International News in December 2007
Show all of 2007
Egypt ponders bill to copyright the pyramids
Egypt might seek out copyright on its antiquities, from the pyramids to scarab beetles, in an attempt to collect royalties from the creation of replicas. more >
U.S. copyright waived in tiny nation
The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has won the right to waive U.S. copyrights in films, television and music under an unusual ruling by the World Trade Organization. more >
Bangladesh culture ministry chief resigns over missing relics
The head of the Ministry of Culture has resigned over the disappearance of a shipment of ancient relics. more >
Britain to woo world with first cultural envoy
The UK's first 'cultural ambassador' will be appointed to increase the profile of British galleries around the world and to bring more exhibitions to Britain from abroad. more >
Government to reinstate arts budget
Pressure from cultural institutions has proven effective, as the Prime Minister has decided to reduce planned cutbacks on government funding of the arts in 2008. more >
Is Art an Industry or a Luxury?
The debate over whether the capital-gains tax rate for art and collectibles should remain higher than for real estate and securities. more >
Ministry of Culture Invests in Staff Training for Development
Culture minister says his institution will continue paying major attention to the training of personnel, with a view to the development of the country’s cultural arts. more >
Our cultural industry needs a fresh look
China still lags behind other countries in its development of the cultural industry. more >
Performing arts funding to be reviewed
The Funding Committee for the Performing Arts will review the present subvention arrangement for the performing-arts sector and develop new funding-assessment criteria and disburse subventions under the new funding model from 2009. more >
Tax breaks may not encourage charitable giving
It remains unclear whether tax breaks for charitable donations actually encourage giving. Some research suggests that it doesn't. more >
National Arts Policy Leader Visits Houston
Arts, tourism and business have more in common than most Houstonians realize according to Americans for the Arts Vice President of Policy and Research, Randy Cohen. more >
Nepalese Culture Under Attack
It is unfortunate that most of our policymakers and politicians think culture is unproductive and, therefore, do not bother to preserve our precious cultural values. more >
Officials working to boost Iran-Egypt cultural ties
Iran and Egypt have ancient civilizations and deep cultures, and improving cultural relations between the two countries will help efforts to boost diplomatic ties. more >
Poland to receive over EUR 500m in EU cultural funds
Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture, has stated that it is worth investing in culture, as it becomes a source of income, profit and commercial gain. more >
Raúl Castro to inaugurate in Santiago de Cuba a concert band school
The center of musical formation is part of a strategy of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro to give a Band to every single one of the more than 160 municipalities in Cuba. more >
Reading Habits of Blind and Physically Handicapped Defy National Trend
Participants in the Talking Book program, provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, read more than the general population by a significant amount. more >
Using culture to build the future
With a desire to build the future of Nigeria using artistic and cultural products, a number of culture workers, artists, scholars and journalists gathered recently in Abuja for a four-day conference. more >
Nepal Academy sans officials for last 19 months
The seven party government has not shown any interest to appoint officials at the Nepal Academy, an institution conceptualised to promote art, culture and literature in the country. more >
Theatre companies join forces to go the distance
Changes in funding policy now strongly encourage partnerships, be they co-productions or co-presentations. more >
Azerbaijan to Become Culture Capital of Islamic Countries: Minister
Azerbaijan after uniting the different cultures will host the several international events. more >
Spain wants culture channel
Taking as a reference Franco-German culture channel Arte, Spain's Ministry of Culture plans to launch a Spanish cultural channel. more >
British Council: These crass bureaucrats are placing the arts in real danger
The arts world is suddenly in turmoil. News that the British Council, which promotes the arts abroad, is to disband many of its specialist departments coincides with changes to the funding of projects. more >
Dancing with technology
A Minnesota Shubert Center program uses a live audio-video Web connection to bring the arts to school kids statewide. more >
Towns want to get rich from culture
The towns are spending money not only on a cultural program and marketing activities but also on making their towns more attractive. more >
EU institutes back British Council in Russia row
European cultural institutes have sent a letter to the Russian government expressing deep concern over moves against the British government's cultural arm, which is caught up in a diplomatic row between London and Moscow. more >
MoCTCA to Draft a Culure Policy Soon
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said that the ministry would soon form a cultural policy for the first time in Nepal. more >
Talking Musica - I Believe In Art
Our definition of culture in the past years of independence has been limited to bare-breasted girls thumping the earth at the airport to welcome visiting 'dignitories'. more >
Too Many Options Lead To Bad Choices?
According to author and professor Barry Schwartz, an overwhelming number of options in today's world often cause paralysis and dissatisfaction - prompting similar responses to a tidal wave of regional cultural offerings. more >
Arts bodies await funding ‘bloodbath’
Theatres, galleries and orchestras face closure in the biggest funding cull for 60 years. more >
On with the show
Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina recently unveiled her latest a RM32.5 million cultural village that will be developed by the Ministry Of Culture, Arts and Heritage (KeKKWA). more >
Time to let the cultural desert bloom
The new government starts its term with a relatively blank canvas on the arts and it is not yet clear how, or even if, it will be filled in. more >
Americans for the Arts announces 2008 Convention Program
Details of the 2008 Convention program for 'American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life' have been posted online. more >
First Fame-style school planned
The first fully-selective arts academy will be built in Birmingham, ministers have revealed. more >
Melvyn Bragg on the role of disability arts in the nation's cultural life
The motion - that disability and deaf arts ought to be dead and buried, ie that we are all in the mainstream now - clearly found little favour. more >
Ministers of Culture adopt European Agenda for Culture
During their November meeting, the European Ministers of Culture adopted the objectives and instruments proposed by the European Commission in its Communication on Culture. The Council resolution on the ‘European agenda for culture’ brings to a close the long consultation process and opens up some new perspectives for cultural policy developments at EU level. more >
The Big Question: What is the British Council, and does it still serve a useful purpose?
The British Council, tasked with promoting British culture, language and business around the world, has found itself at the centre of a diplomatic row after the Russian government ordered it to close two of its offices. more >
Africa: You're Poor Stay Home
Several major European cultural exchange organisations and FreeMuse have launched a major initiative to lobby European governments to ease visa and work permits for musicians from developing countries. more >
Another Movement of Musical Diplomacy
If North Korea keeps its promises, potentially millions of its isolated, tightly controlled citizens are likely to hear their national anthem played on the radio by the New York Philharmonic. more >
Cash warning from Arts Council
The arts sector in Northern Ireland is losing the equivalent of £250,000 under the draft budget, the Arts Council warned tonight. more >
A global perspective on communities and memories
A global selection of speakers are confirmed for Memory of the World 2008, the policy analysis and strategic review meeting that aims to set the agenda for the management of cultural resources. more >
African Crossroads – The culture tree
Culture is the living nucleus of society – the protoplasm that runs through roots, trunk, branches, leaves, fruits and flowers of the spreading tree of our social, economic and political existence. more >
Ain't no sunshine when the grants are gone
Tensions between the arts-as-business model and the arts-as-welfare model are impacting on the arts sector. more >
Art for art’s sake?
HIV/Aids has been a curse in more ways than one: it has dominated the funding of the arts to such an extent that unless you can show you are doing something connected with this wretched disease, you don’t get a cent. more >
Artists Shoot Themselves in the Foot
Unbecoming and insensitive behaviour by some Namibian artists is hindering recognition of the arts industry. more >
Arts world at Stormont in funds fight
Artists, writers and actors from across Northern Ireland were due to take their fight for better funding for the arts to the steps of Stormont today. more >
Disincrease for the arts in budget
There should be a word for an increase that is effectively a decrease - 'disincrease', maybe? more >
European Devs Ink Video Game Manifesto
Six games development trade associations have produced a 'Manifesto’ to increase awareness amongst EU politicians of the games industry’s cultural and artistic importance. more >
Film Festival Scores Victory for Free Speech
A major film festival lawsuit has won a key victory for free speech and artists' rights by removing state arts funding restrictions similar to the NEA's guidelines. more >
I'll take the recycled, light-green one please
This fuel4arts special report explores global retail trends for artists and designers. more >
Insurance cover allows artists to breathe easily
England Visual arts projects can benefit from a new public liability insurance at no charge. more >
New Arts Research Digest Website
Arts Research Digest, the digest of recent and current research in the arts, media and cultural sectors around the world, has launched its new website. more >
Postcards target arts funds
A group calling itself Save Cincinnati Arts is urging Cincinnatians to create postcard-sized works of art with the words 'Save Cincinnati Arts' on them to send to City Council. more >
Prestigious museums to form 'cultural G8'
A new collaboration between eight major arts institutions will mark a 'turning point in the planet-wide coordination of cultural policy.' more >
Pupils to get five hours of arts lessons a week
Every child in Britain will have the chance to experience the arts directly at school with five hours of cultural learning and activity every week the government will pledge this week. more >
Scheme to open the arts world to children is axed
A valued scheme to increase the participation of children in artistic activities is to be axed by the Scottish Government. more >
The Government of Canada Announces Contribution to New International Fund for Cultural Diversity
Minister Verner made the announcement of a $500,000 contribution for 2008-09 during the inaugural session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. more >
A Salad Of Sounds
A uniform national policy for culture? Who in our diverse, federal system would agree? more >
Garrett gives back to the arts
Has the arts community got ahead of itself? Excited by this week's announcement of the $300,000 annual Prime Minister's Literary Awards, Australia's cultural community wondered, what next? more >
Philharmonic Agrees to Play in North Korea
Adding a cultural wrinkle to the diplomatic engagement between the United States and North Korea, the New York Philharmonic plans to visit Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, in February. more >
Free DVD music lessons snapped up
Arts Council England has given away 10,000 music tutorial DVDs to encourage youngsters to pursue music. more >
Pigheadedness or traditionalism in Slovenia's cultural policy?
Katja Praznik visited the international theatrical arts festival "Exodos" in Ljubljana, where big names and ambitious projects are on show. She draws the following conclusions about conditions for creative artists in Slovenia. more >
Big Picture: Just what is entertainment worth?
Unease hovers over the strike like a black cloud: no one in Hollywood can agree on the value of entertainment. more >
Creative Clusters 2007 highlights
Creative Clusters 2007 saw 510 delegates from 41 countries come together to examine how creativity is driving economies worldwide. more >
Cuba Fosters Reading, Thinking and Dialog
Initiatives to promote books, reading, literature, thinking and dialog will spread throughout the country. more >
EU funds research into roles for older female performers
The research will examine what roles exist for older women and how decisions are made when casting parts which can be played by either sex. It will also look how women over 40 are portrayed in television and theatre. more >
European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 launch
The European Commission has launched the communication campaign for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 with the them 'Together in Diversity'. more >
In Russia: A Battle For Control Of Culture
Prominent artists and writers, cognizant of a long, dark history of repression, have been expressing deep anxiety about the government starting to encroach on artistic freedom. more >
Second National Arts Policy Roundtable
Over thirty leaders from business, government, philanthropy, education, and the arts convened in Sundance, Utah, to address how the arts can help foster students’ creative and innovative skills in order to compete in the 21st Century global workplace. more >
Translation at the heart of Cultural Diversity
Index Translationum is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Index is an instrument for observing and evaluating translation flows and serves as a basis for the elaboration of cultural policies in the book sector. more >
Culture, a means of contact between an integrated Europe and globalisation
The European Union can develop its identity in a world in search of reference points and can count on the support of local and regional authorities as nurseries and protectors of the cultural heritage of the people. more >
How green is my beanstalk?
What is the carbon footprint of your average theatre? How can it be slashed by two thirds? Is a greener pantomime season really going to make a difference to global warming? more >
Materials for the Arts
Materials for the Arts gathers materials from companies and individuals that no longer need them, and redistributes them to artists and educators that do. more >
Arts sales: Sotheby's puts on French style
In July the French Government reduced the droit de suite, or resale royalty due in France to European artists and their heirs, from three per cent to a maximum of €12,500 on any lot. more >
China, Greece sign protocol of cultural exchanges
Both countries will increase cooperation in the protection of cultural relics as well as exchanges in fine art, theater, cinema, music and traditional culture, according to the protocol. more >
Cultural institutions boycott Israel's 60th
In protest against the planned NIS 53 million additional cut in funding for culture from the 2008 budget, all the country's cultural institutions have declared their intent to boycott Israel's 60th anniversary events. more >
Preparations ongoing for the Palestinian Cultural Week in Algeria
The Palestinian Minister of Culture stated that these activities reflect a positive image of the Palestinian people and affirms that art and culture can unite the Palestinian people as politics divided them. more >
'Art helps ill' says new study
Attending painting or creative writing classes could help some patients suffering from a range of conditions, according to a new study. more >
'Proposed culture policy won't make govt a regulator'
The culture ministry denied in the Rajya Sabha that the proposed national culture policy was aimed at making the government a regulator in this field. more >
Ministry establishes broadcasting unit
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has established a Broadcasting Unit to more effectively serve the interests of public broadcasting. more >
Music lessons: Why the school orchestra could be music to hard-pressed parents' ears
Children can take advantage of free musical instrument lessons in schools for a year under a £332m government initiative. more >
The Arts Council: helping diversity or causing division?
Its attempts to promote cultural diversity have invited criticism including claims of 'inverted racism'. more >
Waiting for Labor to fill in the background
The incoming arts minister says Labor supports the arts, but artists are yet to see just how much. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >