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Trevor MacFarlane

@trevormacf.bsky.social
155 followers 343 following 42 posts

Founder CEO of Culture Commons Former Advisor to senior Labour politicians Senior Researcher at Labour Together Fellow of Royal Society of Arts IVLP Alumnus at US Department of State

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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
V grateful to @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social Steve Reed @lisanandymp.bsky.social @ianmurraymp.bsky.social & others in UK Gov for trusting us & having courage to add a new competence to the Bill like this👇 Thanks to a huge team of partners, mayors & parliamentarians who helped get this over the line.
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Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) @cgf-uk.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Congratulations @culturecommons.bsky.social @trevormacf.bsky.social for years of advocacy with Westminster, Mayors, peers and civil society. The achievement shifting this Bill signals recognition that culture is a cornerstone of local governance, strengthens communities and delivers public value.
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Over 100 works of art being put up for auction by (cash strapped) Reform-run Kent County Council. Kent Greens: "While the total financial value of the art is only around £35k, the historic and social value of the art, most of which depicts Kent, is far higher."
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Major news in education! #Arts #culture & #creativity will go back into the heart of the national curriculum in England 🙌 The UK Gov’s @departmentforedu.bsky.social has confirmed it will take forward major reforms proposed by Professor Becky Francis review www.culturecommons.uk/news/the-art...
culturecommons.uk
The arts will go back into the National Curriculum — Culture Commons
Following today’s publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review , led by Professor Rebecca Francis CBE, Culture Commons warmly welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to placing arts, culture a...
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
If we don’t embed culture, creativity and heritage into the DNA of the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill, we risk locking our sectors out of the frameworks that will shape investment, growth and social policy for a generation…👇
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
So sorry to hear of the passing of #PrunellaScales Sending my best wishes to Sam and Joseph West Their parents brought - and will continue to bring through the legacy they leave - a huge amount of joy to the nation
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
#NigelFarage needs a civics lesson. Calling for a “parliamentary court” is pure Trump cosplay. In Britain, we don’t do show trials - we do the rule of law. Justice depends on the separation of powers, not on populist stunts.
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Important publication! Wonderful to see culture creative & heritage infrastructures embedded in here in-line with @culturecommons.bsky.social recommendations! Thanks to Diane and the whole Taskforce for the detailed work on this
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
The UK Gov’s new ‘Pride in Place’ strategy is now a flagship policy £billions for neighbourhood renewal powers for communities #culture + #heritage in scope But will Neighbourhood Boards see our sectors as key enablers or add ons? We dig into the details 👉 www.culturecommons.uk/news/pride-i...
culturecommons.uk
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Last week, Director @trevormacf.bsky.social was hosted in #Riga by Latvia’s Minister for Culture, Agnese Lāce The discussion explored cultural #data, #devolution, inter-cultural #dialogue, and the future of #culturalrelations between the #UK and #Baltic states at a time of global uncertainty
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
We’re been working with the UK Government on the emergent Local Government Outcomes Framework @trevormacf.bsky.social has been advocating for the #creative #cultural & #heritage sectors to be well positioned in the key indicators More here👇 www.culturecommons.uk/news/local-g...
culturecommons.uk
Supporting the UK Government with a new national outcomes framework for local authorities — Culture Commons
Culture Commons has been attending a series of high level roundtables hosted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help support the development of the emergent Local Governme...
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Thank you to First Minister of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @johnswinney.bsky.social for the invitation to #Edinburgh today for his statement on #culture & the #creative industries Proud @culturecommons.bsky.social helped the National Performing Companies of Scotland secure a significant uplift in a recent gov budget
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Could you be a Trustee of National Museums Liverpool? They run several internationally recognised #museums & #art #galleries Looking for 4 new trustees with a range of skills - details below apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8886
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk
Appointment details – National Museums Liverpool, x4 Trustees – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Minister @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social endorses our recommendation to embed ‘cultural infrastructure’ into New Towns masterplanning www.culturecommons.uk/news/minster...
culturecommons.uk
Minster endorses our policy on cultural infrastructure for New Towns — Culture Commons
New Towns Taskforce report drawing on Culture Commons policy cited in an evidence session in a cross-party House of Lords committee.
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
#devolution news! Major Bill tabled with game-changing provisions for communities and mayors across England @culturecommons.bsky.social
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Sad to say but poor coverage of Macron #StateVisit by BBC tonight No sound, no translation, no relevant commentary following La #BBC peut faire mieux!
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
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
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
The UK Government have published the Sector Plan today. It sets out actions until 2035 and will play an important role in guiding policy for the coming years. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68586c...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
I remember having to stand in that separate queue…good to see them over
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Can an #economist help me with a Q on the #SpendingReview? Column showing % change “Phase 2 Period” for DEL spend in DCMS (see pic) doesn’t seem to add up. Should be -4% total and I can’t see why that might be…? Thanks in advance, smarter people than I
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akashpaun.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Ah this is interesting devo news. London will get an integrated settlement after all from next year. It'll be interesting to see how the model differs in London compared to the combined authorities, and whether it'll require constitutional change in the GLA-Council relationship to make it work
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Game-changing investment in social housing Angela Rayner + Chancellor will have worked v hard to secure this Cultural infrastructure can now empower communities to turn these new houses into homes 👀ing to DCMS & MHCLG to build joint investment progs to make it so! @culturecommons.bsky.social
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Below, the city bristles— All brick heat and bus brakes Above it all, this bloom, this breath Sits atop my windowsill.
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Such wonderful news for my home city of Manchester and the whole of the UK - a huge congratulations to @esmeward.bsky.social and the team at Manchester Museum! www.timeout.com/uk/news/its-...
timeout.com
It’s official: the best museum in Europe is in the UK
An unexpected British museum has been named the European Museum of the Year for 2025.
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
“responsible radicalism” …goes the death rattle of an entirely redundant party
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Dormant Assets Scheme Strategy
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
Liz Truss despises the UK so acutely that she ran our economy into the ground and is now running about telling everyone how awful we are Just staggering
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
“This century, GDP growth has been no guarantee of rising living standards, especially among lower-income households.” Governments are chasing the wrong rainbows - by Andy Haldane Will be tuning in next week… on.ft.com/43kZiEr
on.ft.com
Governments are chasing the wrong rainbows
Opportunity and upward mobility are more important than GDP growth
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
What a way to spend the bank holiday… ‘Firebird’ by Stravinsky @royalalberthall.bsky.social both filled & hurt my head & heart in equal measure
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Voter movements visualised to May 2025
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Need a pick me up? Heres the best interpretation of a #Rachmaninov Prelude you’ll hear today Most welcome open.spotify.com/track/0cSaAs...
open.spotify.com
Rachmaninov: 10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 5 in G Minor
Sergei Rachmaninoff, Nikolai Lugansky · Rachmaninov : Preludes Op.23 & Moments musicaux · Song · 2001
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
There is nothing unusual about memos containing policy options moving between senior government figures
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
"I'd only worked with one female director until a few years ago. Isn't that kind of amazing? After I've made 60 movies that I've barely ever worked with another woman?" Jodie Foster spotlighting how far we’ve to go on gender equality in the #film industry www.reuters.com/business/med...
reuters.com
Jodie Foster, in Cannes for new French film, prefers life outside US
Jodie Foster prefers to be outside the United States right now, the Oscar-winning actor told Reuters at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, citing better conditions in Europe's film industry as well as more freedom now that her children have grown up.
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Encouraging noises coming out of the UK-EU summit with #Erasmus+ participation now firmly on the table Uk Government can now drive towards removing those unnecessary barriers to reciprocal #touring Sharing cultural works with our nearest and nearest is absolutely in our national interest
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
This was inevitable and (in my humble view) could have come well before the recent local elections Sarmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in U-turn on.ft.com/4jZmMox
on.ft.com
Starmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in U-turn
UK prime minister tells MPs the government will change unpopular policy this year
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
“A deal…to allow British musicians and artists to tour the EU were in the Labour manifesto, and Brussels is offering to compromise on the latter.” via @FT All behind @Keir_Starmer getting EU touring sorted to boost growth at UK-EU summit 19 May on.ft.com/44zmXSG
on.ft.com
EU leaders urge Starmer to improve mobility deal in last ditch ‘reset’ talks
Prime minister will meet Macron and von der Leyen on Friday to iron out details
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
A nice policy briefing here from @natcen.bsky.social team on attitudes to #devolution in Sussex Some of the sentiments chime with findings we made @culturecommons.bsky.social as part of a major 4 nations open policy development programme examining ‘cultural devolution’ devolution.culturecommons.uk
devolution.culturecommons.uk
The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK - The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK​
The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK A major four nations research and open policy development programme Picture a renewed United Kingdom based on better relationships between governments, comm...
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Not seeing many strong arguments FOR allowing “posh ticket touting” (sic) @royalalberthall.bsky.social Governance and background quite unique, but the workaround to have non-used seats owned by Trustees being routed back through box office for general sale seem eminently sensible
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Graph of the day! Probability of political political parties winning the the upcoming Canadian election @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social has completely turned things around
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Seeing lots of inaccurate reporting on the @supremecourt.uk #SupremeCourt ruling today The ruling is on the Act as written It does not pass judgement on the morality or suitability of that law That’s for lawmakers to determine
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
We've published a new Discussion Paper. 📘 ’Culture-led capital projects: catalysing local decision making in place' It explores how #re-developing #heritage buildings can boost culture-led #regeneration and bring the public into decision making processes www.culturecommons.uk/publications... 1/2
culturecommons.uk
Culture-led capital projects: catalysing local decision making in place
This paper examines how culture-led capital development projects are creating new opportunities for local cultural decision making in the UK. Through an analysis of two live case studies – Docking Sta...
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Trevor MacFarlane @trevormacf.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
A significant day for #Devolution Greater Manchester & the West Midlands now have decision making powers over circa £1bn per year @culturecommons.bsky.social www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Integrated Settlements for 2025 to 2026
Details of Integrated Settlements for 2025 to 2026
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
The #devolution revolution is ramping up! If you're thinking about how it might impact on the #creative #cultural and #heritage sectors, this digital #policy portal is for you. We've spent a year researching & developing policy to help make the most of it: 💻 devolution.culturecommons.uk 👈
devolution.culturecommons.uk
The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK - The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK​
The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK A major four nations research and open policy development programme Picture a renewed United Kingdom based on better relationships between governments, comm...
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Culture Commons @culturecommons.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
We're calling on #UK #Government to include #cultural #infrastructure in masterplans for New Towns! The Ministry of #Housing, #Communities & #LocalGovernment will be building 1.5m new homes We want people moving in to have the assets they need to live their best lives devolution.culturecommons.uk
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