AGP Executive Report

Books and Free Expression: Sally Rooney and publisher Faber say her books will no longer be sold in the UK, after she voiced continued support for Palestine Action. Rooney says fulfilling UK publishing contracts could now risk a criminal offence. Arts Funding: Scotland’s National Orchestra faces what it calls its most serious challenges in a generation, while campaigners urge ministers to help creatives facing eviction from arts spaces. Shared Histories: A new Glasgow exhibition will explore the connections between Scotland and South Asia through textiles. Local Culture: Hexham has been named the UK’s first Arts Town, as Bradford’s City of Culture legacy continues through new creative projects.

Doctor Who and AI: Russell T Davies called BBC director-general Matt Brittin’s praise for an AI-made episode “clumsy”, warning that writers and artists are first to feel the impact. Music and Equality: A new London study finds Black music events face disproportionate licensing restrictions, with an estimated £127m–£141m in annual spending lost. Football and Racism: Swansea reported alleged racist abuse aimed at winger Ji-sung Eom during its match at Millwall; the game was paused while officials responded. BBC Scotland: A report says around 60 jobs could go, including presenter roles at Radio Scotland, raising concerns about cuts to local broadcasting. Museum Access: The British Museum has extended viewing hours for the Bayeux Tapestry after visitors criticised access arrangements.

Bake Off: Molly was sent home during Bread Week, while Tom claimed Star Baker for the second time. Viewers also called Paul Hollywood’s flatbread challenge “cruel” after several bakes came out raw. Medieval Britain: Ancient teeth show that lead mining was under way in Derbyshire’s Peak District by the mid-7th century, exposing local children to pollution. Roman Heritage: A reconstructed drinking cup, thought to have been placed in a toddler’s grave to sustain them in the afterlife, is now on display at Cirencester’s Corinium Museum. Young Creatives: The National Railway Museum has opened its third photography competition to UK residents aged 25 and under, with winning work to be shown in York and Shildon next year. Arts Across England: Arts Council England visited Tendring to see how investment is supporting local venues, festivals and community projects.

Screen & Culture: The BBC has commissioned a two-part J.K. Rowling documentary, charting the author’s rise and examining her views on feminism, free speech and gender identity. British producers are also securing a run of major international reality commissions. Heritage: Northern Ireland is providing £200,000 for urgent repairs to listed churches, while V&A Dundee has appointed four board members ahead of its 2028 anniversary and gallery revamp. Food & Drink: A century of Good Housekeeping recipes shows UK seafood tastes narrowing to five favourites: cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns. Community-owned Highland distillery Glenwyvis has entered administration after failing to secure funding; production has stopped. On the High Street: Collectible-toy brand Pop Mart is opening its first Newcastle store on Friday, with queues expected. Arts & Wellbeing: Charlotte Church’s Welsh healing retreat, The Dreaming, will pause its work in December as the team reassesses what it offers.

Press Freedom: Reporters Without Borders has set out 10 tests for the government, including stronger support for independent journalism and safeguards against online misinformation. Black British History: At a Downing Street reception, Andy Burnham said Black history should be taught in schools and recognised as part of Britain’s story. African Cinema: Producer Mo Abudu has opened a London cultural centre with a cinema dedicated to African film and Black culture, aiming to bring more African stories to UK audiences. Heritage: As the Battle of Hastings anniversary approaches, flowers still arrive at Battle Abbey, while Saxon shires, churches and place names show how deeply that earlier history remains woven into England. Local Arts: Haywards Heath plans a new £4.9m cultural venue, with a theatre, cinema and community space, as part of the redevelopment of the former Clair Hall site. Rising Talent: Scottish teen Darya Goulds is heading to a London event celebrating The Phantom of the Opera after her karaoke performance went viral.

Winter Wellbeing: With darker mornings affecting energy and mood, health experts recommend a steady wake-up time, bright lights and some movement to start the day. On Screen: Luke Evans says ITV thriller The Party, launched last night, shines a light on Britain’s enduring class divide and the advantages of being “born with a silver spoon”. Youth & Society: Two Oxfordshire schoolgirls have launched a petition to ban school uniforms from pornography, after students described harassment while wearing them. Arts Spaces: Summerhall Arts is urging developers to repair, not demolish, historic parts of the Edinburgh venue, warning their loss would damage the city’s arts scene. African Culture: EbonyLife Place has opened in London, combining film, art, fashion and music, with the UK’s only cinema dedicated to African and Black film. Scotland’s Rainforest: Conservation groups warn that short-term funding, pollution and hotter, drier summers threaten restoration efforts.

Campus Debate: Cambridge students have launched a free-speech society and a fortnightly journal, saying the university needs more open discussion across differing views. Welsh Television: ITV’s new drama The Party, starring Luke Evans, was filmed across Wales, including Cardiff, Port Talbot, Bridgend and Swansea. On Stage: Anne-Marie Duff returns to the National Theatre in Some Women after taking two years away from work to care for her family. BBC Scotland: Reporting Scotland presenter Anne McAlpine is leaving after 14 years as the broadcaster plans to cut 60 roles north of the border. Food & Health: A UK dietitian warns that chasing very high protein targets can crowd out a balanced diet; a recent survey found half of respondents had deliberately increased their protein intake. Arts: Tate Britain’s new exhibition explores 1990s art and fashion, while a new African Film and Cultural Centre has opened in London.

Wellness: Sauna is booming, and scientists are taking a closer look at whether heat exposure can offer health benefits. Yoga, meanwhile, is losing ground: participation in England has slipped since 2019, while London studios have closed. Heritage: Archaeologists in Perth may have found masonry from a 16th-century monastery reused in an old hospital drain. Wildlife: Corncrake chicks filmed on Rathlin Island mark a breeding success for one of Northern Ireland’s rarest birds, with farmers and volunteers praised for helping the species. Film: The UK Jewish Film Festival marks its 30th anniversary with a nationwide programme celebrating Jewish life; films will also stream from November 18 to 30. Life in Britain: An American mother in the Cotswolds reflects on adapting to village life, from school-gate etiquette to raising children with British accents. Festive shopping: Meghan Markle’s new £112 advent calendar is not available to UK customers, despite her recent return to Britain.

Arts Access: Shakespeare’s Globe has been criticised for charging private schools more than state schools for student visits: £14 compared with £12 per pupil. The National Space Academy also charges state schools less for its workshops. Music Heritage: The Kinks’ legacy is back in focus, from the fuzzed-up guitar sound of “You Really Got Me” to a 26-album career that helped shape British rock. Food & Lifestyle: London’s BOXHALL City is hosting a plant-based spin on the chippie, pairing British favourites with Caribbean flavours from family-run Jam Delish. Screen: BBC drama Blue Lights is winning praise for bringing Northern Ireland’s social and political complexities to the screen without losing sight of its characters. Art & Culture: Tate Britain’s major exhibition on 1990s art and fashion puts a defining era of British creativity in the spotlight. Wellbeing: Prince William marked World Mental Health Day by urging people to check in on loved ones, saying a conversation can make a difference.

Arts & Film: Mo Abudu has opened EbonyLife Place in London, a new centre dedicated to African film and Black culture, with a cinema aimed at bringing more African stories to UK audiences. Gaelic Culture: Glasgow’s Royal National Mòd is under way, drawing around 10,000 visitors for nine days of Gaelic music, arts and events, with record numbers taking part. Mental Health: For World Mental Health Day, Prince William urged people to check in on loved ones, saying a simple conversation can offer hope. Northern Ireland: The UK government has banned the controversial Orange Order parade along Garvaghy Road, prompting relief among residents after weeks of tension. What’s On: Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival returns for half-term from October 26 to 31, with performances and family events across the town.

Wellbeing & Nature: A New Forest initiative is making it easier to find walks, gardening, arts and volunteering that support health and connection, with the National Park’s green spaces estimated to save £27m in healthcare costs each year. Northern Ireland: Secretary of State Chris Bryant has banned the disputed Orange Order parade along Garvaghy Road after talks failed and police warned of a serious risk of disorder. Arts & Representation: Nigerian media leader Mo Abudu is opening EbonyLife Place in London, a new cultural centre with a cinema dedicated to African film and Black culture. TV: Celebrity Traitors has banished Coronation Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, leaving viewers reeling after another tense round table. Neurodiversity: A government-commissioned review says rising ADHD and autism diagnoses may reflect years of missed cases, but warns that rushed or commercialised assessments could increase the risk of misdiagnosis.

Mental Wellbeing: Only one in 10 people in Britain feel comfortable stepping in when worried about someone’s wellbeing, a Samaritans-commissioned study found. A London campaign is using pavement messages to encourage people to reach out. Community Culture: Great Yarmouth is asking residents to help shape its bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028, with a public event on Saturday. Northern Ireland has launched ten music experiences, from céilí dancing to local music tours, building on the Fleadh’s legacy. Arts & Heritage: A new Redditch programme will offer training and collaboration opportunities to strengthen the local arts sector. In London, a National Portrait Gallery exhibition explores LGBTQ+ identity and history, including a nude portrait of Harry Styles by Tim Walker. Food & Nature: A new guide names Inver on Loch Fyne Scotland’s best restaurant, praising its modern take on Scottish cuisine. Northern Ireland’s resilient “Bendy” wych elm has also been voted UK Tree of the Year.

Sporting Culture: A Scottish teacher’s Eagles fandom has turned into a classroom project, with pupils cheering as she secured tickets to the team’s London game. Higher Education: The University of Nottingham plans major restructuring, with about 500 jobs affected and full degrees in music and modern languages cut amid sector-wide financial strain. Work & Wellbeing: More than half of UK professionals say they feel burnt out, with understaffing and heavier workloads among the main pressures. Climate & Cost of Living: A potentially very strong El Niño is raising concerns about Britain’s winter weather, food supplies and energy costs. Heritage: Benin artefacts returned to Britain are set to go on public display, while a 150-year-old “Bendy” elm in Northern Ireland has been named the UK’s Tree of the Year. Art & Fashion: Tate Britain’s new exhibition revisits the inventive style of 1990s art and fashion.

Arts Access: A York theatre company will take a free show to six North Yorkshire libraries this month, bringing live performance to families who may face travel or ticket-cost barriers. Sport & Culture: Manchester’s Co-op Live will host the Netball World Cup in 2031, marking England’s fourth time staging the tournament. Heritage: A 150-year-old “Bendy” wych elm in County Down has been named UK Tree of the Year after surviving storms, disease and development pressure. Music: Liverpool’s Cavern Club, closely tied to the Beatles’ rise, has been sold, opening a new chapter for the landmark venue. Society: Reform UK’s call for a debate on banning face coverings in Scotland has drawn accusations of stoking division, with campaigners planning to protest outside Holyrood. On the screen: The BBC and Channel 4 have reportedly discussed a joint venture that could bring parts of their streaming and entertainment services together.

Gardens: After the UK’s hottest summer on record, the RHS expects a bumper variety of mushrooms this autumn if wet weather continues, and says most fungi are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Identity: Fashion designer Ozwald Boateng says Britain is gripped by a “crisis of confidence”, arguing that people should embrace the new ideas brought by immigration. Glasgow culture: New murals near Central Station celebrate the city’s landmarks, humour and identity. Community heritage: Liverpool is getting a mural honouring Lord Woodbine, the Trinidad-born musician and Jacaranda Club manager who helped shape the Beatles’ early story. Faith and community: Glasgow’s Catholic archdiocese plans to close 24 churches as congregations shrink and the number of active priests falls. Cost of living: A Glasgow community event offered families advice on poverty, energy bills and household costs.

Northern Ireland Politics & Health: The ABPI urges the next Northern Ireland government to make the region a “beacon” for access to health innovations ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Irish Unity Debate: SDLP figures say an Irish unity referendum “cannot be declared off the table”, pointing to the Good Friday Agreement’s consent principle and warning against repeating Brexit-style process failures. Northern Ireland Culture Clash: Garvaghy Road residents’ legal fight over Drumcree support grows, with major names including Noel Gallagher, Johnny Marr, Susan Sarandon and Kneecap backing the campaign as the Court of Appeal reserves judgment. Music & Venues: AEG and Virgin Media O2 extend The O2 naming rights to 2038, with Priority access perks for O2 customers and more tickets via Priority Tickets. Books & Global Culture: Korean publishers expand rights outreach at the Frankfurt Book Fair, pitching deals and pushing K-Book Global 100 titles for international translation and marketing. Arts & Fashion: Tate Britain opens “The 90s: Art and Fashion”, with a starry launch led by Emma Thynn in a replica of Kate Moss’s iconic “naked dress”. UK Life & Money: HMRC updates an online tool to help pensioners estimate whether they’ll owe Income Tax on pension income. Wales Heritage: The National Wool Museum marks 50 years preserving west Wales’ textile skills and historic machinery. Travel & Lifestyle: Ottawa’s 200-year celebrations spotlight politics, heritage and new experiences, with fresh London Gatwick flights making the Canadian capital easier to reach.