Mags Patten
@magspatten.bsky.social
Exec Director Public Policy and Communication, Arts Council England. Also part time doctoral student at Bath IPR. Mostly interested in psychology here. More of it should underpin public policy. All views my own.
Reposted by Mags Patten
Life’s getting a bit more crap here if you are a person from an ethnic minority 🧵
August 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Life’s getting a bit more crap here if you are a person from an ethnic minority 🧵
Reposted by Mags Patten
Is social interaction a tradeoff of autonomy for belonging compared to being alone? New paper by phenom @elainehoan.bsky.social says yes if you're interacting with strangers, no if you're interacting with friends/family. With a romantic partner you gain in both. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Is social interaction a tradeoff of autonomy for belonging compared to being alone? New paper by phenom @elainehoan.bsky.social says yes if you're interacting with strangers, no if you're interacting with friends/family. With a romantic partner you gain in both. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
What a dreadful day. I’m not Jewish but my husband is. I felt glad to be standing alongside him for the end of Yom Kippur and it was moving to hear a deeply felt message of condolence and solidarity from the local imam at synagogue tonight.
October 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
What a dreadful day. I’m not Jewish but my husband is. I felt glad to be standing alongside him for the end of Yom Kippur and it was moving to hear a deeply felt message of condolence and solidarity from the local imam at synagogue tonight.
Reposted by Mags Patten
On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
October 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
Reposted by Mags Patten
the requirements to succeed on new media platforms are almost precisely the opposite of what successful experts… have trained themselves to do: maintain an institutional tone of formal detachment & stay ruthlessly on-message at all times.’ @noupside.bsky.social
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies
To avoid irrelevance when they are needed most, experts and nonpartisan analysts must rethink not just their channels of communication but also their theory of influence.
carnegieendowment.org
September 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
the requirements to succeed on new media platforms are almost precisely the opposite of what successful experts… have trained themselves to do: maintain an institutional tone of formal detachment & stay ruthlessly on-message at all times.’ @noupside.bsky.social
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
Reposted by Mags Patten
my favorite robert redford story is that mike nichols considered him for dustin hoffman's part in THE GRADUATE. during their conversation nichols asked redford something like, "have you ever struck out with a girl?" and redford's response was basically, "i don't understand the question"
September 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
my favorite robert redford story is that mike nichols considered him for dustin hoffman's part in THE GRADUATE. during their conversation nichols asked redford something like, "have you ever struck out with a girl?" and redford's response was basically, "i don't understand the question"
There was nothing unifying about the “Unite the Kingdom rally”. Solidarity with anyone non-white who felt threatened in London yesterday. The vast majority of Brits think and feel differently (see evidence from data superhero Sunder Katwala below) and good if we can find ways to demonstrate this.
There is v solid evidence that while Tommy Robinson has activated within the 4% who strongly support him (& 1/10 who approve) but has no significant broadening of his general public appeal (1/10) over the 10-15 years he has been around
His 2025, 2019 and 2011 reputation
bsky.app/profile/sund...
His 2025, 2019 and 2011 reputation
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Approval of Tommy Robinson tends to be 1/10 people who have heard of him, with half of the population critical.
Reform voters a third for & against. Conservatives 6-1 against
His reputation has been pretty stable with mild fluctuations when this has been asked across for the last fifteen years.
Reform voters a third for & against. Conservatives 6-1 against
His reputation has been pretty stable with mild fluctuations when this has been asked across for the last fifteen years.
September 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
There was nothing unifying about the “Unite the Kingdom rally”. Solidarity with anyone non-white who felt threatened in London yesterday. The vast majority of Brits think and feel differently (see evidence from data superhero Sunder Katwala below) and good if we can find ways to demonstrate this.
Reposted by Mags Patten
so. remember how in the past people got enough exercise just from doing their job & daily tasks? & now all jobs are screens & we have to *deliberately exercise* to stay healthy?
from now we will have to *deliberately write* and *engage with art made for a wide audience* to keep our brains healthy.
from now we will have to *deliberately write* and *engage with art made for a wide audience* to keep our brains healthy.
It was only a matter of time.
Amazon is investing in Showrunner, an AI-generated streaming service.
• Viewers type in prompts to generate scenes or full episodes for new ideas or existing IPs.
• Disney and other studios are in talks to license IP for the service.
Amazon is investing in Showrunner, an AI-generated streaming service.
• Viewers type in prompts to generate scenes or full episodes for new ideas or existing IPs.
• Disney and other studios are in talks to license IP for the service.
Amazon Invests in ‘Netflix of AI’ Start-Up Fable, Which Launches Showrunner: A Tool for User-Directed TV Shows
Amazon has invested in Fable, a start-up whose 'Netflix of AI' Showunner gen-AI tool lets users create scenes or entire episodes of a TV show.
variety.com
August 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
so. remember how in the past people got enough exercise just from doing their job & daily tasks? & now all jobs are screens & we have to *deliberately exercise* to stay healthy?
from now we will have to *deliberately write* and *engage with art made for a wide audience* to keep our brains healthy.
from now we will have to *deliberately write* and *engage with art made for a wide audience* to keep our brains healthy.
Inspo for all of us who love 21s.
My latest: I made a conscious decision to stop being skinny and get big and strong AF.
Here's some reflections on what life has been like since putting on nearly 20 pounds of muscle.
wapo.st/3J9sLty
Here's some reflections on what life has been like since putting on nearly 20 pounds of muscle.
wapo.st/3J9sLty
Opinion | I gained 20 pounds of muscle. Here’s what I learned.
Three years and 20 pounds of muscle later, I’ve learned that everything — and nothing — changes.
wapo.st
August 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Inspo for all of us who love 21s.
A splendid read. I’d love more (social) policy and less Westminster intrigue in our journalism. And yes somewhat arch - policy can be chewy, but policy writing can inspire all the feels from rage to joy, when it captures the human impact.
‘Dare to be dull!’ A man after my own heart - lovely obit of Malcolm Dean who edited Guardian Society for over 20 years. (The piece reminds us that in its heyday it was over 200 pages long due to the jobs pages!)
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...
Malcolm Dean obituary
Founder of the Guardian’s Society section who stood for the SDP/Liberal Alliance in the 1983 and 1987 general elections
www.theguardian.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A splendid read. I’d love more (social) policy and less Westminster intrigue in our journalism. And yes somewhat arch - policy can be chewy, but policy writing can inspire all the feels from rage to joy, when it captures the human impact.
Reposted by Mags Patten
In 2020 @moreincommonuk.bsky.social launched the British 7 Segments. After a pandemic, major global conflicts, political upheaval, cost of living crisis, changes in work/social/information habits it’s time to update them for 2025. Here’s an intro to our new tribes of Britain (Quiz link next)
July 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In 2020 @moreincommonuk.bsky.social launched the British 7 Segments. After a pandemic, major global conflicts, political upheaval, cost of living crisis, changes in work/social/information habits it’s time to update them for 2025. Here’s an intro to our new tribes of Britain (Quiz link next)
James Plunkett offers practical inspiration here to anyone trying to be a bit less hierarchy and a bit more network.
How do we save bureaucracy from itself? A new long-read from me with seven practical examples of techniques we can use to make big institutions less sclerotic.
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
How to save bureaucracy from itself
Seven ways to make big institutions less sclerotic
medium.com
July 12, 2025 at 10:11 AM
James Plunkett offers practical inspiration here to anyone trying to be a bit less hierarchy and a bit more network.
Money doesn’t grow on trees but ideas do. ACE chief exec @henleydarren.bsky.social arguing in The Stage that cultural sector innovation is a source of growth, drawing inspiration from Daniel Susskind’s excellent book Growth: A Reckoning.
"Ideas are infinite and so is their power to drive growth.” Darren Henley from Arts Council England urges investment in the arts as smart economic strategy ahead of the spending review 👇
ACE's Darren Henley on the value of ideas to the economy
Theatre often steers away from talking about growth and economics. But, says ACE chief executive Darren Henley, the value of ideas is not to be overlooked
www.thestage.co.uk
June 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Money doesn’t grow on trees but ideas do. ACE chief exec @henleydarren.bsky.social arguing in The Stage that cultural sector innovation is a source of growth, drawing inspiration from Daniel Susskind’s excellent book Growth: A Reckoning.
Read if you have ever been ensconced in a Parisian Brasserie. As a young’un I was intimidated by Lipp - that association with lunching French presidents - but the theatrics at Bofinger, near the Bastille, made my Dad’s 70th a cherished memory.
May 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Read if you have ever been ensconced in a Parisian Brasserie. As a young’un I was intimidated by Lipp - that association with lunching French presidents - but the theatrics at Bofinger, near the Bastille, made my Dad’s 70th a cherished memory.
Interview with Arts Council England Chair Nick Serota in The Guardian highlighting the vital role of public investment in attracting other sources of revenue for the cultural sector. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Arts Council England chair says sector at ‘tipping point’ amid funding fears
Sir Nicholas Serota says continued public investment is vital to draw in private funding to maintain cultural centres
www.theguardian.com
May 16, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Interview with Arts Council England Chair Nick Serota in The Guardian highlighting the vital role of public investment in attracting other sources of revenue for the cultural sector. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
This is a brilliant, moving report capturing life and the absurdity of the system for most prisoners and prison officers. If only more media outlets could do this, instead of frothing at the mouth about prison reform. Congrats to Preston Prison for opening its doors too.
I rarely do this but please watch our report from Preston Prison
I was blown away by the amazing work of the officers. But I was also blown away by the fact prison isn’t working. Will politicians be brave enough to change it?
Video by @lucymarleey
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cszg...
I was blown away by the amazing work of the officers. But I was also blown away by the fact prison isn’t working. Will politicians be brave enough to change it?
Video by @lucymarleey
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cszg...
Inside one of Britain's most overcrowded prisons
YouTube video by Sky News
m.youtube.com
May 14, 2025 at 7:13 AM
This is a brilliant, moving report capturing life and the absurdity of the system for most prisoners and prison officers. If only more media outlets could do this, instead of frothing at the mouth about prison reform. Congrats to Preston Prison for opening its doors too.
Reposted by Mags Patten
Wooah. 18.5% reduction in sick leave reported.
(And this was pre-Covid:
"Our sample periods for the LEZ and ULEZ analyses are 2005–2009 and 2016–2019, respectively.")
(And this was pre-Covid:
"Our sample periods for the LEZ and ULEZ analyses are 2005–2009 and 2016–2019, respectively.")
📢A new study from @uniofbath.bsky.social shows London's low emissions zones have had major benefits for human health and the economy, with a 10.2% decrease in respiratory issues following LEZ implementation, an **18.5%** reduction in sick leave, and annual public health savings of over £37 million.
“And Breathe Normally”: Impacts of low emission zones on sick leave and mental well-being
Air pollution poses a global concern due to its detrimental effects on climate, healthcare, and human capital accumulation. However, there is limited …
www.sciencedirect.com
April 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Wooah. 18.5% reduction in sick leave reported.
(And this was pre-Covid:
"Our sample periods for the LEZ and ULEZ analyses are 2005–2009 and 2016–2019, respectively.")
(And this was pre-Covid:
"Our sample periods for the LEZ and ULEZ analyses are 2005–2009 and 2016–2019, respectively.")
Reposted by Mags Patten
Creativity means business! 🏦🔑
And public investment in arts and culture helps make it happen. New CEBR report finds #ACEsupported orgs added £1.35 billion to the economy in 2023 📖🎉👇
#LetsCreate
buff.ly/WGf1vVO
Image credit: Jerome Whittingham
And public investment in arts and culture helps make it happen. New CEBR report finds #ACEsupported orgs added £1.35 billion to the economy in 2023 📖🎉👇
#LetsCreate
buff.ly/WGf1vVO
Image credit: Jerome Whittingham
April 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Creativity means business! 🏦🔑
And public investment in arts and culture helps make it happen. New CEBR report finds #ACEsupported orgs added £1.35 billion to the economy in 2023 📖🎉👇
#LetsCreate
buff.ly/WGf1vVO
Image credit: Jerome Whittingham
And public investment in arts and culture helps make it happen. New CEBR report finds #ACEsupported orgs added £1.35 billion to the economy in 2023 📖🎉👇
#LetsCreate
buff.ly/WGf1vVO
Image credit: Jerome Whittingham
Sorry for paywall, but for those who can, our Arts Council Chair in the hot orange seat on freedom of expression, the value of public investment in culture and the importance of listening. on.ft.com/4czH310 Axing arts quangos risks ‘liberty of thought’ says Nicholas Serota
Axing arts quangos risks ‘liberty of thought’ says Nicholas Serota
Chair of Arts Council England says arm’s-length funding of theatre, music and museums helps prevent politicisation
on.ft.com
April 18, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Sorry for paywall, but for those who can, our Arts Council Chair in the hot orange seat on freedom of expression, the value of public investment in culture and the importance of listening. on.ft.com/4czH310 Axing arts quangos risks ‘liberty of thought’ says Nicholas Serota
It’s not the purpose of Arts Council investment, but the way public money for art and culture drives growth in the wider economy should be factored in by government. www.thestage.co.uk/news/ace-bac...
ACE-backed companies contributed £1.35bn to economy in 2023 – report
Organisations funded by Arts Council England contributed £1.35 billion in gross value added in 2023, topping pre-pandemic levels
www.thestage.co.uk
April 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
It’s not the purpose of Arts Council investment, but the way public money for art and culture drives growth in the wider economy should be factored in by government. www.thestage.co.uk/news/ace-bac...
Important statement on value of public investment in culture from Arts Council England’s governing bodies.
We’re sharing an open letter from our Chair Sir Nicholas Serota and his National and Area Council colleagues in response to Wigmore Hall’s successful fundraising campaign, the subsequent debate about public funding of arts and culture and #LetsCreate.
Read the key points below 🧵
Read the key points below 🧵
April 8, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Important statement on value of public investment in culture from Arts Council England’s governing bodies.
This sounds terrific and a fruitful way forward for thinking about EDI. Can’t think of anything our world needs more right now than deep thinking about compassion.
If you're at Penn State, I encourage you to check out the annual PRC Compassion lecture this Tuesday from 4:30-5:30pm with Jason Okonofua. Details below, come learn about the importance of compassion in today's world.
@prcpennstate.bsky.social
@psuliberalarts.bsky.social
@rockethics.bsky.social
@prcpennstate.bsky.social
@psuliberalarts.bsky.social
@rockethics.bsky.social
2025 Lecture on Compassion: "Sidelining Bias: How Compassion Can Protect Key Relationships From Conflict"
In recent years, much research has conceptualized bias as an [...]
prevention.psu.edu
April 6, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This sounds terrific and a fruitful way forward for thinking about EDI. Can’t think of anything our world needs more right now than deep thinking about compassion.
Reposted by Mags Patten
Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley has responded to renewed criticism that the funding body prioritises community engagement over artistic excellence, calling the characterisation “skewed” and “exclusive”.
ACE chief Henley rejects ‘ugly’ criticism of community engagement efforts - Arts Professional
Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley has responded to renewed criticism that the funding body prioritises community engagement over artistic excellence, calling the characterisation “skewed”...
buff.ly
April 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley has responded to renewed criticism that the funding body prioritises community engagement over artistic excellence, calling the characterisation “skewed” and “exclusive”.
It’s not quite clear to me what communities are at the bottom of here - just below humdrum - John Tusa? www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Arts Council England defends support of classical music amid loss of trust
Arts funding body responds to criticism as Wigmore Hall in London says it will operate independently from 2026
www.theguardian.com
March 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
It’s not quite clear to me what communities are at the bottom of here - just below humdrum - John Tusa? www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
“The curious reality is that, in every sphere of life actually devoted to the collective pursuit of truth, the greatest freedom of enquiry goes hand in hand with clear rules of expression”
March 15, 2025 at 9:13 AM
“The curious reality is that, in every sphere of life actually devoted to the collective pursuit of truth, the greatest freedom of enquiry goes hand in hand with clear rules of expression”