Independent festivals welcome lifeline of government coronavirus funding

a legal challenge on whether Holyrood has the power to hold an independence referendum without the UK Government's permission.Neale Hanvey, who was readmitted to the party in May after being suspended for sharing an antisemitic image on social media, is among more than 4,000 backers of the People's Action on Section 30.Powers to hold a legally-binding referendum are reserved to Westminster under terms of the devolution settlement and can only be loaned them to Holyrood under a legal mechanism

Boris Johnson held the last press conference on the UK government’s response to the coronavirus.  In that time a number of new local lockdown measures have been brought in, there has been criticism over the way school results have been handled and travel advice for Brits going on holiday continues to change.

Darkstar have shared the poignant video for their new single ‘Blurred’, with the clip paying tribute to the UK’s independent grassroots music venues.The video has been made in solidarity with the ongoing #SaveOurVenues campaign, which is aiming to protect those independent venues in the UK which are currently under threat due to the coronavirus-enforced live music shutdown.The clip for ‘Blurred’, which is taken from Darkstar’s June-released album ‘Civic Jams’, consists of Google Street View

Record Store Day has announced more information about its adapted plans for 2020 as the first ‘RSD Drop’ event on 29 August approaches.

The San Sebastian Festival has added several new titles to its competition lineup, including new features from British helmers Harry Macqueen and Julien Temple. Supernova, Macqueen's follow-up to his celebrated debut Hinterland, stars Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as Sam and Tusker, a gay couple, together for 20 years, traveling across the English countryside on holiday.

Naman Ramachandran Jameela Jamil, the British star of award-winning series “The Good Place,” who is also a podcast host, writer and advocate, will deliver the Alternative MacTaggart Lecture at this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival.Launched in 1997, the Alternative MacTaggart looks to shape debate in the global television industry from an unconventional perspective.

Ben Jolley hears from those working in the UK dance music industry about the challenges they’re facing and how they’re managing to overcome them. For a scene that makes such a noisy arrival wherever they go, it’s shocking to see the UK’s dance clubs and festivals continuously fall through the cracks in terms of funding to support them throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSteve McQueen, the Oscar-winning director of “12 Years a Slave” and “Shame,” is best known for his searing big-screen work. So it is fitting that the New York Film Festival would turn to the British auteur to kick off its 58th edition with his new work “Lovers Rock.

A special minted coin to commemorate India’s independence hero Mahatma Gandhi is being considered in the UK.Chancellor Rishi Sunak has written to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) asking it to recognise contributions of people from black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) groups.“RMAC is currently considering a coin to commemorate Gandhi,” the UK Treasury announced late on Saturday, Reuters reports.In his letter to the RMAC, Mr Sunak said members of BAME communities had made a "profound

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: John Landgraf, the chairman of FX Networks and FX Productions, is to give a keynote address at the virtual Edinburgh TV Festival next month.Landgraf will sit down with the BBC’s director of creative diversity June Sarpong to detail how FX changed the demographics of its writing and directorial talent and scored success with shows, such as What We Do In The Shadows.Landgraf is no stranger to the UK television business having partnered with the BBC on

The British Film Institute has unveiled details of a £30 million ($39 million) recovery fund for struggling independent cinemas across England, many of which have remained closed since March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The fund — whichwill administered by the BFI as part of the British government's $2 billion support package for arts and culture — is open to all building-based venues that have a year-round program, with applications open Aug.

Coachella have ordered UK charity MS Trust to change the name of its online fundraising festival Couch-ella.The charity, which supports anyone affected by multiple sclerosis, said lawyers for the US festival, held annually in the Californian desert, told it the “chella” suffix was trademarked.A spokeswoman for the MS Trust, who said organisers of Coachella got in touch on July 23, told BBC News: “We’ve had to change the name to ‘MS Trust Home Festival’.

The Venice International Film Festival has unveiled an all-European jury for its 77th edition as Venice prepares to host the first major film event since the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. British director Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), French actress Ludivine Sagnier (8 Women, Swimming Pool) and Austrian filmmaker Veronika Franz (Goodnight Mommy) will join Venice jury president Cate Blanchett to hand out the honors to the competition entries this year, including the coveted Golden Lion.

Scottish Government as it still doesn’t have a restart date – but concert bosses have warned it still may be not enough for venues to survive.Earlier this month, the UK Government announced a package for the arts sector which would see £97million given to Scotland through the Barnett formula.Now, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has announced the funding boost, intended to give direct support to venues and businesses in their supply chains, as well as support changes which need to be made to meet