Oliver Mantell
@olivermantell.bsky.social
Cultural audience researcher.
Interested in everything, including poetry.
Director of Evidence & Insight at The Audience Agency; Board member at Grimm & Co and Sheaf Poetry. From Reading, living in Sheffield.
[Header from Tara Bergin’s Savage Tales]
Interested in everything, including poetry.
Director of Evidence & Insight at The Audience Agency; Board member at Grimm & Co and Sheaf Poetry. From Reading, living in Sheffield.
[Header from Tara Bergin’s Savage Tales]
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
Brava, Cate Marvin.
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Brava, Cate Marvin.
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
A framework designed to support arts venues in making live events more accessible, connected, and financially sustainable is to launch next week, following initial development supported by Arts Council England. #NewsInBrief
Arts venues to reach ‘forgotten audiences’ with help of ACE-backed initiative - Arts Professional
A framework designed to support arts venues in making live events more accessible, connected, and financially sustainable is to launch next week, following
www.artsprofessional.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:22 AM
A framework designed to support arts venues in making live events more accessible, connected, and financially sustainable is to launch next week, following initial development supported by Arts Council England. #NewsInBrief
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
yes, my mum who was a graphic designer hated computers and when Quark came in she gave that up and did art teaching instead. Meanwhile I, with much less skill than her in design, was able to get a job at a law firm doing editing and layout after a 10-week evening course in Quark
"Don’t listen to pundits, listen to practitioners" is great advice for life in general, I find. Good piece here from @naomialderman.bsky.social.
(Also, as one of those trad-to-QuarkXPress designers back in the ’90s, I can confirm that's all true 😂)
naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...
(Also, as one of those trad-to-QuarkXPress designers back in the ’90s, I can confirm that's all true 😂)
naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...
preparing for the working world in the age of AI
or: seven things to tell your kids when they ask what they should study now, or what the point of studying is
naomialderman.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
yes, my mum who was a graphic designer hated computers and when Quark came in she gave that up and did art teaching instead. Meanwhile I, with much less skill than her in design, was able to get a job at a law firm doing editing and layout after a 10-week evening course in Quark
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
Pretty extraordinary story here
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show - BBC News
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org
November 3, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Pretty extraordinary story here
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
The movie business changed dramatically starting in the late 1990s
November 2, 2025 at 5:20 AM
The movie business changed dramatically starting in the late 1990s
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
A taste of my forthcoming book, thanks to @badlilies.bsky.social - www.badlilies.uk/graeme-richa...
Graeme Richardson — Bad Lilies
Three poems by Graeme Richardson
www.badlilies.uk
October 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A taste of my forthcoming book, thanks to @badlilies.bsky.social - www.badlilies.uk/graeme-richa...
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
Here’s something really graphic for Halloween:
October 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Here’s something really graphic for Halloween:
This is correct.
(Researcher mode: attitudes on this are linked to age - there’s a reason for the cliché of older people shushing younger ones…)
(Researcher mode: attitudes on this are linked to age - there’s a reason for the cliché of older people shushing younger ones…)
During the adverts - fine. Between the trailers - fine. Otherwise no, with the exception of if a film is so bad people have started to laugh inappropriately, at which point heckling is both good and necessary.
Is it OK to talk at the cinema? How about if it’s just during the trailers? | Polly Hudson
October 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This is correct.
(Researcher mode: attitudes on this are linked to age - there’s a reason for the cliché of older people shushing younger ones…)
(Researcher mode: attitudes on this are linked to age - there’s a reason for the cliché of older people shushing younger ones…)
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
Going to a cash machine and trying to put in my PIN but instead I just jerk backwards and forwards and side to side because I forgot to put on Num Lock
October 30, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Going to a cash machine and trying to put in my PIN but instead I just jerk backwards and forwards and side to side because I forgot to put on Num Lock
“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found.
I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
- Gandalf
I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
- Gandalf
October 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found.
I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
- Gandalf
I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
- Gandalf
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
In hindsight, this post a bit kind to traditional parties
October 28, 2025 at 9:17 AM
In hindsight, this post a bit kind to traditional parties
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
I like this, by Clare Pollard - the best "lockdown" poem in a very overcrowded field - and now included in her new collection "Lives of the Female Poets". Note the quietly infectious internal rhymes...
October 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I like this, by Clare Pollard - the best "lockdown" poem in a very overcrowded field - and now included in her new collection "Lives of the Female Poets". Note the quietly infectious internal rhymes...
(I think genuinely) unpopular opinion:
the recent Louvre theft wasn’t some kind of hilarious and romantic caper, but was bad, actually.
[I hope - if they’ve arrested the right people - they a) get the exhibits back intact and b) successfully prosecute them, with appropriately heavy sentences].
the recent Louvre theft wasn’t some kind of hilarious and romantic caper, but was bad, actually.
[I hope - if they’ve arrested the right people - they a) get the exhibits back intact and b) successfully prosecute them, with appropriately heavy sentences].
October 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
(I think genuinely) unpopular opinion:
the recent Louvre theft wasn’t some kind of hilarious and romantic caper, but was bad, actually.
[I hope - if they’ve arrested the right people - they a) get the exhibits back intact and b) successfully prosecute them, with appropriately heavy sentences].
the recent Louvre theft wasn’t some kind of hilarious and romantic caper, but was bad, actually.
[I hope - if they’ve arrested the right people - they a) get the exhibits back intact and b) successfully prosecute them, with appropriately heavy sentences].
These sound like really good collections (but part of me, when judges split awards, does think “you had one job…”).
October 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM
These sound like really good collections (but part of me, when judges split awards, does think “you had one job…”).
Astonishing…
It happens and the rate is going up...
data.justice.gov.uk/prisons/addi...
data.justice.gov.uk/prisons/addi...
October 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Astonishing…
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
For over 50 years, the Booker Prizes have recognised the best fiction for adults. Now, we're delighted to announce the Children’s Booker Prize, supported by AKO Foundation.
Find out more: thebookerprizes.com/children
Find out more: thebookerprizes.com/children
October 24, 2025 at 7:14 AM
For over 50 years, the Booker Prizes have recognised the best fiction for adults. Now, we're delighted to announce the Children’s Booker Prize, supported by AKO Foundation.
Find out more: thebookerprizes.com/children
Find out more: thebookerprizes.com/children
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
I've written about the worst city in the Netherlands. It's just 3000 words. A quick read. What Lelystad teaches us about new cities, why you probably shouldn't build them, what to do if you must,... and why you might need to. ps. Lelystad is actually good. tomforth.co.uk/newcities/
The worst city in the Netherlands.
Lessons on New Cities from Almere and Lelystad.
tomforth.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I've written about the worst city in the Netherlands. It's just 3000 words. A quick read. What Lelystad teaches us about new cities, why you probably shouldn't build them, what to do if you must,... and why you might need to. ps. Lelystad is actually good. tomforth.co.uk/newcities/
I’m getting strong Adorno vibes from this…
The desire for authenticity is fundamentally the desire to experience a stereotype.
October 22, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I’m getting strong Adorno vibes from this…
@davidallengreen.bsky.social I think public safety can’t (and shouldn’t) be an *absolute* priority (else it’d imply banning all events with large crowds, all alcohol sales at games etc). But public figures are perhaps unlikely to say that directly.
October 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
@davidallengreen.bsky.social I think public safety can’t (and shouldn’t) be an *absolute* priority (else it’d imply banning all events with large crowds, all alcohol sales at games etc). But public figures are perhaps unlikely to say that directly.
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
With the AWS outage, now‘s as good a time as any to post this old strip.
October 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
With the AWS outage, now‘s as good a time as any to post this old strip.
Once again, I am surprised at the absolute certainty being expressed on both sides of a topic, before remembering that those who are less certain are (presumably) less likely to post.
Outside, the winds stirs the turning leaves. A silhouetted bird crosses the sky, halfway to the horizon.
Outside, the winds stirs the turning leaves. A silhouetted bird crosses the sky, halfway to the horizon.
October 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Once again, I am surprised at the absolute certainty being expressed on both sides of a topic, before remembering that those who are less certain are (presumably) less likely to post.
Outside, the winds stirs the turning leaves. A silhouetted bird crosses the sky, halfway to the horizon.
Outside, the winds stirs the turning leaves. A silhouetted bird crosses the sky, halfway to the horizon.
An exciting job for someone who’s like me, but better at economics… Anyone?
New week, new job at Resolution Foundation?
We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
October 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
An exciting job for someone who’s like me, but better at economics… Anyone?
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters.
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
October 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters.
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Reposted by Oliver Mantell
Will Simpson | Shirley Manson States The Economics Of Music Have Become Untenable | MusicRadar
www.musicradar.com/artists/show...
www.musicradar.com/artists/show...
“You will lose out on generations of esoteric, risk-taking, creative, adventurous weirdos, rebels, agitators, and provocateurs. You’re gonna get white bread”: Shirley Manson takes aim at the music ind...
She expands on reasons behind Garbage’s decision to “curtail” touring
www.musicradar.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Will Simpson | Shirley Manson States The Economics Of Music Have Become Untenable | MusicRadar
www.musicradar.com/artists/show...
www.musicradar.com/artists/show...