Tag Archives: culture

Spring budget | Retail restart support, extended furlough, and £300m more for the Culture Recovery Fund

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A restart programme to support retailers reopening next month and a £300 million culture recovery fund have been announced in a budget described as the Government’s “use of the full fiscal firepower of the country,” by Chancellor Rishi Sunak this afternoon.

Among the first issues addressed by Sunak as he outline the plans for the 2021 budget – billed as a ‘budget of our time’ – as England makes its preparations to ease out of lockdown, was the return to business for the country’s non-essential retailers.

Under a Restart Programme described by Sunak, non-essential retailers who will be on track to have suffered a 17 week closure through the country’s third lockdown, will be offered a £6,000 grant to help them get them moving forward again.

The support will be part of a £5 billion scheme for businesses across the country, adding to the total direct cash support system for business to now total £25bn over the course of the pandemic.

For hospitality and leisure businesses, the grant has been increased to £18,000 in accordance to the staggered re-opening and social restrictions that will be enforced as they return to operation. Business rates for such businesses will remain 100 per cent suspended for these businesses for the next three months, at which point rates will be discounted by two thirds for the remaining nine months of the year.

Meanwhile, the Culture Recovery Fund which provides financial support for music venues, independent cinemas, museums, galleries, theatres, and heritage sites as they weather the financial storm of the pandemic, will receive a boost of £300 million.

The first recipients of support from a fun that now totals £1.87bn were detail in October last year, with over 1,385 theatres, museums, and cultural organisations across England benefitting from a £257 million share of the fund.

The Prime Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown has also raised hopes around the return of the live music scene, with June 21st earmarked as the date of full relaxation on any and all coronavirus restrictions.

Elsewhere, a final key point to have arisen in Sunak’s afternoon budget address was the introduction of a increase to corporation tax from 2023 to 25 per cent. The tax will be applied to profits of the businesses in excess of £250,000. Companies with profits of less than £50,000 will remain at 19 per cent corporation tax.

“It’s a tax rise on company profits, but only on the larger more profitable companies, and only in two years’ time,” said Sunak.

The Chancellor also went on to confirm that the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of September with employees set to continue to receive 80 per cent of their wages until the scheme ends, but with firms asked to contribute 10 per cent in July, and 20 per cent in August and September as it begins to wind down.

Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of retail industry charity retailTRUST, said: “Retail will have an absolutely vital role to play in tackling issues like youth employment and social mobility as we move out of this crisis so decisions taken now will not only protect vital jobs and businesses, but the social, economic and cultural importance of the sector to the UK. 

“People working in retail have been hit hard financially, emotionally and physically during the entire course of the pandemic. They have had to cope with extremely difficult changes in their working conditions, livelihoods have been placed on hold during the lockdown periods, and, very sadly, tens of thousands of people have been left with no jobs to return to due to the pandemic’s devastating impact on shops and businesses up and down the country. This has led to record demand for retailTRUST’s services.

“It is essential that the government and businesses now work together to safeguard our colleagues’ long-term interests and their wellbeing. And as a sector, we all have a responsibility to come together and make the most of initiatives which will help to protect, support and create roles.”

The University of Cambridge appoints Plus Licens AB as European licensing agency

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The University of Cambridge has appointed Plus Licens AB as its new European licensing agent as part of the establishment’s plans to build its licensing programme outside of the UK.

Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the fourth-oldest university in the world with alumni including 110 Nobel Prize Laureates, 47 Heads of State and 190 Olympic Medalists.

Rich in history, the University’s famous Colleges and University buildings attract visitors from all over the world, while its museums and collections hold treasures that offer an exciting insight into some of the scholarly activities, both past and present, of the University’s academics and students.

With alumni that include Newton, Keynes, Hawking and Darwin, Cambridge has always been and continues to be a place of where curious minds make great discoveries including gravity, DNA and evolution to name a few.

Len Dunne, CEO, Fitzwilliam Museum Enterprises, said: “FME Ltd manages both the University trademark programme and the commercial rights of the rich collections of its museums.

“In the UK, FME Ltd has retail, online (CuratingCambridge.com), wholesale and licensing divisions and, with the support of Plus Licens, it would like to give the opportunity to the rest of the European based licensees and consumers to enjoy a unique Cambridge experience. It is proud to be working with Plus Licens, its very first licensing agent for the territory.”

Eva Brännström, executive vice president, Plus Licens AB, added: “We are extremely proud and happy to have been appointed the pan-European agent by University of Cambridge. The University and the great museums represent everything that the world needs now more than ever: education, history, art and science.

“Plus Licens is committed to long term relationships and we now look forward to start a brand program based on the good values and fantastic art programs available from The University of Cambridge.”

Historic Environment Scotland taps Kirkwall jewellers Ortak for handmade trinkets and gifts

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Historic Environment Scotland has signed a new licensing agreement with the Kirkwall-based jewellery manufacturer Ortak ltd to produce a range of handmade, branded jewellery and giftware.

As part of its portfolio, HES manages the licensing programme for a portfolio including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Historic Scotland. Each programme reflects HES’ brand values – with revenue from products sold helping to directly support the work HES does to investigate, care for, and promote Scotland’s historic environment.

Ortak Ltd owner, Michael Gardens, said: “The Ortak team is looking forward to working with HES on this exciting new venture.  This amazing opportunity to offer HES branded jewellery and giftware to our customers all over the world has come at an opportune time when online sales have soared.”

The new deal will see Ortak sell HES branded items across its Orkney and Cairness stores, while for the first time it will be able to sell HES products directly to trade.

Gardens added: “Building on our green credentials and protecting the environment are basically ingrained into the Orcadian DNA, with Orkney being at the forefront of renewable technology. We also use Fair trade silver and gold and ethically sourced stones and packaging. 

“For six decades Ortak’s designers have used inspiration from the historic and natural world and now this agreement will enable us to put something back and allow us to help further celebrate Scotland’s history.”

Natasha Troitino, head of retail at HES, said: “We are delighted to have signed this license with one of Scotland’s best known jewellery brands. It is a great addition to our portfolio, and we look forward to working together with Ortak to develop these beautiful ranges.”

HES currently cares for more than 300 properties ranging from the Edinburgh and Stirling Castles, with their ancient royal histories, to prehistoric sites such as Skara Brae in Orkney. HES’s iconic sites are the setting for many films and TV programmes including Outlander, Monty Python and Mary Queen of Scots. 

As Scotland’s lead body for the historic environment, HES supports the wider historic environment in several important ways, from championing traditional skills to supporting learning and outreach. It also cares for thousands of objects and photographs and is at the forefront of activity to help mitigate the impact of climate change on the historic environment. 

ARTiSTORY appoints Georgina Heatley as new licensing and editorial assistant

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The cultural IP licensing unit, ARTiSTORY has appointed Georgina Heatley as its new licensing and editorial assistant, joining co-founders Yizan He and Natasha Dyson on the mission to ‘transform artefacts to merchandise.’

As part of the business’ endeavour, ARTiSTORY sets out to reach global audiences with well designed merchandise that is inspired by art and culture, offering an immersive retailing experience and telling stories via digital content and pop-up exhibitions.

The team is focused on helping cultural organisations ‘go beyond the walls of their buildings and expand their reach to a much wider audience,’ while generating sustainable revenue that can be used to support their operations.

“We’re thrilled to have Georgina on board,” said Natasha Dyson on behalf of the team. “Georgina shares ARTiSTORY’s passion for storytelling, art, history and cultural heritage with experience gained in both the licensing and heritage sectors, having worked with a wealth of licensees at Historic Royal Palaces. 

“Georgina’s role will see her working closely with the creative team researching artefacts across a range of the world’s top cultural organisations to develop design themes and assets.”

Georgina Heatley, licensing and editorial assistant, added: “I am honoured and excited to be joining ARTiSTORY as the licensing and editorial assistant. With my background as an Archaeologist and Sociocultural Historian, and previous role in heritage licensing with Historic Royal Palaces, ARTiSTORY’s mission and values resonate closely with my own.

“Learning and sharing history, art and culture through stories is a skill and tradition shared globally. I am looking forward to bringing this into merchandise, experiences and creative themes and trends with a some of the world’s top art and culture organisations from museums and galleries to science centres and libraries.”

Condé Nast to open first immersive beauty specialist Allure Store in New York City

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Condé Nast has detailed the upcoming launch of its first Allure Store to New York City’s Lafayette Street, billing the concept store as an immersive shopping experience that will feature a curated selection of the world’s best beauty products, led by Allure’s own trusted editorial voice.

The Allure Store will open as a stand-alone brick and mortar store, in partnership with STÔUR Group and will bring a physical touchpoint to the Allure offering, inviting shoppers and the beauty community at large to join the brand’s audience of over 25 million readers.

Allure is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year having seen a 20 per cent year on year increase in traffic and a 25 per cent year on year increase in time spent – a reflection, it states, of how consumers are increasingly reliant on the insights and product recommendations from trusted beauty experts.

“The Allure audience has shown that it’s intensely loyal and trusts our expertise – something we are so grateful for. We’re thrilled that the Allure Store provides us with the opportunity to really connect with them, and to truly bring the brand to life,” said Michelle Lee, Allure’s editor in chief.

“This space will allow us to introduce our brand to new beauty enthusiasts and expand the Allure family.”

The store has been designed to ’embody the future of retail’ and crafted to ‘reflect Allure’s print and digital experience while integrating the brand’s unparalleled expertise’. The store will offer the best of makeup, haircare, and skincare brands that have been featured in Allure.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Allure Store, designed to bring the brand to life with a unique and immersive shopping environment where customers can shop by Allure’s globally respected headlines for a truly seamless experience,” said Markus Grindel, managing director, global brand licensing.

“The store marks an expansion of our direct-to-consumer experiences across the globe, and we hope that this news excites those looking ahead to when in-store shopping resumes.”

Spanning 2,900 square feet over two floors, the store shelves will mirror Allure’s content themes including the iconic Best of Beauty Awards, with seasonal product changes. The store will implement augmented reality capabilities for customers to try on products, as well as smart mirrors, and will be a hub for content creation. In addition to shopping, Allure’s editorial team will regularly host in-store events, tutorials and masterclasses.

The Allure Beauty Box, a handpicked selection of editor-approved beauty products that launched in 2012, has been a success among subscribers, with revenue up 20 per cent year on year.

The Allure Store will open its doors on Lafayette Street in New York City in Fall 2021. Allure is published in the U.S. by Condé Nast and in South Korea under license agreement with Doosan Group.

Poetic Brands teams with the National Gallery to launch art inspired apparel and accessories

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Apparel licensee, Poetic Brands, has teamed up with the National Gallery to create a range of adult apparel and accessories based on its impressive and extensive artworks.

Incorporating a wide range of products, including adult daywear apparel and outerwear, swimwear, flip flops, beach bags and towels, adult nightwear and essentials, and accessories including caps and luggage, the move has been made in response to the growing interest in art in the licensed fashion sector.

The National Gallery was founded in 1824 and houses over 2,600 paintings from the late 13th to the early 20th century in Trafalgar Square. With one of the greatest collections of art in the world, the Gallery displays many world-famous works, such as van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait, Velázquez’s The Rokeby Venus, Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Anne Bradford, director, Poetic Brands, said: “Over the past year we have seen a significant interest in art within the fast fashion segment of the industry and subsequent demand across the High Street. The National Gallery offers us a wealth of assets from a number of artists that translate beautifully onto apparel and nightwear. 

“We are also developing luggage which although isn’t hugely in demand at the moment, the time will come when we are all travelling again and this collection will provide premium, and easily identifiable pieces for consumers to be proud of on the carousel.

“Working closely with the team at the National Gallery, we have ensured that their art collection has in turn created a fashion collection that is already very much in demand.”

Judith Mather, buying and brand licensing director, the National Gallery, added: “We are very excited about the partnership with Poetic Brands which will bring old master paintings to a new audience. It is amazing to bring our collection to modern life.”

Cityneon partners with Museo Larco to introduce Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

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The exhibition and live event specialist, Cityneon Holdings has entered into an agreement with Museo Larco and Inkaterra Asociacion, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Peru, to debut an exhibition of over 200 piece of rare artefacts from Peru that pre-date the Inca empire.

Called Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, the exhibition will feature pieces that are valued at around $250 million and will travel to various cities around the world.

Partnering with World Heritage Exhibitions as the exclusive global show operator and promoter, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will feature the largest gold collection to travel the world. It will also include a virtual walkthrough of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu.

Recent restrictions put in place to preserve the invaluable historical site, fewer than 1 million travellers are allowed entry into Machu Picchu every year. With the recent global pandemic situation, the need for social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, this number has further dipped to 250,000.

In Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, visitors will be treated to the story of the transformation of dozens of ancient cultures in Peru, starting with the Chavín culture, one of the earliest civilizations in the Americas, and stretching 3,000 years to the discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham III in 1911.

The highlight of the exhibition is a fully intact Gold attire of a Chimú emperor, that dates back to 1300 AD. The Chimú empire was born from the previous Moche state in the northern coast of Peru, centuries before the expansion of the Inca empire, that formed the largest empire of the Southern Hemisphere.

The Chimú attire is the expression of an imperial body dressed in gold, channelling the power of the Sun, representing this Andean God on earth, and it will be surrounded by more than 10 earlier royal gold and silver ancestral attires from the land of the Incas.

Ron Tan, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Cityneon, said: “We are honoured to be trusted by Museo Larco and the Government of Peru to showcase these treasures to the world. We believe our expertise and track records will let us do justice to these remarkable pieces of rare Machu Picchu artefacts and allow us to take visitors through big, wonderful experiences.

“We are thankful to work with partners as established as the Museo Larco, Inkaterra Asociación and World Heritage Exhibitions. Together, we are confident to showcase this thrilling exhibition about the ancient cultures who lived in this city 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains.”

With the limited entertainment options available as the world recovers from the unprecedented global pandemic situation, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will differentiate itself as a safe entertainment option due to the sheer size of the exhibition spanning over 1,500 square meters, allowing social distancing between visitors while they savour the 228 pieces of original Peruvian artefacts.

José Koechlin Von Stein, president of Inkaterra Asociación, added: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Cityneon. Their track records of holding interactive exhibitions means Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will be just as engaging as all their previous works, and we look forward to hosting millions at this historical, educational and fun exhibition while visitors learn about Peruvian history.

“We trust Cityneon’s vast expertise will truly bring ancient Peru to life.”

Andrés Alvarez-Calderón Larco, president of Museo Larco said: “We’re incredibly proud of our rich history and trust that Cityneon is the best partner to showcase the extraordinary and rich history of ancient Peru, bringing to life the various cultures that have lived in the land of the Incas and Machu Picchu over an astounding 5,000 years. We cannot wait for people all over the world to view these amazingly preserved artefacts up close.”

To hold the exhibition, Cityneon has assembled an experienced global team who would be able to handle the historical treasures. The Group’s subsidiary Victory Hill Exhibitions holds the world’s largest market share of Hollywood exhibition IPs globally, and it will make use of its vast industry experience in the curation of intellectual property in the travelling museums artefacts space.

The Red Arrows to publish its official history with Penguin Random House’s Century

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The world-famous aerobatics display team division of the Royal Air Force, The Red Arrows, is to publish its official history with Century, an imprint of Penguin Random House, thanks to a new deal brokered by IMG. The book will be published in hardback, audio, and e-book on April 29th, 2021.

Called the Red Arrows: The Story of Britain’s Iconic Display Team, the title is written by head of the Red Arrows, Wing Commander David Montenegro, a former Red 1 and Red Arrows team leader. The title will feature tales from Red Arrows pilots, past and present, as it celebrates the division’s history of courage, daring, and skill of the past 50 years.

The book will also provide an insight on how the team represents the RAF and the United Kingdom around the world, its important role and work.

David Montenegro, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, said: “Ever since our first dynamic display, the Red Arrows has aimed to inspire and enthrall through precision and teamwork – showcasing the excellence of the Royal Air Force, worldwide.

“Much of this activity, and the strength and success of the team, is achieved through the tireless application, innovation and dedication of our highly-trained personnel – individuals who have served operationally, helping the RAF to secure the skies and protect our nation.

“I hope readers, who may have seen one of our nearly 5,000 displays since 1965, or perhaps just have an interest in high-performing teams, will gain a new, unique and colourful perspective on the Red Arrows. However, above all, I want to bring all of the excitement, speed and vibrancy synonymous with a world-class Red Arrows show to even more people through a book illustrating the very best of British.”

Jess Ballance, editor at Century, Penguin Random House, added: “We couldn’t be more proud and excited to be publishing The Red Arrows. It grants readers a fascinating pilot’s-eye perspective of what it means to fly in those iconic aircraft. This book is a true celebration of the Red Arrows, one of Britain’s national treasures, and their fascinating history, featuring personal stories from the people behind the planes and exploring the skills and incredible mindset of the world-class Red Arrows pilots.”

Ballance commissioned world rights to the project from IMG, the Ministry of Defence’s exclusive licensing representative.

Cornwall’s Beer Buddies details launch of Original Stormtrooper bottle opener range

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Cornwall’s own Beer Buddies – the designer and distributor of character wall-mounted bottle openers – is preparing to launch its fourth licensed product taking the form of the Original Stormtrooper from the first ever Star Wars film.

The launch arrives as the latest addition to Beer Buddies’ ICON range, a collection that to date features the likes of Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Judge Dredd Beer Buddies bottle openers.

The range was set to launch earlier this year, but suffered delays owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The company has now confirmed that its Original Stormtrooper line will launch on December 4th.

Based in Helston in Cornwall, Beer Buddies has become synonymous with the men’s gifting sector, and has been met with a surge in demand for product over the course of the year.

“We’ve been inundated with Star Wars fans wanting to know the release date,” said Richard House of Beer Buddies. “They don’t have long to wait now, December 4th is the day.”

 Like all Beer Buddies ranges,  the artwork for the packaging has been executed by the Falmouth designer and illustrator Elly Jahnz of Foxcub Studios.

“The packaging itself is very important to us for ecological reasons, we use virtually all cardboard and keep polystyrene and plastic to a minimum so its easily recyclable,” said House. “Once again, Elly from Foxclub Studios has done a brilliant job.”

The Stormtrooper project has taken a year to get this point as the company has had to work with extended production deadlines and transport delays due to the Covid restrictions.

“We think the wait has been worth it,” House concluded.

BlueSkye Licensing to develop family edutainment programme for best-selling book Prisoners of Geography

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BlueSkye Licensing has partnered with the independent publishing house Elliott & Thompson to develop a family edutainment franchise programme around the Sunday Times’ best-selling Prisonsers of Geography book series.

Written by Tim Marshall and first published in 2015, Prisoners of Geography has sold upwards of 1.5 million copies to date with global retail sales now exceeding $20 million. The book combines geography, history, and politics in an informative and accessible way. A sequel, The Power of Geography has already been scheduled for 2021.

“Extending the franchise is a natural step forward for Tim’s books,” said Elliott and Thompson chairman, Lorne Forsyth, who has appointed Maggy Harris at BlueSkye to develop the family-centric digital and game based licensing programme.

The licensing programme will primarily focus on Tim’s extraordinary grasp of his subject matter, the factual content, and the beautiful illustrated edition artwork.

Harris said: “This franchise is a great  example of licensing opportunities coming from an ever increasing and broad range of  sources. ‘Prisoners of Geography’ fits perfectly into the huge demand for quality, factual, fun  family and digital entertainment which the 2020 lockdown world has accelerated …Tim’s  books provide fresh, timeless content for our changing times.” 

BlueSkye will target the family edutainment sector with a licensing programme that will be ‘perfect for fans of maps and facts’ and will encompass board games, strategy games, quizzes and puzzle games, as well as digital apps, experiential, gifts, stationery, posters and cards.

Creatively, licensees will be able to access multiple design assets  sourced from the stunning illustrated edition. 

Elliott and Thompson’s Lorne, added: “It is a timely and welcome business development opportunity. We are a growing publishing house at the heart of the creative independent  publishing sector. We look forward to working with Maggy, our licensed partners and Tim to  build a uniquely different, but successful, multimedia franchise.”