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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

351 Followers  |  224 Following  |  36 Posts  |  Joined: 18.11.2024
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Posts by Ben Walmsley (@benwalmsley.bsky.social)

No uplift for the 5 national companies though sadly

14.01.2026 14:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment Exclusive: Trinity Hall’s new policy described as a β€˜slap in the face’ for state-educated students

Utterly shameful
www.theguardian.com/education/20...

07.01.2026 23:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Be great to see a case study on creative health in here - huge & growing interest in combined and local authorities in this area

11.12.2025 11:36 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I say the same to my students lol

18.11.2025 14:45 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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What makes a national theatre? National theatres play a crucial role in a country’s cultural landscape. The artistic leaders of six institutions talk to Natasha Tripney about their priorities and the challenges they face

www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/w...

30.10.2025 10:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Congratulations Alice!

16.10.2025 08:49 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@nickbarley.bsky.social

12.09.2025 03:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wealth tax needed to help working people and avoid threat from Reform, says union chief Exclusive: Paul Novak says Rachel Reeves should β€˜stay the course’ on plans for investment

Yes indeed!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

04.09.2025 05:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Publications aimed at LGBTQ+ audiences face discrimination from advertisers, editors warn Media figures say β€˜gold rush is over’, as attacks on diversity and inclusion have led to some advertisers avoiding outlets

β€œBrand safety” aka β€œgood old-fashioned discrimination”
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...

31.08.2025 06:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Outrage as Spanish town bans Muslim religious festivals from public spaces Conservative People’s party in Jumilla votes to stop civic centres and gyms being used for activities β€˜alien to our identity’

Horrific
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

06.08.2025 18:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Policy Leeds Policy Leeds builds relationships between policy professionals and researchers to inform effective public policy development and tackle major societal challenges.

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

05.08.2025 09:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Steph Houghton smiling in graduation gown and bonnet

Steph Houghton smiling in graduation gown and bonnet

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 πŸ‘‡

www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/n...

25.07.2025 14:10 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

17.07.2025 17:54 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The diplomacy of art: Bayeux tapestry loan shows cultural gifts still matter History is full of examples of artworks being used to express things diplomats would be forbidden to say

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

11.07.2025 15:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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...

11.07.2025 10:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Reform councillor’s boast about removing β€˜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

Pretty much sums up this tawdry debate www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

04.07.2025 23:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Looking good! Can testify wholeheartedly how brilliant Culture Commons are as policy partners

27.06.2025 14:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Deeply depressing

27.06.2025 08:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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!

25.06.2025 17:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Could hear it from my garden!

24.06.2025 17:53 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Creative Industries Sector Plan launched today as part of the industrial strategy assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68586c...

23.06.2025 09:51 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Cat power

19.06.2025 16:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

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-...

18.06.2025 13:14 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That was a hug more than a like!

18.06.2025 14:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

This is a really interesting read on how policy works

13.06.2025 05:58 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Vacancy details | About | University of Stirling Job vacancy at the University of Stirling.

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...

10.06.2025 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Really ironic after years of under investment in core cities outside London

12.06.2025 18:20 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Please submit papers and join us to discuss class and TV on 19th September in Leeds!

02.06.2025 14:11 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Kemi Badenoch says she does not speak to women in burqas at constituency surgery Tory leader says there are β€˜more insidious’ issues but she asks people who attend her surgery to remove face coverings

Tell you all you need to know www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

08.06.2025 21:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
'Pandemic Culture' Book Launch & Symposium (17 September 2024)
YouTube video by School of Arts, Languages and Cultures 'Pandemic Culture' Book Launch & Symposium (17 September 2024)

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?...

30.04.2025 08:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1