to catch up with the team at Karst, and admire the very fine Discord And Harmony exhibition - essential viewing alongside the Beryl Cook retrospective at The Box.
A day off, a train to London and a very satisfying afternoon at the Design Museum, invoking the spirit of the Blitz Club and immersion in the Wes Anderson archives. Both enthusiastically recommended.
Dydd gŵyl Dewi hapus, pawb / Happy St David’s Day everyone.
For the first time in about thirty years, I’ve been left home alone with the Brit Awards. Anything might happen.
Facts.
Can't wait to get down to Southampton for this. Looks fantastic.
Thanks @uniwinchester.bsky.social for inviting me to participate in last night’s arts, creativity and education question time - a lively discussion with both the panel and audience and plenty of new thoughts to take away. Time very well spent.
A quiet Sunday morning in the kitchen with tea and newspapers, and Radcliffe and Maconie extolling the virtues of Talk Talk’s Colour of Spring on 6 Music. Optimal conditions.
…and glad to round off the day with a visit to the Palace Theatre, Paignton. Thanks for sharing the journey of the last ten years, Maureen McAllister - really encouraging.
A thoroughly useful day in Torquay and Paignton with colleagues from Heritage Fund, Homes England and Historic England. Thanks Torquay Museum for hosting, and Torbay Council for being so generous with your time and insights.
First gig of 2026 - Annie and the Caldwells at The Fleece, supported by Rozie Gia. Joy unconfined.
The first of 12 gigs in independent Bristol music venues in 2026…one of my more sensible New Year’s resolutions of recent years.
Nice thread. Happy birthday, Once In A Lifetime. What a song.
The very best of Talk Talk could run to three volumes, to be fair.
Good luck to @rammuseum.bsky.social for today’s opening of the new Grayson Perry exhibition. Lucky enough to get a quick preview yesterday - it’s an absolute winner.
So glad to make it over to Bovey Tracey last night for the opening of the Kinetic exhibition at MAKE South West. A fascinating fusion of crafts and engineering - will keep you thinking for ages afterwards. Warmly recommended.
The major Beryl Cook retrospective at The Box, Plymouth - all the warmth and joy you could imagine, perfect for navigating the relentlessly bleak midwinter weather, and the uncertain world in which we live. Five stars in The Guardian and rightly so. Rush to see it.
1947-2016. “Though nothing, nothing can keep us together, we can beat them forever and ever…”
The first road trip of the new year - very grateful to Rachel Gilmour MP for such a useful day with cultural leaders in the Tiverton and Minehead constituency. Time very well spent and plenty to build on.
Looking forward to listening to this >