MBS Intelligence
Arts, Culture & Not-for-Profit

Growing a 1,000-year vision: how Global Generation is leaving…
If you have visited MBS’s offices in Primrose Mews, you may well have arrived at Chalk Farm tube station, crossed over the railway bridge, and walked up Regents Park Road towards the open green space of Primrose Hill....

The man behind the stars: in conversation with music…
A few months ago, I went to see Elton John perform his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at the O2 Arena in London. It was, as you can expect, a memorable evening and one I will never forget. At one point, during one...

The UK’s last orchid nursery: in conversation with McBean’s…
As a student, I met the ceramic artist Hylton Nel in my home town of Port Elizabeth. Decades later, I have a vast collection of his work and we've a long-established friendship. Kim Jones, Creative Director at Fendi and...

The show must go on: what can the classical…
In November, the English National Opera was given a piece of advice: develop a new business model. After years of shrinking audiences, Arts Council England slashed the ENO’s annual funding to zero, recommending that...

The power of storytelling: in conversation with Perminder Mann,…
This week, I was reminded of the power of stories during the first meeting of the MBS book club. What started as a discussion of Meg Mason’s Sorrow and Bliss ended as an honest reflection between colleagues on...

‘Exit through the gift shop’ courtesy Banksy
As I was watching television last Sunday evening, amongst all the Christmas ads, up popped my new favourite: Visa’s ‘support your local high street’ campaign. My new favourite ad because, much to my joy, it...

Q&A: Incoming BFC chair Stephanie Phair on Farfetch, fashion…
I first met Stephanie just after she had returned to the UK following ten years ensconced in the New York fashion world. She had by that point risen rapidly, beginning at a PR startup before a role at Issey Miyake and...

How Design Can Make a Company
I moved to Britain from South Africa because I have always felt that this country is one of the creative centres of the world, and that so much of the world’s creative output comes from here. This weekend, the...

Curated Redevelopment: Breathing new life into the South Street…
Over two decades’ worth of annual trips to New York City, I've had a good chance to see how the city has changed over the years - even better than locals, I think, who might not notice the gradual changes from day to...
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