International News in September 2007
Show all of 2007
10th Festival of Pacific Arts
With just a year to go, preparations are well under way for the region’s largest traditional and contemporary cultural event, the Festival of Pacific Arts. more >
Days of European heritage kick off today
During these days, all museums under ministry of culture and ministry of nature protection are open and free of charge. more >
Funding festivals preserves culture
All three levels of Canadian government think festivals are worth supporting. more >
Ministry's code prompts cancellation
Singer Beyonce Knowles cancelled her Malaysian stage debut, purportedly because she refused to comply with dress codes established by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. more >
Putting dreams into action
An interview with Spyros Mercouris on cultural policy, the role of culture, inter-cultural dialog, cultural event planning, culture and economy. more >
Sarkozy seeks restoration of France's faded former glories in art
Culture Minister Christine Albanel has been instructed by President Sarkozy to slash the taxes and red tape that are blamed for shunting Paris into the sidings of artistic history. Among the proposals are a reduction in tax on art imports and interest-free loans for collectors. more >
Angola: Government to Reinforce Support to Historical Research
The Fund of Support to Artistic and Cultural Activities will be rearranged so as to provide major aid to scientific and research actions more >
Board reviews Festival and regional cultural issues
Simona Lauti, the Executive Director of the Festival, says preparations are well under way for the region’s largest cultural gathering. more >
Egypt Pushing Efforts For UNESCO Chief
Egypt has stressed that it will continue its efforts to ensure Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni's ascension to be the Director-General of UNESCO. more >
A franchise model for the few-very few
The Bilbao effect - big-name architect, envelope-straining building, and high-profile cultural partner - does not seem easily replicable. You need at least five ingredients in the mix to replicate it. more >
Brazil's minister of culture calls for free digital society
Free culture advocate and Brazilian Minister Gilberto Gil said that digital technology offers a rare opportunity to bring knowledge to under-privileged people around the world and to include them in the political process. more >
Business or culture?
Signs are popping up everywhere that art is finding its way into public life in the United Arab Emirates. more >
No room for no-hopers
IN A recent Saturday column in The Courier-Mail, Des Houghton revealed a curious fact about the Australia Council for the Arts. more >
Regeneration arts project plans win backing of Burnham artists
Artists in Burnham-On-Sea have this week enthusiastically backed proposals for public art to be placed at the centre of the town's regeneration. more >
Winds of change at funding groups
NEW leaders are rethinking the arts and business. more >
An oasis of national culture opens its gates in a city in turmoil, Islamabad
Either way, Pakistan's National Art Gallery, which opened last month, has brought new texture to this otherwise sterile, highly planned capital. more >
Balanced and handy intellectual property system is a dare
On the eve of a WIPO general assembly, Kamal Idris, Director-General, WIPO, shares his thoughts on international intellectual property and development, including bringing traditional knowledge and folklore under the IP rights regime. more >
Creations of writers, artists should benefit country
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said in Horana that the time had come for writers and artists in Sri Lanka to make their creations for the benefit of their country. more >
How Artists Influence Real Estate Prices
Whether in the USA, Argentina, or Italy, investors are realizing how much influence artists can have on real estate values. The end result, however, is usually not good for the artists. more >
Labour conference fringe: The 39p question
An event organised by Arts Council England had an intriguing title: "Culture or cuppa: for 39p, which do you value more?" 39p is the amount of money contributed towards the arts by every English household through their taxes. more >
Request for submissions: UNESCO Observatory E-Journal
The Observatory is calling for articles in the field of Popular Art, Architecture and Design for the second issue of the refereed e-journal due to be published late 2007/early2008. more >
The right is still wrong in Finnish art
Politically conservative artists live in shadow of leftist tradition. more >
30 Years Since the First Seminar for Cultural Administrators in Argentina
This historic seminar which was organized by the Subsecretariat of Culture, and administered by professor Marcelo Fernández, took place in the province of Corrientes in July 1977. more >
A 30 Años del Primer Curso de Administradores Culturales en la República Argentina
Este seminario histórico fue organizado en la provincia de Corrientes en el mes de julio del año 1977 por la Subsecretaría de Cultura que estaba a cargo del profesor Marcelo Fernández, y dictado por Edwin Harvey, experto en políticas públicas para las artes. more >
A Virtual Forum on Cultural Indicators Forms Part of the Events of “Bogotá Capital Iberoamericana de la Cultura 2007”
Bogotá was appointed Ibero-America’s cultural capital for the year 2007. more >
En el marco de los eventos de Bogotá Capital Iberoamericana de la Cultura 2007 se abre foro virtual sobre indicadores culturales
Bogotá fue designada como Capital Iberoamericana de la Cultura para el año 2007. more >
Japan, China and Korea tighten culture links
At their first trilateral ministerial forum in Nantong, China, the culture ministers of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have signed the Nantong Declaration to respect cultural diversity and encourage more cultural exchanges between the young people in the three countries. more >
La XIV Cátedra UNESCO de Comunicación se llevará a cabo en Bogotá, Colombia
Los ponentes se aproximarán teóricamente a las investigaciones recientes sobre la materia y analizarán algunas experiencias de diseño y aplicación de la comunicación para el cambio social. more >
Ministerial Meeting on Culture Opens in Seville
The Tenth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the INCP/RIPC will be inaugurated on Thursday by Spanish Culture Minister Cesar Antonio Molina and will be attended by ministers from 46 countries (also in Spanish). more >
New York is for Artists
Governor Eliot Spitzer signed into effect a new bill that will help artists actually live in the neighborhoods they helped change from gritty to glamorous. more >
SACCD founded at key cultural diversity gathering
South Africa now boasts its own chapter of a Coalition for Cultural Diversity, aimed at maximising the country’s participation in UNESCO’s all-important Convention for Cultural Diversity. more >
The 14th UNESCO Seminar on Communication - Bogotá, Colombia
The Seminar seeks to understand communication’s role in social and political transformation processes and stresses the need to design and put through communication strategies for social change. more >
A call for separation of art and state
In a flurry of gavel banging, hissing and desk tapping, the Yale Political Union met Tuesday evening for a debate on the ties between art and government. more >
Culture links tightened
China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have pledged to cooperate more on cultural activities to boost regional stability and prosperity. more >
Iran, Spain set to boost cultural ties
Iran and Spain have close cultural ties despite the fact that the two countries are geographically far, Spain's Minister of Culture says. more >
Ministry eliminates theatrical script reviewing
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently issued a decision to discard the procedure of reviewing theatrical scripts before staging. more >
Cuba to Defend Cultural Diversity at Ministerial Meeting in Spain
At the 10th Annual Ministerial Meeting of INCP culture ministers in Seville, Spain, Cuba's Abel Prieto will speak about the cultural policy of the Cuban Revolution and of Cuba's position in defense of cultural diversity. more >
Making Space for Asir’s Women Artists
Saudi Arabia suffers from a deficiency in artistic venues. But the situation has been moving in a better direction for aspiring Saudi artists, and a contemporary artists’ colony has recently made efforts to promote more women artists. more >
Red Shift rejects ‘ruthless’ ACE funding
Leading UK touring company Red Shift has withdrawn from its regular funding arrangement with Arts Council England, accusing the organisation of abandoning professional artists in favour of political agendas. more >
Center for Civic Participation Launches Arts & Democracy Project
The Center for Civic Participation's (CCP) Arts & Democracy Project has begun posting profiles of exemplary work in the field. more >
Labor arts policy slated
The opposition's plan to introduce a 'paint-for-the-dole' scheme for artists living off welfare has received a 'shellacking' from the Treasurer. more >
Nearly all public subsidies for music go to classical music
Classical music, and other genres that qualify as 'art' music, get about 94 per cent of all public support distributed by the state and local authorities. more >
Stars make funding appeal to PM
Leading artists and fashion designers are appealing to the Prime Minister not to cut arts funding in England. more >
César Antonio Molina: Spanish Minister for Culture
The new Culture Minister in the Zapatero administration was appointed in July 2007. more >
Cuba and Suriname to strengthen cultural cooperation
The agreement facilitates exchange programmes for artists and technical personnel. more >
Artistes' Social Security Scheme Long Overdue
Yezi-Arts Promotions and Productions has been looking at the establishment of a Social Security Scheme for Artists in Zambia. more >
Can culture jumpstart job creation and youth empowerment?
HOW much can the products of culture be used as tools to addressing the challenges of the time? more >
Cat among the pigeons
A anti-establishment artist and recipient of the government's Silapathorn award explains his reluctance to accept the award, his views on the ministry of culture, and the impact the award has had on his work. more >
Cecile Guidote Alvarez answers her critics
A group of artists and cultural workers has called for the resignation of the NCCA's Executive Director. more >
Merger Director Being Sought by Screen and Arts Board
A committee set up to pave the way for a merger of Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council is next week to advertise for a 'transition director’, to help make the merger actually happen. more >
PM neglected art from the start: Garrett
truggling artists without regular paid work would be given improved access to social security support under a Labor government. more >
La cohesión social es tema central de discusión en foros intergubernamentales iberoamericanos y panamericanos sobre políticas públicas para la cultura y las artes
La noción de cohesión social ha adquirido un rol protagónico y transversal en las políticas públicas. more >
British arts in the balance
It would be a tragedy were a decade's advances to be squandered by a cut in cultural funding. more >
Kazakhstan boosts development of cultural sphere
The State Program for Cultural Sphere Development for the years of 2009-2011 is being developed in Kazakhstan. more >
Social cohesion is a central topic in intergovernmental meetings on arts and culture public policies in Iberoamerica and the Americas
Social cohesion has acquired a central and transversal role in public policies in a globalised world more >
Uganda’s long quest for a reading culture
The National Book Trust of Uganda, an umbrella organisation for authors, readers, publishers and books sellers, aims to turn Uganda into a reading nation through initiatives such as the National Book Week. more >
Arts council must be held accountable
A missile fired by Kathy Keele, chief executive of the Australia Council for the Arts, showed just how much of a secret state we have become. more >
National Arts and Humanities Month
October is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM)-our opportunity to recognize and celebrate the positive impact the arts bring to our schools and communities. more >
The orchestra that is saving children's lives
Julian Lloyd Webber celebrates Venezuela's social and cultural miracle - El Sistema. more >
Volunteering in the arts study launched
Margaret Hodge has announced that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is commissioning a new study which will produce, for the first time, a national picture of amateur arts activity in England. more >
BNC Faults Merger of Tourism and Culture Ministry
The President of the Benin National Congress has condemned the decision of the state Government to merge the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the Ministry of Solid Minerals, saying that the decision was capable of killing the rich cultural heritage of the Benin kingdom.
Cultural programme for prisoners launched
Serving punishment in jail should not be regarded as ostracism or an end to one’s social life, but a new beginning for an optimistic future. more >
Director of Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid resigns
Ana Martínez de Aguilar is going after the Minister for Culture announced plans to modernise the contemporary art museum. more >
Era of targets is over
Newly-appointed secretary of State for Culture James Purnell has made his first substantive speech calling for a change in statistical “targets” in the arts: “Targets were probably necessary in 1997 [when Labour came to power], to force a change of direction in some parts of the arts world. But now, we risk idolising them.” He has appointed Sir Brian McMaster, a member of Arts Council England, to advise on “how we can remove crude targets”. more >
High Expectations for Artists' Funding
Excitement exploded among artists on Wednesday evening with the formal announcement that they at long last qualify for direct government funding to pursue their creative crafts and careers. more >
National Arts Council Launched
Namibian artists can now look into the future with renewed hope, following the official launch of the National Arts Council. more >
Using ‘komiks’ to help save the environment
The National Commission on Culture and the Arts is using its comic book program to help the government’s information drive on environmental issues. more >
Council tax freeze first step to abolition
Among the immediate challenges for Scotland's new SNP government is the reforming of the government agencies that support the arts. more >
Funding for Arts Month
Funding for Arts Month will take place in October at the Foundation Center's library/learning centers in New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco. more >
The role of evidence in the cultural sector
The journal Cultural Trends has announced a call for papers for an inaugural conference Challenging myths, researching reality – The role of evidence in the cultural sector for the northern hemisphere Autumn 2007. more >
Chávez pours millions more into pioneering music scheme
President Hugo Chávez has thrown his weight behind "Misión Música", a government-funded effort to give tuition and instruments to 1 million impoverished children. more >
Cultural combat that cannot be joined
A famous Armenian song master has called for the ministry of culture to be the 'connecting link' in the field of culture. 'It is clear that the ministry does not have the function to dictate its will on the state,' he said. more >
Cultural paupers
In the Israeli government's recently approved budget, the portion allocated to culture is not even a fifth of 1 percent: only 0.15 percent of the state's budget is granted to the Culture Administration. more >
Day soldiers nearly drowned me in maggot-infested pond
Ben Tomoloju is a veteran journalist who has used journalism to promote art and culture in the country. more >
Jordan to Support Celebrating Jerusalem as Capital of Arab Culture 2009
Jordan's Minister of Culture Adel Tweisi has said that JD709,000 has been allocated for preparations and cultural activities to celebrate Jerusalem as Capital of Arab Culture 2009. more >
New Coalition to host conference on cultural diversity convention
The newly-created South African Coalition for Cultural Diversity will host delegates from 12 countries to discuss the implications of the UNESCO convention and the role that civil society organizations can play in its implementation. more >
Expanding minds with art
Art is an open door to learning everything else.
Syria and Qatar Sign Executive Program of Cultural Cooperation Agreement
Syrian Ministry of Culture and the Qatar's National Culture Council signed on Monday the first executive program for the cultural cooperation agreement between Syria and Qatar for the years 2007-2009. more >
The art of giving
Donations worth $15 million to three competing galleries were announced last week. more >
We should Fight to Protect Cultural Rights
In an addressto a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) ministerial meeting on 'Human Rights and Cultural Diversity' in Iran, Cuba's foreign minister has called for a global campaign to defend cultural rights. more >
A consultative visit to Vietnam by Swedish Former Cultural Minister
With the support from Sweden, Vietnam has been conducting the review of its cultural development situation with an aim to completing the national cultural policies since 2000. more >
New session, new name as SNP sets work of government
The government will set up a new agency to promote the arts. more >
Artist and state patronage
A brief look at the history and effects of state support for the arts in India from the navratna (nine jewels) in the court of Akbar to today's 'Indipop'. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >