Rebecca Blackman
rebeccablackman.bsky.social
Rebecca Blackman
@rebeccablackman.bsky.social
National Director Engagement and Communities - and the Midlands at Arts Council England. Lover of art, museums, libraries, heritage, science, nature and all that stuff. Personal views expressed here.
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Grant management system update:

Today we are sharing important updates on:
- how to request payments
- getting access support with your application
- the new opening dates for Incentivising Touring and Supporting Grassroots Music

www.artscouncil.org.uk/applying-fun...
Applying for funding with us
The latest information and resources about applying for funding with us
www.artscouncil.org.uk
August 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Grant management system update:

We continue to make alternative solutions available to users, while our usual system is unavailable. As part of this, we are pausing new applications to National Lottery Project Grants. (1/3)
August 5, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Solstice Sunrise 4.39am River Trent #Nottingham #Solstice
June 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Really Delightful (and sunny) day @sofestival.bsky.social - great international acts and our own @zesttheatre.bsky.social - on again tomorrow - Go to So!
SO Festival - Magna Vitae (@sofestival.bsky.social)
Lincolnshire’s free, international festival of outdoor arts, held on the pavements, parks and promenades of Skegness and Mablethorpe. Skegness: Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 June 2025 Mablethorpe: Sunda...
sofestival.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
April 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
"On Tyranny" is a #1 NYT bestseller again. I wish the moment were different. But I’m glad the book is useful. And grateful for all the kind words about putting the 20 lessons to work.
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow
Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing
snyder.substack.com
April 19, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Nick Serota: ‘The role of the Arts Council is to act as a protector of artistic freedom, and if we don’t have that freedom then we move towards living in a country where liberty of both thought and voice is constrained’.
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
www.ft.com
April 18, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
We’re supporting Hospital Rooms with a £600k National Lottery Project Grant to transform NHS Mental Health settings over 3 years 🏥🎉

Read more about how they’re making sure people most affected by the Mental Health Act can access high quality creativity & culture👇
buff.ly/MQddD0F #NationalLottery30
£600,000 National Lottery Project Grant awarded to Hospital Rooms for nationwide mental health initiative
Hospital Rooms has been awarded a £600,000 National Lottery Project Grant for an ambitious nationwide project.
buff.ly
April 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
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 🧵
April 8, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Impressive stats speak for themselves - Saad from New Art Exchange talking about their community leadership model. Decisions about arts and culture made by the people and with the people. #letsengage25 @artscouncilengland.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
An inspiring 2 days @thelowry.com and @phm.org.uk talking about engaging communities in arts and culture #LetsEngage25 @artscouncilengland.bsky.social discover, connect, mobilise says @cormacrussell.bsky.social
April 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Yesterday the National Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture Conference took place at The Lowry in Salford.

The conference showcased the impact of arts and culture on improving wellbeing and broadening opportunities.

#LetsEngage25
April 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Looking forward to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social National conference on Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture tomorrow @thelowry.com - hope to see lots of you there #LetsEngage25 #LetsCreate
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Does your organisation have an archive? 📚

Join the annual UK archive survey by March 31! Your input will help ensure museums, galleries, and arts organisations are represented.

Find out more 👉 buff.ly/PXiKhdl

📷 Pexels
March 25, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
UPDATE: Changes to our National Portfolio

Today we've shared our National Council's decision to no longer launch our next Investment Process in April. Instead, we are recommending to Government that our current National Portfolio extends to 31 March 2028.
March 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
The UN's meteorological agency said signs of human-induced climate change 'reached new heights' in 2024. www.ft.com/content/3691...
March 19, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
We're hiring! 🚨

Are you a strategic and influential leader with experience in capital development?

We're looking for a Director of Capital to join our team 📍

Find out more and apply by Monday 31 March 👇
buff.ly/djrc1lf
March 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Learn more about our Investment Principles Support Orgs (IPSOs) 📖

In our latest blog, our Director for Strategy, Michelle Dickson, explains the role of our IPSOs and highlights some of their valuable work 👇
buff.ly/X4Qdet8
How Investment Principles Support Organisations are making a difference
We explain the role of our Investment Principles Support Organisations and highlight some of the valuable work they’ve done.
buff.ly
March 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
National Lottery players raise £30 million per week for Good Causes. #ThanksToYou hundreds of organisations across the country will be offering free or discounted entry, among other deals, to lottery ticket holders from 15 - 23 March.

Find out more 👇

www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/open-week/of...
National Lottery Open Week - Projects - National Lottery Good Causes
Each week National Lottery players raise £30 million for Good Causes. Find out about their stories here.
www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
March 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
We’ve launched our new Illuminate dashboards

These new data tools allow you to find out more about the impact of our investments on audiences and local communities.

Find out more 👇
buff.ly/gt3MV0e
Illuminate dashboards
Illuminate is our Audience Data platform, developed alongside our partner PwC. These dashboards bring to life the data we’ve collected from our funded organisations.
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Young people, teachers, parents: Action for Conservation, where I'm a founding trustee, runs free Summer Camps to inspire 12-16 year olds to a lifelong love of nature & conservation.
They’re really fun.
Applications now open:
www.actionforconservation.org/camp
Pls help spread the word/RT!
March 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Job alert: we’re on the search for a new Executive Director with a passion for new work, supporting writers and connecting with theatre audiences nationally ✨

Salary: £45-48k depending on experience.
Contract: Full-time, fixed term for 5 years.

Info: painesplough.com/get-involved...
March 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Blackman
Calling board members of National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principle Support Organisations 📣

@juliesbicycle.bsky.social are looking for Board Environmental Champions to embed environmental responsibility within their orgs at governance level 🌎

Find out more 👇
📢 @dannychivers.bsky.social & @immykaur.bsky.social
join us on 4 Mar for our Board Environmental Champions session.

We'll explore finance - spending, sourcing & investing in an environmentally responsible way.

On the board of a cultural organisation? Join our free programme tinyurl.com/5x4yc3cc
Board Environmental Champions | Julie's Bicycle | Culture & Climate Non-Profit Network
A programme that supports arts organisations to put environmental ambition and responsibility at the centre of their governance.
tinyurl.com
March 3, 2025 at 1:52 PM