International News in November 2003
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National arts database leading the way
Artists in the United States who need professional information of almost any sort can visit a database designed exclusively for them. more >
UNESCO celebrates World Television Day in lead up to summit
In the lead up to the World Summit on the Information Society, UNESCO recently celebrated World Television Day - proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. more >
Urbis to host second Manchester Arts Show
The towering all-glass Urbis building in Manchester will host the second Manchester Art Show from November 27 to 30. more >
African forum to establish centres for excellence in children's art, education
The recently-launched African Child Policy Forum is embarking on one of its early projects: preparations towards the establishment of Centres of Excellence in Children's Art and Education. more >
Archives, spending and vital programmes cut short
The Department of Sports Arts and Culture is unable to perform its mandated duties efficiently because of a critical lack of office space for vital programmes. more >
Charity Gifts to Arts Fall
Over three years of less-than-stellar economic growth has been taking an increasing toll on nearly every element of the arts scene in America. more >
CNIB launches digital library for the blind
Thanks to the Internet and some original programming by Microsoft Canada, 105,000 blind or visually impaired Canadians will be able to read thousands of books, daily newspapers and magazines. more >
Cultural invasion by Guggenheim Museum feared
While some academics support the planned establishment of a NT$6.4 billion branch of the Guggenheim Museum in the Taiwanese province of Taichung, others expressed strong objections at a symposium held at Tunghai University last week. more >
Exciting Foretaste of CHOGM's Cultural Package
Last week, the Theatrical Production Team of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted the media to a rehearsal preview of the cultural package being put together by the Professor Shamsudeen Amali led Theatrical Committee. more >
Film, TV industry concerned over free trade talks
Prime Minister John Howard has indicated the Federal Government may be willing to negotiate over Australia's film and television content laws to secure a free trade agreement with the United States. more >
UNESCO celebrates World Television Day
UNESCO recently celebrated World Television Day - proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 to encourage global exchanges of television programmes focusing on peace, security, economic and social development and the enhancement of cultural exchange. more >
UNESCO singles out cultural masterpieces to save 'humanity's heritage'
With the proliferation of television and the Internet, some fear the world's increasing globalisation may threaten indigenous cultural treasures. more >
World Bank to help preserve Ethiopian cultural heritage
Ethiopia has launched an innovative scheme to try and preserve the country's fast disappearing cultural heritage. more >
Introducing the Nigerian Academy of Dramatic Arts and Music
The long awaited Nigerian professional institution designed to guide the country's performing arts into the competitive standard in the world market has now taken off. more >
Hollywood movies make way into Indian markets
Hollywood movies are beginning to grab a bigger chunk of India's huge movie market, traditionally dominated by its own film industry, which is known as Bollywood. more >
Culture chief quits £65,000-a-year job
Culture boss Sally Medlyn has left her £65,000-a-year post at Liverpool City Council. more >
French artists steal TV spotlight to draw public's attention to cuts in benefits
With cameras rolling, France's struggling artists have begun invading live broadcasts to publicise their grievances to television audiences. more >
Music festival is secured, but council cuts funding
The future of an annual music and arts festival in Scotland looks secure after councillors yesterday decided against withdrawing funding. more >
Women seek bigger role on Swiss cultural stage
The uphill struggle for sex equality by Swiss women involved in the arts is closely examined in a new book published by Pro Helvetia – the Arts Council of Switzerland. more >
UN study shows governments are installing the Internet, but public usage is down
According to a United Nations study released earlier this week, about 91 percent of Member States are installing and using Internet services. However, the issue of online government services has raised questions of cost-effectiveness in developed and developing countries. more >
Belize National Dance Company performs in US
Snapshots of Belizian culture are set to be presented through a combination of dance and drama when the Belize National Dance Company stage performances and conduct workshops in La Crosse, USA, this month. more >
17th National Festival of Arts and Culture
All is now set for the 17th National Festival of Arts and Culture which will be hosted in Owerri, the Capital of Imo State. more >
Cultural policy finally launched in Zambia
The launch of the cultural policy in Zambia comes against a backdrop of the cultural sector suffering what artistes perceive as major marginalisation in successive national administrations. more >
Culture, tourism calendar for Nigeria soon
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Franklin Nchita, has said in Owerri that the Federal Government through the Culture and Tourism Ministry is to draw up a comprehensive festivals calendar for Nigeria. more >
Dismal expenditure by Sports, Arts and Culture
South Africa's standing committee on Sports, Arts and Culture has expressed disapointment, displeasure and concern at the department's continuing underexpenditure during the first six months of the 2003/04 financial year. more >
New bilingual guide to funding in Wales
The first bi-lingual guide to Welsh funding opportunities has been published. more >
Meeting Focuses on Access to Digital Content by the Visually Impaired
A meeting held at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva on November 3, 2003 focused on how the visually impaired can access copyrighted materials in the on-line world in a legally-acceptable way. more >
Aborigines back UK bones panel
Australian Aborigines have welcomed a plan to set up a panel to oversee the repatriation of human remains held by British museums and universities. more >
India to ask Pakistan to lift ban on Indian films, artistes
The SAARC Information Ministers' conference has an extensive agenda on various media issues, but its highlight is expected to be the likely Indian request to Pakistan to lift its ban on Indian films and performing artistes. more >
Laura Bush salutes arts programs for underprivileged youth
Hailing the positive impact of the arts and humanities on the lives of young people, first lady Laura Bush presented awards to community organisations in the United States and Mexico for their pioneering work with underprivileged youth. more >
Turkey allows Kurdish conference
Turkey has allowed Kurdish writers to hold a conference in their own language for the first time in years. more >
US$1 million humanities prize goes to Polish philosopher
The US Library of Congress will award the new US$1 million Kluge Prize for lifetime contribution to the humanities to a Polish philosopher who provided intellectual backing for the Solidarity union's efforts to jettison communism. more >
German firm hired to save Easter Island sculptures
UNESCO has awarded a German firm contract to preserve the world-famous but decaying Moai head sculptures on Easter Island, which are suffering the effects of the weather, tourism and past restoration attempts. more >
US rejoins Unesco after two decades
Just as the US was pushing for a new United Nations resolution to internationalise the rebuilding process in Iraq, the First Lady, Laura Bush, was in Paris at the headquarters of Unesco, the United Nations’ cultural branch, to mark US re-entry into the organisation after a two-decade boycott. more >








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