The State of the Arts is a website covering arts, culture, and politics from cities across England, and occasionally further afield.
We want to provide a space for talking about quality events, ideas and people, and to shine a light on local arts scenes that might otherwise go overlooked in a London-centric media landscape.
We aim to publish arts criticism that is thoughtful and creative in its own right, often focusing on art that pushes boundaries and intersects heavily with the social and political.
TSOTA began as an attempt to create a single platform for information on cultural activity in Leeds in 2014. The site was inundated with requests to write about Yorkshire, then the north – and articles were shared around the world. In 2015 the decision was made to cover national cultural writing.
Our growing online platform is a place where writers can express themselves and be heard. We’re always looking for contributors to bring something new to the website. If you have an idea for a piece or there’s something you think we should cover, get in touch or pitch an idea to us here.
For general enquiries, e-mail Jack Simpson at jack@thestateofthearts.co.uk
For marketing, advertising and partnership enquiries, email Lisa Hibbert at lisa@thestateofthearts.co.uk
For editorial enquiries, e-mail Maja Lorkowska at maja@thestateofthearts.co.uk
The Team:
- Director/Co-Founder
Jack Simpson
Jack co-founded TSOTA, and has worked on a wide range of creative projects over the last 15 years. His interests span art, philosophy and politics.
- Head of Marketing, Partnerships & Advertising
Lisa Hibbert
Lisa has oodles of experience from founding a digital music-marketing agency, and loves developing new business relationships and innovative projects.
- Co-editor
Maja Lorkowska
Maja has a soft spot for the Polish School of Posters, is fascinated by ideas of tradition and belonging, and the relationship between art and craft.
- Co-editor
Will Baldwin Pask
Will's interests cover a range of culture trends that shape the worlds of film, music, the arts as well as community issues, especially in the North.
Our writers:
Abraham Elton, Adam Bruce, Adam Button, Adam Lowe, Ahmer Bashir, Aidan Johnson, Alan Berry, Alan Lane, Aleks Podraza, Alex Burgoyne, Alex Daniel, Alex Duffy, Alex Gradwell-Spencer, Alex Mannings, Alexandra Richards, Alexia Kossifos, Ali Pearson, Alice Chandler, Alice Coombs, Alice Mason, Alice Olsson, Alice Wood, Aliya Ismangil, Amanda Carnac, Amanda Lynsdale, Amanda Wignall, Amber Rose, Amelia Crouch, Amelia King, Amy Griffiths, Amy Hills-Fletcher, Anastasia Grabova, Anastasia Kennedy, Andrew Kemp, Andy Moore, Angus Fisher, Anthony Mullally, Anya Stewart-Maggs, Aoife Robinson, Ashleigh Anne Said, Ashleigh Ferdinand, Ava Sims, Barry Fox, Bea Gilbert, Bella Davis, Ben Mitchell, Benjamin Paul, Beth Farrell, Bethany Ashcroft, Bethany Jones, Bethany Linnet, Billie Walker, Bobbie Hook, Bridget Taylor, Brighton Upton-Trust, Bryony Jameson, Byron Wigglesworth, Carlota Ortiz Monasterio, Caroline Hurley, Caroline Ryan, Casper Hughes, Catherine Elliott, Catrin Podgorski, Catriona Chadderton, Celia Lloyd-Jones, Charles McLeod, Charlie Spargo, Charlotte Gray, Charlotte Ward, Chloe Patrickson, Chloe Peck, Chris Canavan, Chris Doyler, Chris Howard, Chris Morley, Christy Cooney, Ciaran Chillingworth, Ciarán Hodgers, Clare Fisher, Claudia Chapman, Colton Spencer, Comma Press, Connor Christie, Dan Newton, Daniel Chapman, Daniel Palmer, Daniel Stead, Danny Davis, Darius Williams and Luke Rideout, Dave Olson, David Bond, David Booth, David Campbell Olson, David Gann, David Smith, David Ward, Debbie Coope, Dee Jas, Devon Forrester-Jones, Diana Sofronieva, Dionne Fitzgerald, Dora Young, Dr. Adrian Gallagher, Dylan Howell, Dylan Marsh, Ed Montana-Williams, El Royale, Elaine Peake, Eleanor Roche, Electra Constance Carr, Elena Fowler, Elinor Cole, Elinor Makin, Elise Gallagher, Elizabeth Gregory, Elizabeth Kennedy, Elizabeth Roberts, Ella Healing, Ella Milburn, Ellen Bassam, Ellen Fouweather, Ellen Ormesher, Ellie Clarke, Ellie Nicholls, Elliot Ryder, Ellis Howell Williams, Emil Margrain, Emily Booth, Emily Jefferies, Emily Johnson, Emily Murray, Emma Chaplin, Emma Schicker, Emmie Waugh, Eno Inwang, Eva Fortini, Eve Piper, Felix Sanders, Fiona Gell, Francesca Baker, Francesca Mainman, Francine Morgan, Fraser Smith, Gabriella Warren-Smith, Gareth Murphy, Gavin Hudson, Gemma Thorpe, George Barnes, George Cooper, George Paris, Georgia Wood, Georgia Zelly, Georgina Lewin, Gill Crawshaw, Gillian Sammer, Giulia Bardelli, Grace Collier, Greg Elliott, Hannah Emadian, Hannah Gaunt, Hannah Spruce, Hannah Williams, Harriet Trayling, Harry Johns, Hayley Reid, Heather Ditch, Heather Hoy, Helen Cocks, Helena Gumley-Mason, Helena McCormick, Helena Roddis, Helena Wallace, Henry Burkinshaw, Holly Ridge, Holly Wyatt, Hope Churm, Ilona Walker, Imogen Richardson, Isabel Drake, Isidora Cortes-Monroy, Jack Cooper, Jack Dean, Jack Simpson, Jack Simpson, Jake Coleman, James Cullen, James Grimshaw, James Hopkins, James Oddy, Jane Austwick, Janet Murray, Janie Readman, Janis Sims, Jasmin Vincent, Jason Alston, Jasper Llewellyn, Jenna Campbell, Jenny Pudney, Jenny Wilson, Jeremy Arblaster, Jeremy Corbyn, Jess Ramsey, Jessica Blackwell, Jessica Howell, Jessica Timperley, Jilly Forster, Jimmy Plaisible, Jo Boon, Jo Hudson, Joanie Magill, Joe Osborne, Joe Saxon, Joe Taylor, John Maguire, John Wright, Joleen White, Jonathan Howie, Jonathon Dean, Jordon Jefferies, Joseph Roche, Karen Tobias-Green, Kate Devine, Kate Ireland, Kate Jones, Kate Parkin, Kate Robinson, Kate Wellham, Katherine Morris, Katya Speight, Keira Hunt, Kevin Thompson, Kezia Davies, Kim Bo Kyung, Kizzy Bray, Lara Eggleton, Laura Ager, Laura Demaude, Laura Harris, Lauranne Roux and Peyton Kelvin, Lauren Carne, Laurie Garrison, Letty Cole, Lewis King, Lily Pinto, Lisa Beech, Lisa-Marie Dickinson, Liv Clarke, Liz Searle, Lois Soleil, Lorna King, Louise Heys, Lucía Vázquez, Lucy Cheseldine, Luna Williams, Macintyre Law, Madeleine Walton, Maja Lorkowska, Malak El-Gonemy, Margarette Cartwright, Maria Ferguson, Maria Shury-Smith, Mark Mehta, Mary Oliver, Mary Pattisson, Matilda Verrells, Matt Abbott, Matt Davies, Matt Symes, Matt Thurgood, Mattie Roberts, Max Arguile, Meg Rowley, Megan Roe, Melanie Pearson, Michael Boucher, Michael Costen and Jack Shillito, Michael Sutton, Micky P Kerr, Mike Farren, Mike Price, Milo Cridge, Monica Carvalho, Myra Litton, Nabihah Parkar, Nadia Whiston, Nancy Barnes, Nancy Dewe Mathews, Naomi Taylor, Naomi Wilby, Natalie D Kershaw, Natalie Saunders, Natasha Lyons, Nathan Reaney, Nathan Scatcherd, Nazish Khan, Neelam Mustafa, Nick David, Nicki Davy, Nicola Cappleman, Nik McNally, Oli Hemingway, Olivia Hickey, Olivia June Bambrough, Olivia Neilson, Olivia O'Neil, Olly Thomas, Oriana Ramanath, Owain Arthur, Owen Clements, Owen Walsh, Paddy Garrigan, Patrick Garrigan, Patrick Young, Paul Barrow, Pete Gray, Peter Aldred, Peter Kane, Philippa Hirst, Philippa Watts, Phillip Chapman and Charlie Otieno, Phoebe Alexander, Phoebe Bousfield, Phoebe Taylor, Polly Foster, Polly Stephens, Rachel McIntyre, Raisa Butt, Rebecca Alper, Rebecca Bairstow, Rebecca Walker, Rebekah Carey, Rich Jevons, Rich Jevons and Debbie Coupe, Rich Ripley, Richard Higgs, Richard Smyth, Rob Paterson, Rob Wright, Robb Barham, Robbie Cairns, Robin Styles, Rory Knox, Rose Crees, Rosie Solomon, Rosie Steel, Rowan Cassels-Brown, Ruby Foran Parkinson, Ruchi Mittal, Ruth Hobley, Ruth Saxton, Ryan Thompson, Sacha Crowther, Sage Cohen, Saleena Rani, Sally Fothergill, Sally Freer, Salomée Béranger, Sam Brewin, Sam Phasey, Sam Wilson, Samantha Williams, Samuel Brewin, Sapphire Plant, Saraband Books, Sarah Fortescue, Sean Hutchings, Shana Mason, Sian Ellis, Sid Fletcher, Sinclair Belle, Skinny Lister, Sofia Hilton, Sofia Rendall, Sonia Das, Sophie Becker, Sophie Dumont, Sophie Joelle, Sophie Lane, Sophie Soar, Sophie Weiner, Sophie Wright, Stephanie Bennett, Stephanie Uwalaka, Steve Lamb, Steve Toase, Steve Vigors, Steve Walsh, Susan Jones, Suzi Bird, Sylwia Heller, Tessa Norton, The State of The Arts, Theo Freedman, Theodoros Ellinas, Thiago Lira, Thom Clipsom, Thomas Barrett, Tilly Clarke, Tim Knight, Timid Elk, Tom Chivers, Tom Drew and Jack Schofield, Tom Martin, Tom Rodríguez, Tom Tollett, Tony Green, Vanessa Abel, Virginia Lowes, Wendy Cook, Will Baldwin Pask, Zachary Stephens, Zoe Carlon, Zoë Dukoff-Gordon,
