By Invitation Only: Nancy Durrant

Author of The London Culture Edit, podcaster and former Culture Editor of the Evening Standard, Nancy Durrant reflects on her career and shares advice for aspiring arts writers

Welcome to by invitation only—a new series for paid subscribers on artplace.

by invitation only is a Q&A series that offers readers a rare behind-the-curtain look into the lives, interests, and perspectives of creative professionals shaping the art world today. It is designed to be simple, informal and personal, giving our audience a real sense of the people behind the work.

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Introducing our next guest: Nancy Durrant

In this edition of by invitation only, Nancy Durrant reflects on the leaps of faith that have shaped her career, offers practical advice for aspiring arts writers, and shares a glimpse into her personal art collection and camera roll. She highlights rising talents, must-see theatre, and the joy of unexpected gallery discoveries—all while teasing a major upcoming project and the anticipated return of season three of The London Theatre Review podcast.

bio:

Nancy Durrant is a leading voice in the UK’s cultural conversation. A seasoned journalist and broadcaster with over 20 years of experience, she has covered the arts across every medium, from theatrical productions to cutting-edge art exhibitions.

She was formerly the Culture Editor of the Evening Standard, and prior to that, spent 16 years at The Times of London as an arts writer and editor, shaping national discourse on theatre, dance, opera, visual art, and more.

Last year, Nancy made the leap to freelance life and now brings her sharp instincts and cultural insight to a range of platforms. Her Substack newsletter,

The London Culture Edit

, is a go-to guide for London’s current and upcoming cultural happenings, offering thoughtful reviews and insider recommendations. She is also the co-host of The London Theatre Review podcast—a lively, straight-talking roundup of the capital’s stage offerings.

Nancy writes regularly for The Times, The Observer, The Sunday Times, W Magazine, Opera Now, Art Quarterly, Plaster, and more. She’s also a regular voice on BBC Radio 4, Times Radio, and Monocle Radio, among others. Beyond journalism, Nancy works with cultural institutions to help shape and share their narratives and is a sought-after host for live and digital events.

You can find Nancy in all of the following places:

• Subscribe to The London Culture Edit on Substack

• Listen to The London Theatre Review wherever you get your podcasts

• Read Nancy’s full bio on her website

• Follow Nancy on Instagram @nancydurrant

• Find Nancy in conversation with Ben Pentreath and Skye McAlpine as part of The Charleston Festival on May 15

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We are honoured to have Nancy as one of our first guests!

So without further ado…

What was your first entry-level job in the arts?

I drank a lot of coffee with a lot of different people until somebody suggested I apply for the job of assistant on a then-new section in The Times called The Weekend Review (it has since been superseded at least twice), and it happened to have a large focus on arts and books. I was in my early twenties and just out of a couple of grim years working in pharmaceutical advertising; at that point, if someone had offered me the chance of the same job on the business desk, I'd now be writing about insurance or property, but with considerably less enthusiasm, I suspect.

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How has your career evolved to bring you to where you are today?