Ben Walmsley
@benwalmsley.bsky.social
Dean of Cultural Engagement at University of Leeds; Associate Director Policy, Centre for Cultural Value; Advisor, DCMS. Interested in all things arts & cultural sector related
“Brand safety” aka “good old-fashioned discrimination” www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...
Publications aimed at LGBTQ+ audiences face discrimination from advertisers, editors warn
Media figures say ‘gold rush is over’, as attacks on diversity and inclusion have led to some advertisers avoiding outlets
theguardian.com
Website refresh alert! Check out our updated website to find out how Policy Leeds can help you. Policy professionals and researchers can find out what we do, how we can work with you, current partners and projects, and resources such as blogs, briefs and case studies. www.leeds.ac.uk/policy-leeds
Policy Leeds
Policy Leeds builds relationships between policy professionals and researchers to inform effective public policy development and tackle major societal challenges.
leeds.ac.uk
As well as being a trailblazer for women in sport, promoting teamwork, inclusivity and support, Steph is a leading advocate for those with motor neurone disease (MND) after her husband was diagnosed with MND in 2018. Read more about our honorary graduands 👇 www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/n...
Great to attend the launch of the pioneering Transform festival last night and hear all about their dazzling October programme from Creative Director @amyletman.bsky.social
Working with The Audience Agency and supported by Research England, we have been leading a project to develop a Cultural Indicator Suite, a new framework that helps to communicate the holistic everyday cultural vitality of the places we live. www.culturalvalue.org.uk/understandin...
Pretty much sums up this tawdry debate www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections falls flat
Paul Webb said he ensured books and material were pulled from children’s section of Kent libraries, but it emerges they were never there
theguardian.com
Looking good! Can testify wholeheartedly how brilliant Culture Commons are as policy partners
Culture Commons@culturecommons.bsky.social · last yr.We’re still an independent and not for profit think & do tank dedicated to the UK’s #creative #cultural and #heritage ecosystem… …we’ve just had a little refresh! We’ve brightened things up and made our projects, publications and services more accessible. www.culturecommons.uk
Deeply depressing
The Sutton Trust@suttontrust.bsky.social · last yr.🗨️ "Privately educated applicants were 20% more likely to receive an offer than their similarly able state-educated peers in 2024, a rise from 7% in 2023." Valuable new research from @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social highlighting growing inequalities in employment offers ⤵️
Fantastic to see our students’ work exhibited at one of our local Leeds city venues - go along and see this fresh new talent on display!
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies@fahacs.bsky.social · last yr.Work by BA #HistoryOfArt student Robin Stones has been selected for the 2025 #Leeds Summer Group Show. The #exhibition takes place at #LeedsPlayhouse from 3 to 23 July. There will be a relaxed preview evening on Wednesday 2 July, 6–8pm. No need to RSVP, just drop in!
Creative Industries Sector Plan launched today as part of the industrial strategy assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68586c...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
As the summer tourism season gets underway, we spotlight this think piece by @aliceborchi.bsky.social & Carlo Alberto Petruzzi, highlighting recent events in Florence, a city caught between the pressures of mass tourism and preserving its cultural identity. www.culturalvalue.org.uk/the-curious-...
Mass tourism, heritage, music, and debt: the curious case of opera and urban planning in Florence - Centre for Cultural Value
Researchers Alice Borchi and Carlo Alberto Petruzzi examine recent events in Florence, a city caught between the pressures of mass tourism and the need to preserve its cultural identity.
culturalvalue.org.uk
This is a really interesting read on how policy works
David Higham@oldtrotter.bsky.social · last yr.A fascinating, and accurate, piece of research which gives the lie to the (now) common complaint that the civil service is too slow/seeks to frustrate the delivery of ministers’ objectives open.substack.com/pub/ukcivils...
Fancy working with me? Want to do messy, community-led research with communities in Clackmannanshire? Then do I have the job for you! www.stir.ac.uk/about/work-a...
Vacancy details | About | University of Stirling
Job vacancy at the University of Stirling.
stir.ac.uk
Really ironic after years of under investment in core cities outside London
The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.Sadiq Khan warns ministers not to ‘put our towns and cities against each other’
Please submit papers and join us to discuss class and TV on 19th September in Leeds!
What’s on? Rethinking class in the television industry.@whatsontvclass.bsky.social · last yr.We are super excited to have a CFP out for our upcoming What's On Symposium at @leedsunimedia.bsky.social on 19th September 2025! See all details below Deadline to apply: 4th July. Looking forward to reading your proposals!
Thank you to @uomcreativemcr.bsky.social for recording the Pandemic Culture book launch symposium. @benwalmsley.bsky.social was joined by fellow co-editors @abigilmore.bsky.social and @drdaveobrien.bsky.social to reflect upon the book’s themes and research findings. youtu.be/_2o0pKDpuSw?...
'Pandemic Culture' Book Launch & Symposium (17 September 2024)
YouTube video by School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
youtu.be
Delighted to have our chapter on bullying in the arts published in this brilliant collection
Senior TV producers take shelf-stacking jobs as UK industry remains in crisis www.theguardian.com/media/2025/m...
Senior TV producers take shelf-stacking jobs as UK industry remains in crisis
Experienced figures doing entry-level roles amid prolonged work drought since Covid and rise of online content
theguardian.com
Good advice from William Hague on Laura Kuenssberg that the government will have to invest more in higher education if it wants a strong economy
Register for the ICOM UK conference on Regenerative Museums and Sustainable Futures, in Liverpool 1-2 May uk.icom.museum/registration...
REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN for the ICOM UK Annual Conference 2025:"Regenerative Museums for Sustainable Futures" - ICOM UK
ICOM UK is excited to announce that registrations are now open for its highly anticipated Annual Conference 2025, set to take place in Liverpool on 1 & 2 May 2025. This year’s conference, “Regenerativ...
uk.icom.museum
Fantastic outcome for our wonderful cultural partners - couldn’t be happier for them and us to see this pioneering development on our campus
University of Leeds@universityofleeds.bsky.social · 2y agoThe National Poetry Centre welcomes a £5 million government investment 🎉 The investment will transform the iconic Trinity St David’s church on Woodhouse Lane into the UK’s first dedicated national cultural centre for poetry 📚 Read the full story 👇 www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/n...
Sophisticated analysis here arguing for the long read of what appear to be abrupt turning points in history www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Are we at a turning point in world history? | David Motadel
Political leaders increasingly caution that we are facing a historical ‘inflection point’. Are we?
theguardian.com
Some powerful arguments & messages from the National Theatre launch of its report on business model innovation in the performing arts - including the truism that the cultural sector has the most power when it speaks to policymakers with one voice
