International News in September 2006
Show all of 2006
European television : keeping culture on our screens
At a time when European broadcasters are increasingly looking to their advertising revenue to finance their operations and adapting their programming to maximise their audiences, it’s worthwhile considering the forces at work to keep cultural programming on European television screens. more >
Cultural Policy of Chile
The Pinochet dictatorship oppressed the right to free speech and every type of collective action for a long period of time. Today culture plays a major part in re-establishing unity and solidarity among the Chilean population. more >
Arts and business film premieres
Two departments at the University of Buffalo, USA, are sponsoring the U.S. premiere of documentary film "Masters of Business Art," directed by Pierre Guillet de Monthoux. For years business administration has looked to science as a means of learning about life in organizations and enterprises. Monthoux aims to push the spotlight from science to the arts. more >
Assembly warned 'don't interfer with arts'
Former Westminster Culture Secretary Chris Smith has warned the Assembly Government that if it directly funds Wales' 'big six' arts organisations it must not interfere with their creativity. more >
Teen daydreams and mischief drive net creativity
There is a shift from entertainment, information and popular culture being provided ‘for the people’ to one ‘by the people’, says cultural researcher Professor John Hartley. more >
Thinking about Canadian cultural policy, art and technology
The Canadian government is still trying to figure out what a policy shift from cultural or creative "content" to cultural or creative "industries" might mean. more >
Cuts reduce US role abroad
American culture is ubiquitous. Yet since 2001, driven by the global war for hearts and minds, Washington tripled its investment in cultural diplomacy programs. more >
House approves Ester Martinez native language bill
Preservation of native cultures and language could get a boost thanks to legislation approved by the U.S. House that would establish grants for governments, colleges and other Indian language educational organizations. more >
Japanese bid to extend copyright
A group of 16 Japanese organizations of writers, artists, musicians, cartoonists and publishers has issued a statement asking the Cultural Affairs Agency to extend copyright protection from 50 years after their deaths to 70 years. more >
IFACCA INTRODUCED TO LATIN AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS POLICYMAKERS
On the 14-15th September 2006 the IBERESCENA Program Preparatory Technical Meeting took place to establish a financial fund for projects in the performing arts. more >
LA FICAAC FUE PRESENTADA A RESPONSABLES DE POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS PARA LAS ARTES ESCÉNICAS DE AMÉRICA LA
El 14 y 15 de septiembre de este año tuvo lugar en Bogotá, Colombia, la Reunión Técnica Preparatoria para el Programa Cumbre IBERESCENA, que busca establecer un fondo para la financiación de proyectos en artes escénicas, organizada por la División de Cultura de la Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB). more >
Training for Trainers
On-The-Move is organising a new training course for trainers on the subject of 'Mobility and cultural cooperation in the age of digital spaces'. more >
A dream come true
The European Dream Festival, simply by paying these performers to show up, distinguishes itself: European nations are willing to fund under-the-radar art. Maybe not for long, though. more >
Creating Arts for Economic Empowerment
The latest project of Arts For Global Development aims to emphasize the role of arts in economic development and highlight the significance of preserving and protecting humankind's major cultural heritage sites and artistic creations. more >
Cultural heads agree on arts priorities
Arts ministers from around Australia and New Zealand met in Wellington last week to discuss ways to boost cultural cooperation, and what to do about a worsening picture for Indigenous arts. more >
Cultural Unification Identified As Instrument Of African Unity
Civil Society Cultural Advocates and enthusiasts of African Culture have prescribed cultural unification as a pertinent instrument for African unity. more >
Funding for Arts Month in October
A popular event in all five of the Foundation Center's locations, Funding for Arts Month returns for its fifth consecutive year. more >
Innovative Models for Growing the Creative Economy
The University of Ulster will host creative industry experts from all over Europe in Belfast this week to explore how the arts can become a driving force in the new global economy. more >
Liberty, Equality ... Diversity?
Scott McLemee muses over links between diversity, multiculturalism and racism. more >
Museum handbook translated for Portuguese African countries
Professionalizing museums in the Lusofone countries of Africa was the objective of the work conference organised in Nairobi in late August. more >
OIF cultural diversity meeting for Togo Tuesday
Delegates from 30 countries are expected to convene the second international meeting of French-speaking cultural professional coalitions and organisations in Lome Tuesday, organisers announced here Friday. more >
Produce Malawian films- Mussa
Some Malawians might have enjoyed the premiere of European Music Festival at the Kamuzu College of Nursing on Friday but that should not be the end of it because there is a lot Malawians can learn from the festival. more >
Sixth European Museum Advisers Association in Budapest
Their work is vital for the survival and quality of museum services, yet they receive very little public attention: museum advisers support museums across Europe. more >
Call for Arts System in Namibia
Namibia’s Permanent Secretary of Culture, Dr Peingindjabi Shipoh, has bemoaned the country’s lack of a adequate system to identify, develop and expose artistic talent. more >
Funding boost for Zimbabwe arts
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has distributed funds to 33 arts organisations and associations from all around the country. more >
Ugandan National Cultural Policy Approved
The Ugandan Government will seek to preserve local literature and develop dictionaries in local languages, in a new national policy on culture announced this week. more >
The big bang
For many generations of Maltese and Gozitans, the annual village feast has been the high point of both their religious and cultural year. But is this still the case? more >
A new intellectual and cultural community
The Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar, the newest addition to the Denver metropolitan area cultural scene, can lay claim to at least one first. more >
Am I pro-Palestine or pro-Israel?
The computer game Global Conflicts: Palestine has an ambitious objective: to shatter the traditional approach of the games industry, which typically cultivates a single, prevailing, schematic narrative. more >
Australian gas project near rock art
The West Australian government will allow Woodside Petroleum to develop a new gas installation in the Pilbara provided it moves part of it away from a massive Aboriginal rock art collection. more >
Brits nearly all Celts under the skin
A major genetic study of the population of Britain appears to have put an end to the idea of the "Celtic fringe" of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. more >
Culture from the Middle East in Denmark
Every third year the Danish Centre for Culture and Development organises a huge cultural festival focused on a specific region in the world. more >
English classes on the radio
Despite many advances in communications technology, electronics and wireless communications, radio remains a significant resource for the classroom teacher. more >
First Ladies Launch U.S.-Pakistan Site
Hoping to bridge their countries through an understanding of arts and culture, Laura Bush and Pakistan's first lady, Sehba Musharraf, launched a new Web site Thursday geared toward educating youth. more >
France, Russia to hold year of culture for each other
A French Culture Year will be celebrated in Russia in 2009 while the Russian Culture Year activities will take place in France in 2010, French President Jacques Chirac announced Friday. more >
George gives thumbs up to the best arts schemes
One of Glasgow's most innovative sculptors today gave the thumbs up to a new arts awards scheme. more >
Historic sites up for funding - if they get votes
A new program that will supply financial assistance to 25 Bay Area historical treasures is using a unique approach: residents can vote for worthy projects in an online election right out of the popular "American Idol" television show. more >
Lecture dwells on Islam’s role in arts
Islam’s contribution to arts through ornaments was the subject of a thought provoking lecture delivered at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar. more >
Literature, music and rap keep Romansh language alive
Many American and French rappers invent their own vocabulary, but Romansh hip-hop groups and singers use the language of their ancestors. more >
NCC Introduces New Strategies to Fight Piracy
The Nigerian Copyright Commission has started gathering information on manufacturers of optical video plates such as CDs and VCDs, for use to develop a database which would assist the Commission in fighting piracy. more >
Novelist cleared of
Bestselling Turkish novelist Elif Shafak has been acquitted of the charges of "insulting Turkishness" brought against her under Article 301 of Turkish law. more >
Polynesian sailing myth all at sea
The Polynesians had trouble reaching remote South Pacific islands, according to a new study that dents their reputation as great seafarers. more >
Students flock back to the arts
Not so long ago the common wisdom was that dead languages were useless and that the best educational investment was in vocational knowledge. more >
The BookBox project: how television can shape literacy
It is an idea with great promise. Transforming children’s stories into animated books for television and digital media, using Same Language Subtitling (SLS), can change how millions read in India. more >
The new critics
New York-based playwrights, critics, directors, academics and assorted drama fans are using blogs to have conversations about theatre culture, post reviews, challenge critical consensus, respond to breaking news and plug their productions. more >
Cultural Heritage Must be Viewed as an Investment - Assamba
Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Ndombet Assamba, has stressed the importance of viewing the Jamaican cultural heritage as an investment, which has economic benefit for the country. more >
Cultural Policy Covers All Domains - Head Of State
Angolan head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, Monday in Luanda said the country`s cultural policy and its strategy "are clear enough and strictly cover all domains of the nation`s cultural affairs." more >
Georgia To Establish Council of Culture
According to the decree of Georgian president, Council of Culture and Culture Fund will be established at the president’s office. more >
GRISELDA POLLOCK ON FEMINISM
Pollock presents her views on feminism and art created by women. She is critical of quotas, such as the 'fifty-percent women's art' policy supported by JA!, a Swedish feminist art group, arguing that there is a risk that quotas are simply cosmetic. more >
Martin Stepanek accepts ODS's offer of culture minister post
Actor and journalist Martin Stepanek will probably be culture minister in the new government being formed by Civic Democrat (ODS) chairman and Prime Minister designate Mirek Topolanek, Stepanek told CTK after a meeting with Topolanek today. more >
Minister wants youths to exploit job opportunities in culture sector
Nigerian youths have been urged to exploit the abundant job opportunities in the nation’s culture industry. more >
Museums and charities fear partial-gift tax-law change
Stumped by fractions? Consider the problem Congress has handed certain donors of art and other tangible personal property. Museums and other charities fear they may not be part of the donors' solution. more >
New Organization Will Fund Individual Artists
Four foundations have put up a total of $20 million to create a new charity to support working artists, starting with a grant program that will be one of the most generous in existence, the New York Times reports. more >
Singing from the same hmmm sheet - but for how long?
Amidst much hand-wringing - not least from me - control of Scotland's national companies passed, earlier this year, from the Scottish Arts Council to the Scottish Executive. more >
Towards Promoting Cultural Education in Nigeria
The National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, will hold a two day sensitization workshop between September 11 and 12 at its Lagos office, National Theatre Annex, Lagos. more >
UNESCO to assist Lebanese early recovery in culture and education
UNESCO will assist the Lebanese government by providing support for vocational education, children and youth traumatized by recent events, and helping to preserve the country's rich cultural heritage. more >
Launch of new cultural website NZLive.com
New Zealand's Prime Minister and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Helen Clark said a new government-funded website launched today has the potential to enrich New Zealand's cultural life by harnessing the web to promote activities and events. more >
The Music of Democracy
Gambia’s musicians have recorded an album of election songs in a bid to help educate the electorate on the importance of free and fair elections, and their right to vote, more >
"Plan Uganda" Empowers Rurals Through Art
Plan Uganda, a children-centred development organisation, has organised an art exhibition to explore the country's values. more >
"Regulation" for Foreign News Agencies in China
Xinhua News Agency on Sunday promulgated a set of measures to regulate the release of news and information in China by foreign news agencies and the subscription of such news and information by users in China and to promote the dissemination of news and information in a sound and orderly manner. more >
100 million to study Chinese worldwide by 2010
You may be able to find a Chinese teaching class close to your home sooner than you think. more >
Ahmadinejad vows to rid schools of liberal influence
Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday vowed to cleanse schools and universities of liberal influences, continuing a drive to restore revolutionary values to the Islamic republic. more >
Asia catches biennale bug
Asia this month sees the opening of no less than three biennales. more >
Call for Papers
ICOM-ICTOP, the International Committee for the Training of Personnel, is holding its Annual Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, from 8-10 October 2006 more >
Discussions On Indigenous Languages Still Underway
South Africa's Education Minister Naledi Pandor says discussions regarding the use of indigenous languages in higher education institutions are still taking place. more >
Federal grant to fund arts education research
The U.S. Department of Education is to study the effects of arts education. more >
Global tourism proves crisis resistant
International tourism experts meeting in Switzerland say natural disasters or terrorist attacks have not affected growth in an industry where competition is fiercer than ever. more >
Indigenous Rock Art to be Sacrificed
Australia's Minister for Heritage and the Environment, Senator Ian Campbell, plans to sacrifice some ancient Indigenous rock art in order to build a gas processing plant. more >
Interacting with art crime
The trade in looted antiquities has been a controversial topic among museum heads and cultural patrimony officials in recent months. more >
Iran allows banned paper to publish again
Iran has given the green light for a government newspaper that was banned for printing a cartoon that led to ethnic riots to publish again after its chief editor was acquitted, the official IRNA agency reported Saturday. more >
Kenya bishop leads anti-evolution fight
The world's most important collection of human fossils may soon be hidden from public view - if religious leaders get their way. more >
Musicians sound alarm at aircraft rules
Many fear that London's status as a cultural centre will suffer if curbs on cabin baggage continue. more >
Namibian Minister: All Can Preserve Culture
Namibia's Culture Minister has called on "leaders at all levels, parents and learners to assist the government in the restoration, consolidation and development of culture". more >
Opening the doors to Jewish culture
Seven Swiss cities and communes are on Sunday offering a glimpse of the cultural and historical heritage of Judaism during the European Day of Jewish Culture. more >
Provincial Meeting On Culture Starts Tuesday
The first provincial meeting on Culture in Angola's eastern Moxico province started Tuesday, in Lwena city, to assess and debate themes related to local culture, which will be presented to the third National Symposium of the sector, expected for this month. more >
S. Korea to build cultural library in Irbil, Iraq
South Korea's military said Sunday it will spend about 3.6 billion won (US$3.6 million) to build a library in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil by 2008. more >
Texts 'do not hinder literacy'
Pupils who send regular text messages may not be at risk of becoming poor readers and writers, researchers say. more >
Writers' e-mails to be saved for library archive
The National Library of Scotland has revealed a plan to create an archive of blogs, journals and e-mails written by leading Scots. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >