Architects in revolt over Olympic cash squeeze
Monday, 9 July 2007
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The cultural bigwigs over at the Arts Council are about to feel a shouty backlash from some of Britain's leading names in the world of architecture.
The Council, chaired by Sir Christopher Frayling, left, has announced that it has withdrawn funding for Architecture Week, the industry's leading festival. Held annually in London, the festival has in the past attracted such luminary speakers as Lord Foster of Thames Bank.
The move has, unsurprisingly, sparked off a furious reaction from some of the profession's most illustrious names. Lord Rogers of Riverside, right, designer of what was once known as the Millennium Dome, has denounced the move as "totally ridiculous".
Industry insiders reckon the withdrawal of the Council's £250,000 funding is yet further evidence of the squeeze currently being put on arts grants by the department of Culture, Media and Sport as a result of the ever-increasing cost of the London Olympics.
In February, Britain's oldest literary publication, The London Magazine, learnt that its annual £30,000 grant from the Arts Council was to be withdrawn. This cut was also attributed to a crackdown in funding in preparation for the 2012 games.
A spokesman for the Arts Council insists that the Olympics have played no part in their decision to axe Architecture Week, and claim the event is merely on hold for the moment while they "assess whether and how the existing format needs to be changed".
Bean's on the menu down the chippy
Before Hollywood came knocking, Sean Bean cut his teeth back in Britain playing an assortment of northern toughnuts.
Good to hear, then, that the gritty actor still likes to stay true to his roots.
Bean, I'm told, is a regular customer at the Broomhill Friery, a popular local chippy in his native Sheffield.
"Sean's in here quite a lot these days, not just because it's good, but also his sister works behind the counter," I am informed.
"He's usually wearing his Sheffield United shirt, so most people in there assume he's a local, rather than this Hollywood movie star."
The shop is apparently a favourite of those studying at the city's university. One particularly grubby Sheffield alumnus insists that its trademark dish of "chips, chilli and cheese" is excellent.
Editorial interference? Doh!
Bastions of journalistic independence are waiting with bated breath to see whether Rupert Murdoch starts poking his nose into editorial affairs at his impending acquisition, the Wall Street Journal.
Happily, workers at that other great train set belonging to "the digger", The Simpsons, needn't worry about such matters.
"Rupert can't get involved," says one of the show's principal cast members, Harry Shearer. "We had it written into our script that Fox weren't allowed to meddle with our scripts."
Shearer, who was attending the recent Arena O2 X awards, voices Mr Burns and Ned Flanders.
"In fact, I'm pretty sure the reason we've been so successful is because no one's been able to interfere," he added.
Party pooper
Things certainly are a little different over at The Spectator ever since "bonking Boris" Johnson vacated the editor's chair.
None more so than the magazine's annual summer party, hosted by editor Matthew D'Ancona at its Westminster offices last week.
The usual collection of politicians and rowdy hacks that normally grace the occasion were eschewed in favour of an odd mix of B-list celebrities and government ministers.
London's collection of party photographers were also disappointed not to receive an invitational "stiffy" for their mantelpiece. Instead, coverage of the party was offered to the celebrity snapper Richard Young as an exclusive for the lah-di-dah society mag Tatler.
That takes some bottle, Shilpa
While Shilpa Shetty's gobby housemates happily boozed away the hours inside the Celebrity Big Brother House, the demure Bollywood star chose to abstain from the demon drink.
She doesn't touch a drop, apparently, after an unpleasant brush with a bottle of tequila in her youth.
"I've tried it once, and it was absolutely terrible," she says. "All I had was one shot, and it sent me into a total state. I've never touched anything since."
Despite Shetty's comments - made at a recent party for Dom Perignon Oenothèque - she seems to have no trouble in endorsing booze culture.
She has recently been signed up to be the lucrative "face" advertising a leading vodka brand.
