International News in November 2007
Show all of 2007
The Death of French Culture
Due in part to government cultural policies, France is a wilting power in the global cultural marketplace. But it can regain its reputation as a cultural power if the more conventional minds of the French cultural establishment stop fretting about decline and start applauding the ferment on the fringes. more >
Why creative people are putting their work free on the Net
The accessibility of creative work on the Internet is changing traditional ideas about intellectual property, and some major artists are beginning to respond. more >
New Minister For Environment, Heritage and Arts
Former rock band front-man, now politician, Peter Garrett, was today given responsibility for Environment, Heritage and Arts in the newly elected Australian Labor government. more >
Arts Policy: who makes it and for whom?
After a meeting in Turin, Italy, independent cultural policy consultant Christopher Gordon ponders: who dictates arts policy these days? more >
Creative sector 'forgotten and marginalised' by the EU
The European Commission is ignoring the economic potential of cultural issues, focusing too much on standard industry policies and not enough on creative industries, say experts. more >
Culture Europe International is now on the internet!
Culture Europe International has become an online magazine, freely available on the website. more >
PM calls for a mindset that respects culture
India's Prime Minister has addressed the 12th National Conference of National Trust and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage with a plea for a mindset that respects the past and wishes to learn from it. more >
'Shock' at arts under-spend
The Department of Culture, Arts and Lesiure is being asked to explain why funding for the arts is hard to come when it underspent in the last financial year. more >
A source of creative energy we're fools not to tap
Richard Florida bemoans that the most overlooked, but most important, element of his theory and of the creative economy is that every human being is creative. more >
Community festivals to be boosted by Assembly
Next week the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister is expected to unveil a new 'matching funds' scheme for community-based festivals which will operate in part through local councils. more >
Innovative web based video encyclopedia of India
In association with UNESCO, Invis Multimedia has created a video atlas that covers not just India's geographical features, but also its cultural ones. more >
Iran targets 'obscene' rap music
The Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance has announced a campaign against rap music which it considers obscene. more >
Multiculturalism
Aboriginal history has become part of the Australian story. But the histories that immigrants bring to this country remain largely excluded from that story. more >
Plenty of room for culture amid shopping crowd
An shopping street association has received a prime minister's award for supporting cultural events in shopping streets by making use of vacant shops and organizing photography exhibitions and street performances. more >
Public art Wales launches new indentity as safle
The organisation for public art in Wales has launched its new name and identity, coinciding with ArtOutside, an initiative for celebrating public art in Wales. more >
Public arts funders celebrate growth in support for public arts funding
Arts councils from across Canada celebrated the growth in support for public arts funding at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Public Arts Funders. more >
Without a play, an empty theatre is just a building
A proposed levy on tickets to invest public money in London's decaying West End theatres should really be spent on what goes on stage instead. more >
Does Reading Matter?
Amazon debuts Kindle just as the National Endowment for the Arts says it's fading. more >
Lasswade pupils beat out lessons
Midlothian children are literally having facts and figures drummed into them — and loving every minute of it! more >
Measuring cultural diversity
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics has released a report on its expert group meeting on measuring cultural diversity held in September in Montreal, Canada. more >
Southern Africa: Poor Funding Chokes Cultural Festivals
Lack of sponsorship, commitment and infrastructure in some Southern African countries contributed to the demise of the arts festival meant to create a mutual understanding among the people of the region. more >
U.S Scholars Ask For Normal Relations with Cuba
More than 200 artists and scholars from the USA asked their president to end the travel ban that prevents U.S. citizens from visiting Cuba and allow Cuban artists and scholars to visit the United States. more >
5th conference of Ministers of Culture in Islamic World Draft Final Communique
The 5th conference of Ministers of Culture in Islamic World, held in Tripoli, concluded on Thursday by issuing a Draft Final Communiqué. more >
Arabs Hold Cultural Meeting
Arab culture ministers will meet on Sunday in a two-day extraordinary session to discuss conditions of material and non-material heritage in the Arab world. more >
Every primary school to become a musical school
A national campaign to make primary schools come alive with the sound of music, involving a £332 million investment in choirs, orchestras, new instruments, performance and free music lessons. more >
Inside the tomb of tomes
A warehouse is being built to house the books and journals that no one wants. With the British Library's UK collection growing at a rate of 12.5km of shelf space a year, is the notion of the copyright library really sustainable? more >
Kazakh Information and Culture Ministry to promote NGOs
Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan will allocate kzt700m toward the development of non-governmental organisations. more >
Minister of Culture in Palestine Arrives in Libya
Minister of Culture in Palestine arrived in Tripoli, Libya, to take part in the 5th conference of the Culture Ministers in the Muslim countries. more >
Origin of the working class contribution to the development of art in Guyana
Stanley Greaves on the history the contribution made by artists of a working class background to the development the arts in Guyana. more >
The arts are coloured brown
Arts Boards: If the sole reward for hundreds of hours of budget scrutiny and sulky artistic directors is a Christmas card from Gordon Brown, why bother to apply? more >
5th Conference for Culture Ministers of Islamic States Kicked off
Culture Ministers from many Islamic States attend the opening of the 5th Conference for Culture Ministers of Islamic States opened in Tripoli, Libya, under the theme 'Cultural Policies in the Islamic World'. more >
Art$ deliver more than entertainment
Earlier this month, Americans For the Arts' articulate director, Robert Lynch, shared his vision of the arts, not just to nourish the soul, but to re-energize entire cities. more >
French gov't plans to disconnect content pirates
The French government plans to extend measures to deal with digital piracy, cutting off the Internet connections of those suspected of illegal filesharing. more >
In Zimbabwe, theater critics have the power to prosecute
A rich culture of protest theater has sprung up in Zimbabwe, but artists are under increasing pressure from President Robert Mugabe's security forces as he crushes dissent. more >
Iran and Algeria plan joint cultural week
The Iranian and Algerian culture ministers have made plans to hold a joint cultural week in early March. more >
Look to creative industries: economist
Richard Florida: Australia should look to creative industries if it wants to develop into an Asian economic powerhouse. more >
Mongolian President praises work of Arts Council of Mongolia
Arts Council head N. Jantsannorov noted that the Arts Council continues to promote the nation’s culture and art as well as preserve the cultural heritage of the Mongolian people. more >
National Museum of Iraq to reopen
Nearly five years after the museum was ransacked, two main galleries should go on view this month; funding has come from Italy. more >
Ratify UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity OIF told
The secretary general of the Francophonie is urging member states of OIF to ratify the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity. more >
The new cultural revolution
The Beijing Olympic Games have been described as the superpower's "coming-out party". The authorities are also slowly realising that the arts will play a central role in improving China's international image. more >
Yemen suggests establishing islamic fund for cultural development
At the 5th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, Yemen suggested establishing an Islamic Fund for Cultural Development. more >
DCMS admits its arts funding figures are wrong
The DCMS has been forced to admit to a series of embarrassing errors after an investigation by The Stage revealed it had been mistakenly overstating the amount of money given to the arts by government. more >
Gov't, business sponsors fuel booming Chinese arts scene
The booming Chinese arts scene can be partially attributed to support by both the government and private sectors. more >
Kissing Militiamen Make Director of Tretyakovka and Minister of Culture Fight
Valentin Rodionov, the director of the Tretyakov Gallery has sued Minister of Culture of RF Alexander Sokolov. more >
Minister of Culture Highlights Artists' Contribution to Liberation Struggle
Angolan minister of Culture has highlighted the contribution made by artists in the national liberation struggle. more >
Welcome Shot in the Arm for Local Theatre Groups
Kenya Theatre's financial migraine is gradually becoming a thing of the past, with groups now receiving grants from an institute funded by Sida aimed at raising the standards of Kenyan theatre. more >
Germany Announces 2008 as Year of Azerbaijani Culture
Germany announced 2008 as the Year of Azerbaijani Culture, the chairman of the Mainz-Azerbaijan community Bashar Komur has said. more >
Meetings of Arab, Islamic culture ministers
Culture ministers of the 57-member Oganisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will hold their fifth conference in Tripoli, and are expected to declare the city as the capital of Islamic Culture. more >
President vows remarkable increase in cultural budget
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed on Monday that his government would allocate a 'remarkable budget' to activities of the cultural sector. more >
Winners of Award for Dialogue between Cultures
The Winners of the Euro-Med Award for the Dialogue between Cultures have been announced. more >
£100m cost of keeping city festival in lead role
THE cost of keeping Edinburgh's festivals ahead of the growing competition in the UK and abroad has been officially estimated at more than £100 million. more >
Artist Colonies, 'Heat Shield' From Critics, May Get U.S. Funds
Twelve years after Congress ended most funding to individual artists, the National Endowment for the Arts may reopen the flow of money to poets, musicians, writers and painters through artist colonies. more >
Get children involved in theatre early
In the circumstances it would seem that the government has got it utterly wrong because its emphasis on literacy and numeracy within the curriculum has squeezed out the arts in many schools. more >
Japanese culture mesmerizes Yemen
The Embassy of Japan in Sana’a at the first ever Japan Culture Week held last week at Culture House in Sana’a. more >
On culture in America
The economic numbers show that America dedicates more resources to culture than Europe, and it has more museums, movie theaters, and publishing houses per inhabitant than the culturally proud Europe. more >
Students to be involved in campaign against vandalism at heritage sites
The Ministry of Culture will involve school students in a campaign against vandalism at heritage sites, which includes students across India taking an oath on November 19 every year. more >
Sultanate to attend ministers of culture meeting in Libya
The Sultanate’s participation emanates from its belief in the importance of culture as a base for building a modern state and preserving national identity. more >
UNESCO hosts Iraqi Cultural Week
The wealth and diversity of Iraq’s arts and culture will be celebrated at UNESCO Headquarters from 12 to 21 November. more >
Users don't expect social networking from libraries
A new study suggests that creating social networking sites is not perceived as a core function of libraries, and that the library brand must move from 'institutional' to 'personal'. more >
Whose cultural identity is it, anyway?
But what is culture? The EU’s own definition – in Article 5: Decision 1419/1999/EC, should you want to look it up – talks about the arts, literature and shared lifestyle. more >
Budgeting for a bigger profile in the world
Linda Fabiani: "We are determined to maintain and develop our rich cultural tradition". more >
Composer warns of 2014 games threat
Conservatives claim there has already been a £200m cut in funding for arts and heritage every year since 1997 - by raiding the National Lottery. more >
Cultural debate is kicked into the long grass: again
It is almost four years to the day since the last First Minister claimed culture would now be at the heart of government. more >
Don't get your fingers burned in bonfire of the quangos
While the Scottish Arts Council has been combined with Scottish Screen, rolled into a new super-quango called Creative Scotland and given an even bigger budget, sportscotland faces closure. more >
Festival funding talks 'positive'
A meeting between Northern Ireland's Arts Minister and Queen's University over the future of the Belfast Festival has been hailed as "positive" . more >
Greek culture minister supports European agenda
Greek Culture Minister has said that Athens was in favour of creating a common European agenda for culture during his participation in a meeting of EU culture ministers held in Brussels. more >
Italy funds restoration through TV telethon
Culture minister and celebrities plead for donations. more >
It’s good to be green
Karen Price looks at just some of the ways in which the arts industry in Wales is helping tackle important green issues. more >
Lost: translation
Richard Lea goes in search of the literary world disappearing from the map because of English publishers' resistance to books from other countries. more >
National Museum design competition winners announced
A new national museum will serve as a milestone to present and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan. more >
UNESCO launches appeal to stop illicit trafficking of Iraqi cultural property
The International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage has appealed to the international community to help stop illicit excavations, pillaging and trafficking of Iraqi cultural property. more >
Vietnamese culture week wraps up in RoK
A week showcasing Vietnam , titled “Vietnam – the Hidden Charm”, concluded in Seoul , the Republic of Korea (RoK), on November 15. more >
What Rihanna means to us
What developmental programmes has the Ministry of Culture established or hope to put in place to unearth the latent talent amongst young artistes? more >
Arts Council prepares for Festival
The Interim Government may not be invited but the Fiji Arts Council as a non-government organisation is preparing for the Pacific Arts Festival in American Samoa. more >
Arts ire for canadian taxpayers federation
Members of B.C.'s arts community are reacting with incredulity to a public commentary released by the B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). more >
Culture is an intrinsic part of combating poverty
Policy is on the move in culture and development. A coalition of 17 Dutch organisations in the cultural sector and a number of organisations for development cooperation has been working to get a stronger role assigned to culture in development cooperation. more >
MPs demand 'Arts council of the airwaves'
MPs yesterday recommended creating a "arts council of the airwaves" that would distribute funds to fill gaps in public service programming created by the digital age. more >
Opposition lashes out at gallery plan
The federal opposition parties are scathing in their response to the government's new scheme for a national portrait gallery, calling it impractical, divisive and potentially much more expensive than the renovated Ottawa building it replaces. more >
Sound of Music Heals Wounds in Former Yugoslavia
Pragmatic interests are replacing the old ideology of “brotherhood and unity” as a motor for renewed artistic cooperation. more >
Subprime Losses, Slashed Bonuses Threaten Funding to Nonprofits
Nonprofit groups say it's too early to predict how their fundraising will be affected by the housing-market turmoil that has forced the world's biggest banks to write down more than $40 billion. more >
Abbey Theatre to stage subtitled play
The facilities, which are being used for the first time in the Abbey’s 104-year history, are being co-ordinated by Arts & Disability Ireland (ADI) with funding from The Arts Council. more >
Bulgarian and Austrian Culture Ministers meet
Bulgaria's Culture Minister and Austrian Federal Minister for Education, Arts and Culture have met in Vienna to discuss bilateral cultural relations. more >
Creative forum could return
London could once again host an annual international creative conference, comparable to the World Creative Forum, a Green Paper due out in December is likely to suggest. more >
Cuba and Ecuador Sign Cultural Agreement
Ecuadorian Minister of Culture Antonio Preciado said the agreement seeks to take advantage of the rich experience of Cuba in cultural management. more >
Forum of Yemeni and Arabic artists held
This forum lets Yemenis and Arabs artists know others’ experiences and exchange their views concerning the arts. more >
Forum on Economy of culture and cultural policies for local communities
African and foreign museum experts, scholars in human and social sciences, journalists and cultural activists attended a forum in the framework of the West African Museum Programme colloquium. more >
Social networking Web site launched for artists
A Canadian publisher and philanthropist has launched a new social networking site for artists, underlining the growing influence of the Internet in showcasing and selling art. more >
Study: Aging Artists Remain Resilient
A new study finds that aging artists offer a model for society, especially as the workforce changes to accommodate multiple careers and baby boomers entering the retirement generation. more >
The ‘Nation Brand’ Marketplace
As a new report outlines, 'nation branding' has established itself as a hip new field, both in academia and consulting. more >
Writers strike won't be showstopper for economy
Despite all the publicity it generates, the television and film writers strike is not likely to have a major economic impact on the nation's entertainment capitals. more >
'Freedom' pledge over new culture body
Scotland's new cultural funding body will be free from government intervention, the Culture Minister said in parliament yesterday. more >
101 Book Titles At Convention
The Language and Literature Bureau (DBP), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, is making available hundreds of book titles and magazines at the ongoing 4th Brunei Literary Writers Convention 2007. more >
Arts and minds
A project is bringing together science, arts and philosophy to answer questions such as how can we measure beauty objectively. more >
Arts industry applauds Labor funding pledge
The Australia Council has welcomed a promise by the Federal Opposition to provide more funding for the arts in areas outside major cities. more >
Authorities aim to revitalise Algerian cinema
The Ministry of Culture is now trying to restore some of the lustre to Algeria's 'seventh art'. more >
Bulgaria's Culture Ministry to Organise International Culture Conference
A conference on the new dimensions of intercultural dialogue in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe more >
Burrows’ tax victory saves actors VAT on work outside EU
According to Equity, which helped represent the actors, if the appeal had been lost it would have meant VAT being charged on all UK VAT-registered actors working outside the EU. more >
Cultural affairs ministry not cooperating
The committee to assess the procedure for sending artefacts to the Guimet Museum in Paris for exhibition has alleged that the officials at cultural affairs ministry are unwilling to cooperate with it and provide necessary documents. more >
Cultural Policy and International Funds
With its art and culture programme the Ford Foundation strives to expand opportunities for artistic and cultural expression. more >
Emirates Foundation offers first arts awards to seven nationals
The Emirates Foundation, one of the leading philanthropic institutions in the UAE, today announced its first arts funding grants for seven UAE national beneficiaries. more >
Excellent diverse work must come from grassroots - Purnell
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport James Purnell has called for a “bottom up” transformation of the arts sector to put diverse work at the centre of cultural institutions’ artistic policies. more >
Extraordinary Meeting of Culture Arab Ministers Slated for November 25
It is considered as breakthrough in the sense that the 18 ministers will meet for the first time ever at the same moment. more >
Greater private funding necessary to sustain arts, says culture minister
Culture minister has warned the arts world that it was 'lucky' at the recent spending review and must look to private and corporate funding if it is to prosper in the future. more >
Hodge calls for more confident arts council with ‘respect of the sector’
Arts Council England must become more “outward looking” and seek to engage and support organisations which it does not fund, according to culture minister Margaret Hodge. more >
Hodge calls for more confident arts council with ‘respect of the sector’
Arts Council England must become more 'outward looking' and seek to engage and support organisations which it does not fund, according to culture minister Margaret Hodge. more >
Interest-free loans for musos
Frustrated Eric Claptons and Elton Johns are being helped by an Arts Council initiative to unleash England’s untapped talent. more >
Minister Opens 4th Brunei Writers' Meeting
The integration of literature into the academic curriculum of students in the Science field at secondary level would enable them to better grasp the Malay language and also contribute towards the development of local literature. more >
Nonprofit arts groups outgrowing their funding
Federal data shows that because of huge growth in the sector, nonprofit arts groups are having trouble finding venues and money to put on performances, and that their average income has dropped by 44 percent. more >
Top author warns of arts neglect
Bryce Courtenay says whichever party wins the upcoming federal election, they are likely to neglect the arts. more >
Why were the activities of three religious organisations stopped?
Tajikistan's Culture Ministry has banned or suspended three religious organisations and is trying to force them to change their charters, more >
Yemen’s cultural heritage seeks protection
Commentary on discussions at the WIPO Inter-Regional Forum on the Protection of Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore held in Yemen. more >
Brazil's Gilberto Gil to resign from government post due to health
Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil, founder of the 1960s Tropicalismo movement and a Grammy Award winner, will be resigning as his country's culture minister because of a serious health problem. more >
Export ban placed on £2m Turner
A Turner painting valued at £2 million has been temporarily banned from going abroad to give UK arts institutions a chance to purchase it for the nation. more >
Arts Council Tackles the Regions
In an effort to introduce and inform the nation about the National Arts Council of Namibia (NACN), a tour around the country was recently undertaken by the council. more >
Scheduled Cultural Events Postponed Due To State Of Emergency
All cultural events scheduled for this time will be held after the state of emergency is lifted in the country. more >
Third generation artist on the role of the arts in the community
What do we remember of ancient Greece? It's not the businesses that were created. We don't remember the highways. It's art. more >
Arts Strategy Board Heralds New Era For Creativity in Wales
Rhodri Glyn Thoman, Welsh Assembly Government Heritage Minister, has chaired the first meeting of the new Arts Strategy Board in Wales. more >
Bulgaria and Macedonia Signed for Cultural Collaboration
Culture Ministers of Bulgaria and Macedonia have signed a program for collaboration in the cultural sphere for 2007- 2009. more >
Flemish Ministry of Culture invests in videogame
A new Flemish investment fund founded by the Flemish Ministry of Culture will be supporting the development of a videogame. more >
Preparations for the 5th conference of Islamic States Culture Ministers
An expanded meeting was held Wednesday morning in Tripoli to followup on the ongoing arrangements and preparations for the 5th conference to be held in Tripoli 21-23 November. more >
Tory taskforce advocates government replaces ACE in arts funding control
The Conservative Party’s Arts Taskforce has recommended the responsibility for funding England’s national performing arts companies be taken away from Arts Council England and transferred to central government. more >
35 countries discuss protection of culture and intellectual property
Conservation, preservation, management, sustainable utilization, and benefit-sharing have been addressed in the Inter-Regional Forum on the Protection of Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore. more >
Arts council faces probe for breach of rules
Scotland's art funding body breached financial guidelines by giving a five-figure pay-off to its former chief executive. more >
Cuban writers and artists: the coming Congress
The UNEAC may state with no sense of triumphalism that thanks to the work of writers, artists and promoters and the political will of the country, the cultural network of the nation has been restored. more >
The missing vice versa of Maltese art today
There is more to life than the price of tinned tuna. The promotion of the arts can only become a reality when the only entity that can afford to subsidise it, the government, would opt to do so. The sooner the better. more >
Tories to split arts and sport funding
A policy review taskforce, comprising key figures in the arts world, was today outlining a series of measures on how a future government could promote a cultural renaissance in Britain. more >
Tory bid to boost spending in arts
Millions more pounds should be devoted each year to a fund that preserves Britain's threatened heritage. more >
Arts council debate - people believe in public arts funding
The Arts Council's arts debate results show that the people of England believe the arts are a truly important part of life and should attract public funding, but resources should be directed to art that is as inclusive as possible. more >
Arts Council looks for extra €20m
The Arts Council has said it needs an extra €20 million in funding from the Government for 2008. more >
First Amendment protects artists as well as media
The First Amendment doesn’t just protect the media; it protects freedom of expression for all Americans more >
Northern Ireland Assembly plans ‘devastating’ £1.3m arts cut
Northern Ireland’s cultural industry has been left reeling by the announcement of further cuts in its funding. more >
Summit on the arts deserves our attention
So what do we mean by 'culture'? Defined in turn, the arts are specific forms of human communication? more >
Theatre careers for youngsters
Arts Council England's Open Doors initiative aims to attract young people to the theatre industry by holding events designed to introduce them to creative career opportunities. more >
Extending copyright carries complications
A ministerial subpanel debating a proposal to extend copyright protection periods is divided between those sympathetic to copyright holders who want to extend the period and members cautious about the idea. more >
How theatre can mend our broken democracy
These exciting forms of theatre are teaching people how to act again; how to engage with their environment and the people around them. more >
Government grants additional money for national film archive
The Bulgarian Government granted an additional 440 000 leva to the budget of the Ministry of Culture the National Film Archive's film fund. more >
International year of languages
The year 2008 has been proclaimed International Year of Languages by the United Nations General Assembly more >
Let a thousand artists bloom
Until recently, China viewed its artists with suspicion – but suddenly their work is winning global acclaim and record prices, and the establishment is embracing the avant-garde. more >
Lights, cameras but very little action as ailing Ardmore struggles
Ireland long benefited from offering tax and financial incentives to film studios. However, since the mid-1990s other European countries have followed suit, with many now offering more attractive packages. more >
Nation 'too parochial' to engage
The director of last year's Sydney Biennale, Charles Merewether, has departed for a plum job in the United Arab Emirates, using the occasion to launch a scathing attack on the visual arts in Australia. more >
The arts of being a doctor
There is an increasing awareness that doctors also need to know about medicine's place in arts and literature. more >
How Educated Must an Artist Be?
Increasing numbers of college and university administrators are urging artists to obtain doctoral degrees. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >