Tonight we’ve published guidance for our Arts Council England #COVID19 Emergency Response Package for individuals and for organisations outside of our National Portfolio. This thread explains more. I’ve also written a new blog explaining what we’re doing and why and how we’re doing it:

Feeling inspired by our trustee Bob & Roberta Smith to make art while staying at home.  Share your work with #ArtUKHomeSchool!

Great news - Prospect Cottage saved!

We’re looking to commission new #creativemedia work. Managed by The Space, proudly supported by us and BBC Arts. Got a brilliant idea to make something special in these trying times? Deadline is 5pm weds. Go! (Not for you but know someone who this could be for? Tweet ‘em!)

Our brilliant Tech Champions Digital Culture Network have pulled together some of the digital resources and support on offer from across the cultural and creative sector to help you during the #Covid19 crisis > buff.ly/39FzMuk

Dear Department for Education, Could you please add ARTS SUBJECTS to the "Teacher's advice and guidance" email was sent to all schools? OR please feel free to use Artists in Residence website. We are promoting high quality educational creative projects for all #artinquarantine Susan M Coles

Compassion and culture are what make and shape humanity.

Thank you @DavidCollinsST and WALDEMAR JANUSZCZAK for highlighting this issue.

So it seems that last year's sale of 450 artworks (Hepworth, Eardley, Vaughan, etc) by Hertfordshire County Council accounts for a massive ONE FIFTH of the 2,280 artworks sold by UK councils in the 11 years since the financial crash. Museums Association NSEAD

Thank you Michael Janusczak for characteristic plain-speaking … ‘deaccessioning … no one wants to call it what is – flogging off the family silver.’

Save Herts Art Hertfordshire County Council Museums Association NSEAD Arts Council England Art UK Association for Art History Alistair Brown Nick Trench Susan M Coles @DavidCollinsST WALDEMAR JANUSZCZAK It’s a disgrace. Those art works were ours now they are theirs. The councilors involved must hang their heads in shame. They are cowards. In every case they have raised small sums in relation to budgets destroying historic collections and traitors because they know it.

I wrote about how Brexit would cause Local Collections to be sold and now Covid 19 promises an excuse for further destruction . Brexit will spell the end of British art as we know it | Culture | The Guardian theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

This cash-raid by Councils is likely to worsen after the pandemic - unless councils receive better funding for services & art collections receive better protection in law. @DavidCollinsST WALDEMAR JANUSZCZAK Museums Association Arts Council England Art UK NSEAD Nick Trench Bob&Roberta Smith

Bob&Roberta Smith Hertfordshire County Council Museums Association NSEAD Arts Council England Art UK Association for Art History Alistair Brown Nick Trench Susan M Coles @DavidCollinsST WALDEMAR JANUSZCZAK Thank you Bob - completely agree. The Hertfordshire collection was unprotected in law, enabling Hertfordshire County Council to proceed with the sale regardless of considerable opposition. Official guidelines are being flouted and the penalties are mild.

See this letter today in the Times. Shows just how important a local gallery is. Lives are enhanced and even changed by seeing art first hand. Save Herts Art Bob&Roberta Smith Nick Trench NSEAD

Susan M Coles Save Herts Art Nick Trench NSEAD We need a law to stop these sales.

REMINDER: Our emergency funding for individuals and our emergency funding for organisations that AREN'T part of our National Portfolio launches today at 12:00. More info and FAQs for both funds can be found here: artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

Gallery III of the Hertfordshire Open 2020 Exhibition is now open, celebrating the work of 50 artists connected with Hertfordshire. Our final Gallery opens on Tuesday 14 April. Visit Gallery III here stalbansmuseums.org.uk/explore/exhibi… #HertsOpen2020 @UniHertsArts #HYOC2020

Post your #StayAtHomeSaveLives art on #ArtUKHomeschool . A brilliant initiative from Art UK creating an on line ‘kind of mass observation’ space to see all our art work during this difficult time.