International News in June 2006
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Opening address by Paulina Urrutia
In her opening address, iSummit 2006, Paulina Urrutia, Minister of Culture, Chile, stated that since the return to democracy Chile has developed a strong State policy to foster artistic and cultural creation. more >
UNESCO Aims to Protect the Intangible
This week in Paris the countries that ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage are meeting -- without Germany. But what is it that they want to protect? more >
Flexible copyright to nurture a creative milieu
So closely is copyright associated with the phrase "all rights reserved" that some people have difficulty imagining any other system. But an unusual global alliance of artists, scientists and lawyers have been working to forge a "creative commons" that allows artists to decide which rights they want to retain and which they would rather share. more >
Ohazulike Tasks Nigerians On Culture
One of the key players in the nation's entertainment industry, Prince Chito Tokas Ohazulike has urged Nigerians to take the nation's culture seriously to ensure the survival of their heritage. more >
UNESCO Holds Meeting on Intangible Heritage
The first meeting of UNESCO state parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will start today, June 27 2006, and will run for three days. more >
Why city art is being put on the map
Belfast is getting a new culture trail, with public art in the city going on the map. more >
Art under control in North Korea
What does a totalitarian regime expect from its artists? Jane Portal explores the role of art in North Korea. more >
Call for £40m arts funding boost
The Arts Council England has called for at least £40m of public money to invest in visual arts. more >
Theatre at heart of ACE funding bid
Theatre and orchestras will form the cornerstone of Arts Council England’s bid to persuade the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to maintain investment in the cultural sector as part of its imminent spending review. more >
Assembly accused over music fund move
The Assembly Government was accused of 'cultural vandalism' yesterday for cutting a schools music scheme against the advice of arts chiefs. more >
Canadians' entertainment spending on the rise
Canadian spending on entertainment outside the home is increasing faster than other household spending, according to a study by Statistics Canada. more >
Developing countries start their own news service to counter western 'bias'
"NAM News Network," a joint effort of the 116 member countries of the Nonaligned Movement, was formally inaugurated Tuesday by Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin, although it has been live online since April 17. Zainuddin urged members to develop their media and use technology to forge better communication links between them. more >
Minister targets councils who misuse live music laws
Music minister Shaun Woodward has called on councils to avoid using the Licensing Act to impose heavy handed conditions which discourage venues from hosting live entertainment. more >
Arts Council holds meeting in Killarney
The Arts Council is holding its annual policy meeting in Killarney today and tomorrow, Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 June. more >
Ministry Holds Debates On Third Cultural Symposium
The Angolan Ministry of Culture will organise from July 27 to September 06 this year in Luanda, various debates in the ambit of the third Symposium on National Culture, slated for September 11-16 under the theme "Culture, Forge of Angolanness". more >
Proof how art can change your life
When it comes to using the power of art to change lives, the North East is a leader. And just to show the rest of the world what it has been missing, the region has played host to the biggest-ever World Summit on Arts and Culture. more >
Summit of arts and culture
The biggest ever World Summit on Arts and Culture will culminate on Sunday with a visit to Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Forest. more >
Task Force to promote cultural heritage
The Federal Ministry for Culture is taking steps to set up a task force for the promotion of the country’s rich cultural heritage at the national and international level. more >
Contemporary Art: Istanbul set to stamp its culture credentials
The European Union and its bureaucracy are sometimes lampooned for living in a parallel universe. Looking at the voluminous proceedings of its committees that decide on the annual European cities of culture, you could be forgiven for thinking that in 2010 the eyes of the Continent will turn to the German mining city of Essen and the obscure Hungarian city of Pecs. more >
Dutch Embassy Funds Rwandan Cultural Visit
The Royal Netherlands Embassy is sending 20 Rwandans to an international Dutch festival in an effort to improve cultural and business ties. more >
Internal Turmoil Over Festival Preparations Reveal Gov. Interference
South Korea's preparations for the 2006 ARCO art fair hit an obstacle last week after the director and 12 other organizers resigned claiming excessive government meddling. more >
Making hit music into a science
A computer program has been developed that the makers claim can dramatically increase your odds of scoring a hit. more >
MP Opposes ICHTO, Handicrafts Organization Merger
While the legal procedures for the proposed merger of the National Organization for Handicrafts and Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization have not yet been worked out, a member of the Parliament’s Cultural Commission has come out against the move. more >
Scottish orchestra seeks new national anthem
Scotland's national orchestra launched a competition on Sunday to find the country's most popular song that might eventually become its national anthem. more >
Skilled American Labor Heads Overseas, in Toe Shoes
American dancers join a growing wave of travelling artists that move in order to find professional work. more >
The passion and politics of stolen art
It's not just about art. It's also about passion, politics, power. When a beloved art object is stolen, the loss often pushes human "hot buttons" linked to the collective identity of a nation, culture and history. more >
Viet Nam Culture Festival opens in Italy
A month-long Vietnamese culture festival commenced in Rome, Italy, on June 16 with the opening of an exhibition introducing modern works of Vietnamese popular artists at the Museum of Vittoriano, one of Rome's most prestigious museums. more >
7 years of democracy: The story of art and culture...
Seven years after the enthronement of democracy in the country, the culture and tourism industry has found it's spiraling round the center of definition, trying very hard to locate itself within the defining elements of national reckoning. In this review, Sunday Vanguard Arts takes a dispassionate look at this yet to be untapped economic booster. more >
Copyright Law Faces New Test On Thursday
On Thursday, lobbying group the Digital Media Association will propose an amendment to Congress that would simplify the hoop jumping that digital music providers currently have to go through to obtain rights to music — or completely rewrite copyright as we know it. more >
Jowell defends Arts Council
The culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, last night stated her total commitment to Arts Council England, despite a deeply critical speech by the arts minister, David Lammy, earlier in the year in which he urged its reform, saying the funding body was seen as "a passive cash machine". more >
LAB FOR CULTURE LAUNCHED
A new online resource has been created for those working in the arts in Europe. LabforCulture offers case studies, stories of cross-border collaborations, cultural news and newsletters, information, and funding tips. more >
Arts chiefs unite for funding bid
Leading figures from the arts world including National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner, London 2012 arts, culture and education chair Jude Kelly and Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall, have joined forces with representatives from the museum, gallery and library sectors for the first time to make a united bid for sustained public funding, as the government’s next spending review approaches. more >
Canadians spending more on cultural imports
Canadians are increasing the amount they spend on foreign cultural goods such as books, music and films, but exporting fewer goods to foreign markets, according to Statistics Canada. more >
General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture
During its first session, and in accordance with Articles 4.2 and 5.1 of the Intangible Heritage Convention, the General Assembly will adopt respectively its Rules of Procedure and will elect an Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. more >
Please, sir, we want some more
As James Strong prepares to take the helm of the Australia Council, the Herald asked people in the arts community what his priorities should be. more >
Public art helps cities express themselves
About 30 years ago, cities across the country busily began making art part of capital improvement projects. Modern sculptures were routinely installed in parks, public squares and city plazas. In recent years, many cities have re-evaluated their approaches to public art and are incorporating new ideas, while other cities remain stuck on the original model. more >
Rls 10 Billion for Public Libraries
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar-Harandi has announced the allocation of 10 billion rials for the purchase of books for public libraries. more >
Angola promotes arts education
The Angolan Culture Ministry recently ran a seminar on the importance of artistic education in the country. more >
Blair encourages culture as part of 2012 Olympics
Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of England, has encouraged culture as a feature of the 2012 Olympics. more >
Call for tenders on cultural diversity
The Organisation of Latin American states for Education, Science and Culture are calling for tenders. The information will be used to create a UNESCO international report on cultural diversity. more >
Case studies for new cultural publication sought
The Commonwealth Foundation is seeking contributions for a new resource on culture. The Commonwealth Culture Reference Toolkit will present examples of work to increase cultural understanding, celebrate artistic talent, and will draw together a range of projects around the Commonwealth. more >
Cultural proposals sought
The European Commission Representative Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip is seeking proposals for cultural events and projects. more >
CulturesFrance - new agency for international cultural exchange
A new agency has been launched in France, CulturesFrance, dedicated to international cultural exchanges. It unites two existing organisations AFAA and ADPF. more >
New arts chief means business on funds
The new chairman of the Australia Council, James Strong, wants to encourage greater support for the arts from the private sector and bring arts and business closer together. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >