International News in January 2004
Show all of 2004
Clore Leadership Programme looks for first fellows
The Clore Duffield Foundation has opened applications to the first Clore Leadership Programme – an initiative designed to produce the next generation of arts leadership. more >
Interview: 40 Years Late, Kenya Now Has a Cultural Policy
The Kenya government has in the past been accused of neglecting culture and relegating it to the bottom of its priorities. However, there have been some positive and welcome trends by the new government and the public is largely optimistic that something tangible is finally being done to address the failures of the past. more >
£60m to spend but being in charge of arts council is a near impossible job
Much of the SAC's extra money, not from the Scottish Executive's coffers, is dependent on the National Lottery, a game that is falling in popularity every year. The rest of its fund comes from a government which only deems the arts to be worth less than 1% of the entire Scottish multi-billion-pound budget. (Pay for full text). more >
$5 Billion Set for Distribution
The newly formed Zimbabwe Culture Fund reminded all artists willing to benefit from a $5 billion fund to be distributed must soon start preparing project proposals. more >
'Superman' Awarded Chilean Honour
North American actor Christopher Reeve has been awarded the Chilean Order of Bernardo O'Higgins for his support to Chilean artists who stood in opposition to Augusto Pinochet. more >
French Artists On Cultural ‘Field Trip’ In Senegal
Fifteen French artists are discovering new ground thanks to a cultural exchange project with Senegalese artists. more >
Moroccan Ministerial Visit to Spain Sparks Cultural Dialogue
Morrocan Deputy Minister to Spain, Mrs Nouzha Chekrouni, has honed in on bilateral cultural initiatives on a recent visit to Barcelona. more >
New Round Of Seminars Highlight European Funding
Official UK Cultural Contact Point EUCLID, is offering a comprehensive seminar programme for the arts and cultural sector on European funding opportunities in nine major cities across the UK during March and April 2004. more >
Nigerian Musicians On A Summit
Never in recent times has there been a such a gathering of Nigerian artistes; both old and young, under one roof. more >
Pinar del Rio To Preserve Music Heritage With New Centre
In an effort to preserve Pinar del Rio’s music heritage a music information centre has been created in the province – the first of its kind in Cuba. more >
Agencies Unite to Lead Cultural Congress
The Interarts Foundation, in collaboration with other leading cultural agencies, is organising an International Congress on Cultural Rights and Human Development to coincide with the Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona this August. more >
Festival of song returns to Cuba after 18 year hiatus
The Varaderos International Song Festival will return to Cuba after an 18-year absence, it was announced by Alexis Vázquez, Vice President of the Cuban Music Institute. more >
Hong Kong to host arts marketing conference
Affirming its status as the gateway between China and the international arts arena, Hong Kong is to host a conference on marketing the arts to Chinese speaking territories. more >
Musicians, Journalists Join Great Trek to UK
Zimbabwe's music and media industries have not been spared by the country's worsening economic crisis, with several journalists and musicians joining the trek to the United Kingdom in search of greener pastures. more >
Namibian Film Regulatory Body Up And Running
Despite some teething problems, the Namibian Film Commission is now administratively capable to serve and develop the fledgling local film industry. more >
Pilot artists for Taiwan-UK exchange programme revealed
The six artists who will christen the pioneering Taiwan-UK International Artist Fellowship Programme 2004 have been announced. more >
The Fine Art of the Space Age
After the space shuttle Columbia exploded on February 1, 2003, NASA asked New York artist Barbara Ernst Prey to paint a memorial for the seven astronauts who died on board. more >
SAC director calls for broader funding of arts
The Scottish Arts Council is making a concerted bid for broader funding for the arts, its director, Graham Berry, said yesterday. more >
Ireland’s cultural Presidency
Ireland has commenced the Presidency of the EU with a strong cultural focus including visits by Irish artists and performers to a number of European cities. more >
Science, technology and the arts
Artists, writers, journalists, art critics, curators and philosophers are being urged to join space scientists, engineers and technologists at a conference in The Netherlands in May. more >
Archives congress to break new ground
The major event of the global archiving community; the International Congress on Archives; will be held in Vienna this August. Participants will have their eyes focused on the future, with 'state of the art' firmly on the agenda. more >
Cultural activities a highlight of Trinidad birthday
Trinidad village residents recently celebrated their 490th anniversary with a blaze of culture. more >
Iran, Italy to cooperate in renovation of museum
Iran and Italy have signed an agreement to cooperate in drawing up a plan aimed at reinforcing the 'Iran-Bastan' Museum's structure and to implement a renovation scheme. more >
Muslims ordered out of Mosque authorities want as carpet museum
Azeri authorities have given Muslims in Baku until the end of January to leave a 1000 year old Mosque they want to turn into a carpet museum. more >
Revolutionary plans for Namibian artists
A much needed health-pension scheme and a business cooperative for all artists are two of the progressive steps the Oruuano Artists Union are implementing this year as part of its ongoing activities on behalf of a growing number of members countrywide. more >
UNESCO call upon inter-cultural talk in Cuba
During a visit to Cuba, UNESCO General Assistant director Mounir Bouchenaki called for a meeting aiming for people to respect the multi-culture of nations. more >
Artists are doing it for themselves
Last year the Belgian government changed the rules that govern how artists working in the country can make social security payments. As expected, there are pros and cons to the new arrangements. more >
Artists from US, Europe and Latin America paint murals in Cuba
Artists from Mexico, Cuba, the United States, Argentina, Great Britain and Spain will join their creative forces in Santiago de Cuba during the 6th "InterNos" International Mural Painting Gathering. more >
Arts marketing conference extends its reach
The National Arts Marketing Project; an American program created to assist domestic arts groups build new audiences and generate innovative revenue streams for their organisations; is back for its third year, with an increasingly global focus. more >
Centres for Thai wisdom to be set up
Twenty learning centres will be established next year across Thailand as part of the government’s plan to boost local knowledge through educational reform. more >
Germany gives US$1.2M to equip Ivory Coast artists
In a generous move, the German Chamber of Trade has offered its sister Chamber in the Ivory Coast a fully equipped trades centre to assist local craftspeople; valued at over US$1 million dollars. more >
Indian state bans US author's book
Authorities have banned a US-based author's book on a 17th century Indian warrior king after a hard line Hindu group vandalised an institute where the professor did his research, saying the book insulted the ruler. more >
International artist run centres to unite at 'Infest'
In acknowledgement of the influential role of artist driven organisations, the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres has announced Infest; an international event designed to strengthen the presence of artist run centres within the cultural ecology. more >
Joint choir gearing up to make debut
The newly formed 100 member MCA-Gerakan choir will shortly give its debut performance at the joint Penang MCA-Gerakan Chinese New Year open house. more >
Musical crossroads to converge again in Africa
The 5th Interregional Music Crossroads Festival will take place in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, for the second year running from 22-25 January 2004. more >
New Malaysian arts and cultural centre opens
Malaysian royalty dropped by last week to open a new arts and cultural centre for the country in Lebuh Pantai. more >
Sweden and Israel in furious diplomatic row over art scandal
A spat between Israel and Sweden over a controversial Stockholm art exhibit showing a Palestinian suicide bomber turned into a full-scale diplomatic row when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stepped into the fray. more >
UNESCO praises heritage restoration efforts in Cuba
UNESCO’s Assistant Director General for Culture, Mounir Bouchenaki, has praised recent restoration and extension projects of the combined town planners of Cuba. more >
Resource wins in Goodison recommendations
Sir Nicholas Goodison’s much-anticipated review on incentives aimed to help museums, galleries and libraries with heritage acquisitions has been released. Resource : the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries will play a central role, if the recommendations in the report are adopted. more >
Local theatre in the doldrums
An academic recently gave a no-holds-barred analysis of government efforts to raise theatre standards among activists in Malaysia. more >
European film summit
In a perfect Festival warm-up, and a networking opportunity not to be missed, this year’s 'Berlinale' kicks off again with the European Film Summit on 4 February. more >
State of the arts in Europe
The EU has released the final report of a study jointly undertaken by Interarts, Spain, and EFAH, Belgium. A survey of 31 European countries has revealed the state of the arts, particularly levels of cultural cooperation, in key cultural areas. more >
Bright year for Cuban theatre
The performing arts continue to gain momentum in Cuba; with attendence numbers on the rise and programming reaching further afield. more >
Cubans celebrate revolution victory with cultural activities
Cubans have celebrated the 45th anniversary of their revolution with cultural activities throughout the nation. more >
Art and more contained within
The Kaohsiung International Container Arts Festival can't decide if it's an art event, or a carnival. more >
Demarco in talks to win art festival funding
Scottish arts impresario, Richard Demarco, is in talks with a commercial sponsor in a bid to win £40,000 in backing for a major addition to Edinburgh’s festival line-up in 2004. more >
Kenyan to head writers' forum
Kenyan actress Mumbi Kaigwa has been elected president of the worldwide organisation, Women Playwrights International 2003-2006. more >
Morocco, Iran to organise cultural days
Morocco and Iran intend to organise cultural days to exchange experiences in educational and cultural realms, Moroccan higher education and scientific research minister, Khalid Alioua has announced. more >
Shortage of theatres sparks crisis in South Indian film industry
The South Indian film industry is facing a crisis of sorts, but an unusual one. It is not a question of insufficient revenue, rather, insufficient theatres to screen all the movies being released. more >
The rush-hour revelations of an underground museum
New York City's subway system has many benefits. While getting millions of people where they need to go each day with a minimum of logistical fuss and environmental muss, it also serves as a great humanising, socialising force. more >
French arts workers occupy cultural embassy in Rome
About 40 French performers and arts technicians have invaded the Villa Medicis - home of the French cultural organisation, the Academie de France - to protest against changes to their unemployment system which take effect this year. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >