International News in 2008
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Arts and culture policy-related news from online news services. Subscribe to our newsletter, ACORNS. To alert us to international news please email us.
January 2008
Govt proposes National Cultural Fund
Disclosing this at an official meeting here on Monday, Minister for Culture and Tourism Ambika Soni said the proposal envisages 100% tax rebate for contributions of corporates for the proposed National Cultural Fund. more >
Hewitt to answer theatre professionals in ‘testing’ ACE cuts meeting
Arts Council England chief executive Peter Hewitt is to face an interrogation by leading theatre figures next week at an emergency meeting called to address concerns at the scores of arts organisations threatened with potentially fatal funding cuts. more >
Greenspan, Keynes in Arabic? Abu Dhabi Sets Translation Project
As part of efforts to transform the emirate into the cultural lodestone of the Middle East, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, or Adach, has chosen 100 books to be translated into Arabic. more >
Funding cut may close low-cost legal advice organisation
An organisation offering cut-price legal advice to arts groups across London has emerged as one of the latest victims of Arts Council England’s proposed funding cuts. more >
Call on government to create culture fund
The Minister of Home Affairs has called for the establishment of a proper budget for the country’s cultural activities. more >
Arts get U.S. fund boost
Congress has approved increases for most of the nation's federally funded arts and culture programs. The National Endowment for the Arts' increase is the largest in 24 years. more >
On not getting on - Romania and Hungary
A Romanian film won the Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Something's happening in our neighbour's cultural life which has attracted the whole of Europe's attention. more >
Creative industries emerge as key driver of economic growth
The UNCTAD Secretary-General´s High-Level Panel on the Creative Economy and Industries for Development has met in Geneva to consider the potential of creative economy for development. more >
Why the arts needs creative accountancy
There's more to cultural life than just how much per head is spent, says Dr Sam Burnside. more >
Gambia's Cultural Policy Updated
The National Centre for Arts Culture (NCAC) in collaboration with the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO, organised a three-day seminar in a bid to update the 1988 National Cultural Policy. more >
Britain on verge of 'new Renaissance'
Britain may be about to produce 'the greatest art yet created' according to a policy review to be published by the government next Thursday. more >
The reading cure
Book groups are proving that Shakespeare can be as beneficial as self-help guides. An investigation of the rise of bibliotherapy. more >
Blood on the dancefloor
Culture secretary James Purnell wants to fund art according to how good it is, rather than how many see it - and his critics are already sharpening their knives. more >
Arts study a culture shock
Forget class versus trash, the elite versus the masses. Divide culture consumers into four new groups, says an international study Oxford University researchers released late last month that will have far-reaching results for arts support everywhere. more >
Cuban Intellectuals Consider the 2007 As a Year of Important Cultural Debates
Intellectuals from Cuba have qualified the 2007 as a year of valuable cultural debates, which will have its continuity in the 2008. more >
Funding for NEA is enlightened
The recent increase in the NEA's budget is a victory for an organisation that is consistently misconstrued and misunderstood. more >
Iran to step up cultural activities in Latin America
Iran’s ambassadors and cultural representatives have met to discuss cultural policies and plans for implementation in Latin America. more >
Jamaica/South Africa explore cultural exchange programme
An effort is being made to establish a cultural exchange programme between the governments of Jamaica and South Africa. more >
Arts forum shines spotlight on Obama
The common denominator on Sunday at an arts-based political discussion was concern for the state of arts and culture in the local community and in the United States. more >
Cultural groups to benefit from EURO 2m grant
Individuals and organizations involved in cultural activities will benefit from a €2m grant by the EU government to support culture and the arts in Ghana. more >
Arts Council undergoes modernizing renovations
The Jakarta Arts Council office is undergoing a number of physical changes in efforts to modernize the organization. more >
Culture Minister Pledges Aid To Artists In Province
The intention of the Ministry of Culture is to channel, this year, more assistance to makers of culture in the country’s provinces. more >
The Role of Ghanaian musical artistes
It is very necessary for a society or country to concern itself seriously with the kind of music that is composed by its musical artistes for public consumption. more >
Opening of the Conference "Intercultural Dialogue as the fundamental value of the EU"
The purpose of the conference is to present intercultural dialogue as a precondition for establishing a diversified yet tolerant society. more >
Commentaries: Controversial Funding
An editorial in Kathimerini, Greece's International English language newspaper on the allocation of the culture ministry's funds. more >
Americans for the Arts Convention registrations open
Registrations are now open for Americans for the Arts' 2008 convention American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life. more >
Artsvote intitiative for 2008 presidential election
Americans for the Arts' Action Fund has launched a new, national initiative designed to promote the arts during the 2008 presidential campaign. more >
Cuba is near to a better daily cultural program
Fernando Rojas asserted that 2007 was a year of intense cultural debates, which is something good and must be further developed. more >
Artists can influence the bigger picture as paymasters
Arts organisations hoping to qualify for public funding will in future need at least two artists on their board under proposals to be released by the Culture Secretary today. more >
Sarkozy shakes up French TV
The President plans to overhaul public television in a 'cultural revolution' he says will change the landscape of France's cultural policy. more >
Actors boo Arts Council over swingeing cuts
Britain's acting community yesterday declared it had no confidence in the Arts Council England, which is cutting money to nearly 200 groups in the biggest shake-up of arts funding in living memory. more >
Algiers as 2007 Arab Cultural Capital receives mixed reviews
In 2007 Algiers became the third Maghreb city to be named Arab Cultural Capital. Organisers will pass the torch to Damascus on January 14th, after putting together a plethora of events that failed to impress Algerians. more >
Artistic licence fees
The balance between accountability and creative freedom has fallen somewhat out of kilter in recent years. more >
Increased arts funding is a must for the future
Cultural well-being has fallen so far down the list of priorities that the amount of money the arts receives is tokenistic at best. more >
No longer free, Swedish museums see big drop in visits
Visits to Sweden's national museums dropped nearly 20 percent last year after they scrapped a policy of free admissions and began charging for entry, the culture ministry said Thursday. more >
The Civil War and Liberian Artists
Liberian writers have been accused of failing to produce literature of high quality addressing the burning issues confronting the nation, Africa, and the world. more >
Changes at the British Council 'appalling', say leading artists
What is known is that the British Council is planning a radical shakeup in the way it delivers arts abroad, and part of that will entail scrapping its long-established arts departments, including visual arts, theatre, film and dance. more >
Impact Database changes address
The Impact Database, hosted by the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at University of Glasgow, has a new website address. more >
Legal war looms on arts cash cuts
The Arts Council is to face a succession of legal actions if it goes ahead with its planned arts cuts. more >
English arts plan ‘applicable to Scotland’
Radical plans for the arts in England, which include scrapping admission charges to publicly funded arts for one week a year, are "totally applicable" in Scotland, according to the man who made the recommendations. more >
After 25 years, 'The Gift' keeps on giving'
The working life of an artist does not fit well into a market economy: the alternative is to imagine the commerce of art to be described by gift exchange. more >
ASEAN nations agree to enhance cultural cooperation
Culture- and arts-related ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to enhance the regional cooperation in the areas of culture and arts. more >
Theatre company rejects grant that's 'not worth it'
A national theatre company has rejected a $750,000 grant from the Australia Council, saying it does not make business sense to accept the money. more >
Letter to our American friends
As we start the new year, isn't this the time to send out wishes? An ardent wish that we set at your feet in the form of this little registered letter!The wish that you will offer us as often as possible a present as big as this magnificent cover of Time, taking the death of Marcel Marceau as pretext, with a tearful mime on the cover. more >
New committee seeks to fund artists
For many arts organizations, the first part of the year can typically be a slow period. But considering recent changes to the city’s cultural funding system, the early months of 2008 are particularly rough, as cash-strapped theaters wait for much-needed grants to be approved. more >
Arts and Culture 2007: Lofty dreams, steady moves
The year 2007 was not an unsual one on account of the activities and events featured in the arts and culture sectors. more >
Wales at heart of Liverpool's celebrations
As part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture activities, Wales will be playing a prominent part in the artistic activities planned in the city throughout 2008. more >
Scrapping funding for culture 'beyond belief'
Just as other countries, those in our region included, are ramping up programs designed to project soft power, the Rudd Government has decided to scrap Australia's. more >
Culture Club
Despite being a 'giant moneymaking enterprise', New York's creative sector comes with special policy challenges. more >
Ama Tutu Muna: a fresh start for artists in Cameroon
Barely four months into office, the new minister for Culture Ama Tutu Muna, is fast printing indelible marks of her own on the culture in Cameroon. more >
US and Italian officials seek better collaboration
The Italian culture minister has offered to set up an office within the Cultural Ministry to coordinate and simplify international loans of Italian artworks. more >
Morocco and Bulgaria to Collaborate in Educational and Cultural Sphere
Morocco and Bulgaria signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, science and culture over the next three years. more >
Korean communication ministry shuttered
President-elect Lee Myung-bak has dissolved the Ministry of Information and Communication in a drive for leaner government. more >
International Declaration on the Rights of Peoples to Safeguard their Cultural Memory
Bamako Communiqué Calls for Issuing an International Declaration on the Rights of Peoples to Safeguard their Cultural Memory. The international scientific symposium on the rights of peoples to safeguard their cultural memory called upon the international community and human conscience to take immediate action to preserve the precious volumes of manuscripts and authentic scientific works treasured in the city of Timbuktu and other African regions. more >
Over 70, creative as ever
The benefits of art have been touted by many; certain areas researched and the stats rightfully marshaled out to bolster interest, growth and direction. There are few studies on its effects on the older practitioner. more >
President of Turkmenistan lifts ban on operas, circuses
The president of Turkmenistan says he will now permit operas and circuses to be performed, reversing a decision by his predecessor to ban those forms of expression. more >
Artists must brush up on business
Scottish artists might do well to worry less about the Muse and more about their business model. more >
Minister seeks rise in arts sponsorship
Arts minister Seamus Brennan is aiming to treble corporate and business sponsorship of the arts. more >
Britain Suspends Cultural Activity in Russia
The British Council is suspending its cultural activities in two Russian cities, citing intimidation and harassment of its local employees by Russia's Federal Security Service. more >
Seoul Advised to Become Culture-Friendly
Prominent economists and scholars have stressed the importance of 'culturenomics' at an international conference in Seoul. more >
New Danish focus on culture and experience economy
The Danish government has launched a new initiative to boost the national culture and experience economy by strengthening the interaction between culture and business.
more >
'Posh' TV programme funding fears
The culture secretary, James Purnell, warns against applying the arts council model of funding to public broadcasting. more >
Arts Funding: It’s All in the Story
As a tool for encouraging the City Council to vote for arts funding, Santa Monicans were asked to describe a personally meaningful or memorable arts experience. more >
Portrait gallery plans a national embarrassment, expert says
Shirley Thomson, one of Canada's leading cultural experts, calls the Harper government's plan for the Portrait Gallery of Canada "a national embarrassment that makes us look like peasants on the international scene." more >
Sustainable future will come only from new sources of finance
A call for an endowment for the arts in Australia: a future fund financed through a special tax incentive linked to corporate and individual investment. more >
Sri Lanka government to build a cultural centre in hill country
The new Cultural Centre will include, a fully equipped art gallery, library, drama theatre, and lecture halls. The project is expected to be completed within six years. more >
Iran's classical music needs reform
Reformation is essential in the field of Iranian classical and symphonic music. more >
Arts Alive celebrates its 550th episode!
Celebrating its five hundred and fiftieth episode, Arts Alive is an integral fixture in the Australian community broadcast milieu. more >
Burnham named culture secretary
Andy Burnham, chief secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed culture secretary, replacing James Purnell. more >
Call for papers for two workshops on arts festivals
The European Festival Research Project has put out a call for submissions for two research workshops in 2008: Urban Impact Of Artistic Festivals, Helsinki, and Festivals Of Theater For Children And Youth, Moscow.
more >
Call for submissions: ‘grey literature’ policy reviews
The journal Cultural Trends is introducing review sections devoted to reviewing current policy (or 'grey') literature. more >
America's Secret Weapon
Review of a book on how the CIA sponsored modern art exhibitions and literary journals during the cold war. more >
John McCain, Multiculturalist
Republican party presidential canditate John McCain is an 'ideological multiculturalist'. more >
Provinces spend only 25% of library grant
Arts and Culture Minister has expressed concerned about how little money has been spent on a program to promote reading and writing, especially in disadvantaged communities, a core of the department’s programme of action until 2009.
more >
Alberta Announces Cultural Policy
Premier Ed Stelmach is putting Alberta culture in the spotlight with a new policy that focuses on ensuring that all Albertans have access to culture in their communities, and that our artists and cultural industries can thrive. more >
Barack Obama's Arts Policy
Democratic party presidential candidate Barack Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression. more >
Sadanand Menon: Cultural policy and its challenges
The past year has seen a series of national seminars on the vexed issue of the possibility and impossibility of having a coherent ‘cultural policy’ in the Indian context. more >
Govt Terminates Arts Extension Programme
Some 70 Namibian part-time art lecturers are staring unemployment in the face after an announcement that the National Arts Extension Programme is to be terminated by the Government come October 18. more >
Agenda21 in Japanese
Agenda 21 for culture, the worldwide mission advocating the adoption of cultural development by cities, is now available in Japanese. more >
Armenian Culture in Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Germany
Armenia's ministry of culture will hold days of Armenian culture in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany and the Scandinavian countries, and will introduce Armenians to the cultures of Iran, Germany and Scandinavian countries. more >
Visual arts denied role on world stage
Our sporting and screen stars might be widely known, but how do Australian artists rate internationally and what is being done to promote them? more >
Hong Kong gov't promotes arts for disabled persons
The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is seeking more performance opportunities through the provision of a barrier-free environment. more >
Mama, dis is business!
The multiple sources of income that flow into the hands of popular mas bands have not entirely escaped the eye of the taxman. more >
Stars force Arts Council to drop cuts
Theatre, dance and music groups win reprieve after fierce attack on funding plan. more >
Why the nation needs an Angel of the South
We have a growing need for statement public art. It can tell a story about a place, capture its essence. more >
Fans 'should help to run arts and sport'
A fan should sit on the board of every football club while actors, artists and musicians should be drafted in to help run Britain's arts institutions, the new Culture Secretary says. more >
Funding the arts : the false alternative
A counter to the ‘false alternatives’ argument against arts funding. more >
Let art and culture surround Istanbul
Already amid a flurry of preparations, Istanbul is gearing up to show its dynamism and artistic depth as the 2010 European Capital of Culture. more >
Ovation TV Adds Cultural Partners
A cable network is partnering with major US cultural institutions to develop content for the network and enhance marketing for the organizations. more >
Kazakh Culture Ministry forwards 7 strategic initiatives for 2008
"Kazakh Culture and Information Ministry forwards seven strategic initiatives for 2008 year, which will become a locomotive of culture and information sphere development". more >
Development of national culture
"Development of the national culture is one of the criteria for defining the level of the country's strength". more >
Campaign wins extra £3m for arts in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s arts sector has secured an additional £3 million funding from the region’s legislative Assembly, thanks to a high-profile protest campaign against proposals that would have led to an uplift of just £500,000 for 2008/9. more >
Report on human trafficking through cultural troupe sought
The Federal Minister for Culture said that in the past young and innocent girls were sent abroad in the name of cultural troupe and were forced to get involved in anti-social activities. more >
European Commission to launch study on unleashing talent and creativity in Europe
European Commissioner Ján Figel' announced the launch of a study on the role of culture, and the EU's cultural industries, in promoting and stimulating creativity, innovation and growth in the EU. more >
Dreaming under a pyramid
Parliament was at its most bizarre yesterday. The emergency reshuffle meant that the new culture, media and sport secretary, Andy Burnham, had had only a day or so in the job. more >
Success of arts can be matter of terms
Advocacy for the arts has become a lot easier in recent years. The idea that arts and culture are a critical component of building and maintaining a healthy, vibrant community is almost universally accepted, and there are all sorts of resources available to help strengthen the case for the arts. more >
Art as a reflection of the community
The amount and quality of art produced by a community is directly related to socio-economic and political factors affecting that community. more >
Culture is good for you!
Two Nordic Council committees are co-hosting a hearing about culture and health. more >
Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay
Ertuğrul Günay was once a tourist with an interest in archaeology, but now he is the minister of culture and tourism. more >
Budget boosts for education and arts
If the aims and aspirations of the programme for government, linked to the 2008-2011 budget, are followed through, what a rosy picture they paint of the future for education and the arts. more >
Corporate art spending reaches record high
Banks and companies are spending record amounts on the arts, music and theatre as they seek to boost their brand, motivate workers and develop links with the cultural world. more >
Copyright law should distinguish between commercial and cultural uses
We need to establish a new copyright regime that reflects the age-old normative consensus about what's fair and what isn't at the small-scale, hand-to-hand end of copying, display, performance and adaptation. more >
Launch of International Year of Languages
On 21 February UNESCO and the Council of Europe will host a seminar to launch the International Year of Languages, followed by an information seminar on normative instruments promoting multilingualism. more >
Using IT To Reserve Cultural Diversity
A three-day national training session on the use of information technology in the preservation of cultural diversity started yesterday. more >
Record amounts of private investment in culture in the UK
Survey of over 4,500 arts organisations reveals private investment up by 11 percent. more >
Cosoma wants annual awards, cultural festivals
The Copyright Society of Malawi has called for the Ministry of Culture to introduce annual awards and cultural festivals that will recognise and celebrate local talent. more >
French Cyberistes Moan in Pain at Government Cuts
Creative media groups have reacted negatively to a perceived withdrawal of support to media culture by the French Ministry of Culture. more >
German minister urges greater cultural exchange in Europe
The German minister responsible for cultural affairs called Thursday on European museums to engage in a more active exchange of their cultural treasures. more >
Auditor General assures on Arts in Wales
THE Arts Council of Wales has put its house in order since a major funding debacle at the beginning of this decade, according to a report published today. more >
Support Programme to cultural industries in ACP countries
The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) has launched a programme to contribute to the development and restructuring of the cultural sector in the ACP member states.
Programme d’appui aux industries culturelles des pays ACP
more >
February 2008
Nicolas Sarkozy's gold retirement for rock dinosaurs
Sir Cliff Richard and other ageing British artists may be heading for a more comfortable retirement, thanks to Nicolas Sarkozy and his friendship with the dinosaurs of the early French rock era. more >
A $22-billion problem
The price tag of IP theft is extraordinarily high for Canadian businesses. Conservative estimates put its annual cost in the $22-billion range. more >
Participation experiments aim to build arts fan base
The problem with some arts events is they treat audiences as if they don't exist at all. more >
Funding cuts close business arts scheme
The Arts Council has slashed its grant to Arts & Business, the independent consultancy that helps arts organisations find business sponsors.
more >
Classical music is a big hit on the London Underground
Steadily and, if not secretly, then certainly stealthily, London Underground is rolling out a compulsory classical diet. And it's joining a growing group of local authorities, transport companies and even supermarkets across the country. more >
British Council team meets VS
British Council of India on Friday indicated its willingness to hand over to the State government all the books and facilities at its library here. more >
Cuba and Ecuador Penned Cultural Agreement
Cuba and Ecuador have signed a cultural collaboration agreement that will enhance the exchange among arts teachers and students from both countries and will encourage the training of cultural promoters. more >
Song and dance about the arts
THE economic potential of Australia's artists, performers, filmmakers, designers and architects will never be realised until the wider community appreciates its culture, according to the chief executive of the Australia Council for the Arts. more >
Japanese Language and Cultural Exchange Center to be set up
Deputy Prime Minister, Pham Gia Khiem has given a approval for the set up of a Japanese language training and cultural exchange center in the capital of Hanoi. more >
Great Art for the Greatest Numbers
An interview with Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, on US cultural policy. more >
Cultural Policy Research Award 2008: official launch in Venice of its 5th edition
Designed to stimulate academic and applied cultural policy research and to explore, through comparative cross-national research, issues at stake in contemporary Europe, and possibly anticipate new cultural
policy orientations, the CPRA has also the ambition to contribute to the process of creating an
"infrastructure", a network of scholars who are competent in doing comparative research projects in
cultural policy.
more >
National Meeting to Aid Bulgaria Rural Areas
A meeting is being held to to coordinate and enhance the participation of the cultural community clubs in the application of the National Program for Development of Rural Areas for 2007-2013. more >
Americans for the Arts Responds to President’s FY09 Budget
President Bush has proposed a $16.3 million cut for FY 2009 for the National Endowment for the Arts. more >
White House Proposals for Culture Funding 2009
The White House's 2009 budget request includes rises in funding for a variety of cultural insitutions, but an effective decline in funding to the National Endowment for the Arts. more >
Arts governance: survey shows report is off beam
Governance of arts boards has been somewhat overlooked in recent studies of organisation and board governance. more >
Arts, culture not an elitist pursuit: report
Many Canadians who read as a hobby are the same people attending concerts, visiting art galleries, watching the latest flicks and participating in cultural activities in general, according to a new report. more >
Creative Local Communities: Cultural Vitality and Human Rights
The UNESCO Observatory on Multi-disciplinary Research in the Arts has released a call for papers for Vol 1, Issue 2 of its e-journal. more >
Workshop on arts, environment
A workshop is scheduled as part of the Green Arts initiative, a program that combines the creativity of the arts with knowledge of environmental sciences to create a better understanding of our environment and promote a more sustainable community. more >
Tories proposing Lottery reforms
The Tories plan a reform of the National Lottery which they say would end political interference, and ensure an extra £182m a year for good causes. more >
Mass Dismissals in Bulgarian Ministries
Round 200 state employees from Ministry of Culture will be dismissed on account of optimizing the system. more >
Arts council plans Boyden follow-up
Arts Council England is to undertake its most comprehensive assessment of the theatre sector since Peter Boyden’s landmark investigation into regional producing venues and the ensuing Theatre Review in 2001. more >
Free Trade and Culture Book Review
Garry Neil reviews the book by Peter van den Bossche, 'Free Trade and Culture: A Study of Relevant WTO Rules and Constraints on National Cultural Policy Measures'. more >
Museums Throw Open Their Doors to the Disabled
The Venezuelan Culture Ministry has launched a programme, 'Creating Without Limits', to draw in people with a disability to take part in the creative and artistic enjoyment that museums have to offer. more >
Cultural Policy: South Africa
The latest instalment in Power of Culture's series 'cultural policies of non-western countries'. more >
A Tight Grip Can Choke Creativity
The meaning of 'fair use' is being forgotten as copyright holders try to tighten their grip.
more >
Union Boards Back Deal to End Writers’ Strike
An end to Hollywood’s long and bitter writers’ strike appears all but assured, as the governing boards of the unions representing 12,000 movie and television writers on Sunday unanimously approved a tentative three-year deal with production companies. more >
Malcolm Chisolm on arts policies
I am astonished by the patronising and dismissive attitude displayed by the culture minister in last week's Sunday Herald to the legacy she inherited from her predecessors. more >
Here, kids - have some nice culture, says new minister of fun Andy Burnham
In his first interview since he was propelled into his 'dream job', new head of the 'Ministry of Fun', Andy Burnham, explains how he intends to make high-quality culture part of the school curriculum more >
Teddy Francis clears the air!
Director of Culture Teddy Francis says that news that his job was in jeopardy came as a surprise to him when he returned to St Lucia from Trinidad this week. more >
Give peace a chance
A policy document drafted recently makes recommendations on public support of music and looks at the structure of the Ministry of Culture, which is 'overloaded' by its multiple functions of promoting arts, culture, sports and gender issues. more >
Similar ends, varied means - the big three’s manifestoes reviewed
The three main parties contesting the upcoming general elections have outlined their intentions in cultural policy - from increasing funding for arts supporting culture to improving the image of Pakistan.
more >
Protecting the public from provocative art is misguided
Fear has caused art's 'gatekeepers' (producers, presenters and administrators ) to do something that they shouldn't - warning you about 'dangerous' art. more >
Cultural diversity - an obstacle to the EU single market?
It is not acceptable that the UNESCO convention has been poorly implemented in EU legislation up to now. more >
The government cannot create culture
Art moves in mysterious ways and no government initiative, no matter how well-intentioned, can kick-start a new Renaissance. more >
Equity launches online survey on funding after ACE cuts cause outrage
Equity has launched an online survey to discover the industry's views on whether the arts funding system should be changed. more >
How to bring Milan, Davos and Los Angeles to London
A £200 million national film centre. A permanent home for fashion shows in London. Funding for avant-garde film projects. A Davos-style arts and finance conference. These are among a range of commitments to the arts being set out by the Government next week. more >
Culture ministry reveal plans
The Minister for Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski has unveiled the main line of activities of his ministry. more >
Cultural Initiative Support launched
The cultural Initiatives Support Programme has been launched in Accra as a first call for proposal for activities and initiatives that enhance Ghana’s cultural sector. The programme is a three-year initiative under which the European Union has provided Ghana with a €2m grant to support the cultural sector. more >
Arts projects given £8m worth of inspiration
The Scottish Arts Council unveiled an £8 million lottery pot yesterday to fund 'inspiring' arts projects across Scotland. more >
Cultural capital
London's art scene has boomed over the past eight years – but opinion is divided about how much credit Ken Livingstone can take. more >
Fable of the cultural elite
In an international survey for a research project, Oxford sociologists John Goldthorpe and Tak Wing Chan have found that the fabled cultural elite is just that: a fable. more >
'Culture' plans branded naive
Plans for the inclusion of more cultural activities in schools have been greeted with scepticism. more >
Cruel Britannia
Governments do not make culture; artists and entrepreneurs do. more >
Arts Council to be supported
The Ministry calls on corporate organisations, business communities, NGOs and the public at large to assist the Fiji Arts Council in reviving the art industry. more >
EU Proposes Extending Artists' Copyrights to 95 Years
European Union musicians may earn royalties for 95 years as in the U.S., up from 50 years, under a plan to avoid cutting off income for artists as they retire. more >
Cultural tourism to be used in war on poverty
The development of cultural tourism will be emphasised as part of the Government’s poverty eradication programme. more >
Cultural Policy Debate Keeps Growing
More than a year after the outbreak of the so-called "e-mail war", the debate on cultural policy has not died down in Cuba. And although the issue is not addressed in the national media, the discussion continues, and is spreading to embrace other aspects of life in this socialist island nation. more >
Papatola: Art is vital, well worth the price of a gumball
We live in a culture that is ever dumber. This sobering assessment comes from no less an authority than Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. more >
Muse Vibes
It has now become known that the National Arts Council has received about 200 applications for financial support from Namibian artists in four different art disciplines. more >
Code bolsters Indigenous artist protection
Aboriginal artists will have more commercial protection with the finalisation of a National Code of Conduct on Indigenous Art. more >
Canadian authors get over $9 million for library lending of their books
The more libraries in which an author's eligible titles are found, the larger the payment, to a maximum of $2,681. more >
First person singular: Art can thrive without the Arts Council
Two recent musical events have persuaded Ivan Hewett that it is possible for the arts to go it alone. more >
Private copying royalty system in focus
Confrontation over the private copying royalty system has been intensifying between copyright holders on one side and appliance makers and consumers on the other. more >
National Endowment for the Arts budget cuts should be met with outrage, not complacency
Barely two months after signing off on a $20 million increase in the NEA's budget -- the largest in the endowment's history -- our nation's chief executive quickly shifted into fiscal reverse. more >
Youth needs to look up to a higher plane
Schoolchildren can easily have a cultural life. We just have to drop fees and charges.
more >
Time to Review National Cultural Policy
Looking at the issues raised at the National Cultural Indaba in 2006 and at some developments in 2007, it is clear that another review of the national cultural policy is now very necessary. more >
Turning creative in a digital world
Arts grants and prizes contribute to promoting and supporting new media arts, though they remain scarce. more >
Axed arts plan was attracting an extra £2m
The cultural co-ordinator scheme, aimed at increasing children's participation in artistic activities that was controversially axed last year by the Scottish Government, was attracting at least £2m in extra funding for youth arts. more >
Hope stirs in culture sector over Minister’s actions
Akintayo Abodunrin appraises the new developmental initiatives in the culture sub-sector and the cautious optimism the actions of Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, is eliciting among stakeholders. more >
Culture is the best reply to war
An interview with Swiss ambassador Francois Barras about pro Helvetia's intercultural dialogue exchange program with Lebanon. more >
Awake, aware and online
Speaking about the role of mass media in today's society, Gil offered a refreshing perspective on Internet rights, copyright and digital culture. more >
Culture minister wants more funding for contemporary arts
Culture Minister Claudia Schmied has called for more money for film and other contemporary arts in Austria. more >
A cultural hand to hand: Spain and Cuba
After announcing the first Cuba–Spain Cultural Day, the first meeting between executives from both sides agreed on actions for exchange between the two nations. more >
UK Seeks to Prevent Foreigner Tax From Affecting Art Assets
The UK government is seeking to protect art investments from the potential side effects of a tax on non-domiciled residents. more >
Taiwan's arts sector needs a home
A fire on Feb. 11 burned the Cloud Gate Dance Theater's painstaking efforts to the ground and, at the same time, exposed the government's indifference to arts and culture. more >
Iraq wants renewal of culture accord
Iraq's Deputy Minister of Culture Jaber al-Jaberi has called for renewal of a previous cultural agreement between Tehran and Baghdad. more >
Update: 10th Festival of Pacific Arts
Preparations are well under way for the region’s largest traditional and contemporary cultural event, the Festival of Pacific Arts. more >
Culture vultures: Rudd razor gang targets capital's top institutions
The government's 2 per cent efficiency dividend has slashed the budgets of national cultural institutions. more >
The problem with privately funded museums
Adrian Ellis, AEA Consulting, on large-scale change in the institutional ecology of art. more >
Museum opening hours to be extended
Museums and cultural institutions will have their weekend and evening opening hours extended as part of new measures to increase public access to the arts announced today. more >
The transforming power of culture
Policymakers perceive the arts and culture as mere cosmetics, overlooking the fact that they could be a driving force for development. more >
The state is tuning its cultural apparatus for the revolution
Recent developments and current strategies of Venezuela's cultural policies. more >
Arts job boost for young people
Young people will be offered the chance to break into the arts and media with government-backed apprenticeships. more >
Portuguese creative industries and their challenges
Creative Industries are growing in importance in Portugal, but still face many obstacles.
more >
Artist-in-residence program in Denmark 2009
To promote creative exchange between Danish and foreign artists and art institutions, The Danish Arts Council has established an artist-in-residence program in Denmark. The program makes it possible to invite artists from abroad to stay and work in Denmark for extended periods. more >
Greek minister: Greek-Sino relationship enters golden period
The relationship between Greece and China has entered a golden period, Greek Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said in an interview with Xinhua Saturday before he embarks on a four-day visit to China.
more >
Showbiz kids not approved by protection committees
In 2006, only four requests were made for authorisation for youths to work in show-business, despite this official permission being compulsory by law. more >
New body to sustain the nation's creative mind
Scotland's Minister for Culture, Linda Fabiani, outlines key points of her address to the Scottish Arts Council's conference 'Scotland: Creative Nation'. more >
Policy discussion on Culture, Creativity and the Lisbon Agenda
At a forum on European cultural policy, and the contribution of culture and creativity to economic growth, many were suprised when the public debate revolved around the public funding of the arts; a telltale sign that the current engagement of the EU with culture does not mean the arts sector can lower its guard and will have to continue defending the specificity of the arts. more >
Culture policy coming soon
The Ministry of Culture is looking to release a comprehensive cultural policy in a matter of months. more >
Prof Speaks On Isolation of Artists
In a lecture entitled 'Cultural Planning and The Creative City', Ann Markusen has criticised big institutional investments and praised local, decentralized, 'organic' initiatives. more >
China's cultural input generally inadequate
According to the Bureau of the National Secretary of Culture, China's culture investment is insufficient; and cultural facilities are backward, especially in rural areas. Public cultural input is seriously inadequate. more >
Arts budget needs creative thinking
Would more money really bring better arts and culture? Not necessarily. more >
Contradictions between Parliament Heads and Commission on Cultural Issues
25.02.08, Azerbaijan, A bill on Creative People and Cultural Unions that would introduce government financing of creative people and cultural unions has met with controversy in the Azerbaijani parliament.
more >
The Role of Culture in Europe
Narcy Calamatta, vice-president of the European Council of Artists, reports on the European Commission's public hearing ‘The Role of Culture in Europe’. more >
Czechs open European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008
The official opening of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 in the Czech Republic today took place in Prague's Archa theatre that has actively joined the programme which is aimed at promoting mutual understanding and better co-existence of people of various cultures. more >
New body will change how arts are funded in Scotland
Support of the arts through state-funded grants could become a thing of the past when Scotland's new culture body, Creative Scotland, comes into being next year. more >
Culture as a recognisable brand
International cultural projects help build an image of Poland as a country that is open, modern and with huge cultural potential. more >
North Korea Welcomes New York Philharmonic
The North Koreans opened the door to some 400 people, the largest contingent of Americans to visit this isolated, totalitarian state since the Korean War ended in 1953. The group includes musicians, orchestra staff, television production crews and 80 journalists, as well as patrons who paid $100,000 a couple. more >
Ministry of Culture To Finance About 1000 Projects For Developing Art Sphere in Georgia
The Minister of Culture has stated that Georgia's priority projects should be development of theater, support of traditional international festivals and competitions, creation of a library network and integration of national minorities into theGeorgian culture. more >
Blanchett to chair culture forum
Actress Cate Blanchett will chair a discussion group on the theme 'Towards a Creative Australia' at the 2020 national summit planned for April. more >
Let Scotland’s creativity flourish and be nourished
We've had charters for the arts, national cultural strategies and sons and daughters of both. We're on our seventh arts minister in nine years, and with each new incumbent comes a new tweak of the portfolio. more >
Almost nothing offered for arts and culture
Arts and culture have never been a priority for the Harper government but with yesterday's federal budget the sector seems to have achieved a new level of non-recognition. more >
Australia: a nation at risk
Why is culture important? Is it because the cement of social cohesion, like friendship, is the bond of common experiences? more >
J. Mark Schuster, urban studies and planning professor, 57
J. Mark Schuster PhD '79, a professor of urban studies and planning, an expert on arts funding policies and respected leader of First Night and other Boston cultural events, died Feb. 25 of complications from melanoma. He was 57. more >
Grant to encourage more arts interest
A TEAM dedicated to encouraging people into the arts has been announced in Merthyr Tydfil – with hundreds of thousands of pounds put aside to do it. more >
Increasing the budget is not enough
In the first televised presidential debate on Feb. 24, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidates talked about allotting more money to arts and culture -- one candidate talked about raising the budget for arts and culture to 4 percent of the government budget, while the other wanted to raise it to 5 percent. more >
March 2008
What Education Can Learn from the Arts
Educult's Michael Wimmer contemplates Elliot W. Eisner’s 'The Arts and the Creation of Mind'. more >
The state of the arts
We in the arts have always argued that they are "good" for people. They add to humanity, create the conditions for a civil society, encourage tolerance and ways to deal with new ideas, encourage empathy and analysis. The economic rationalists said bah humbug, show us your tangibles. And so we have. more >
When policy, art collide
Patrons have always had the right to ask certain favours from the artistic geniuses in their employ. The most common and resonant favour is to bring greatness and glory to the patron. more >
Protests Against French Cultural Budget Continue
Following last week's strike, the French cultural sector continues to protest the national ministry of culture. more >
Burning Midnight Oil For Australian Art
Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett admitted that arts funding would face a budgetary reduction, but told Cultural Ministers Council members that the arts would have a strong voice in the government. more >
Ghanaian Highlife Music Must Be Saved
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, S.K. Boafo, observed that music was an essential commodity with great potential for any nation. more >
Brassed off
Why does the Royal Opera House get 260 times more funding than brass bands? more >
Garrett keen to nurture creativity
Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has declared a 'brand new day for arts and culture'. more >
Why Mrs Hodge is so wrong about the Proms
Culture minister is one of those dead-end junior jobs in government, offering a brief that contains little of substance beyond putting embargos on the sale of national treasures threatened with export and a licence to attend arts events in ambassadorial mode. more >
Saatchi Pitches in for Art by Kids
The Saatchi Gallery has launched an online art gallery for schools around the world, allowing teachers to upload their students' artworks to the site. more >
Azerbaijan and Morocco Sign Agreement on Tourism and Culture Sectors
An agreement on cooperation in the tourism and culture sectors was signed by the Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Ministry and Morocco's Culture Ministry. more >
Are Smart People Drawn To The Arts Or Does Arts Training Make People Smarter?
Learning, Arts, and the Brain advances our understanding of the effects of music, dance, and drama education on other types of learning. Children motivated in the arts develop attention skills and strategies for memory retrieval that also apply to other subject areas. more >
Post-poll killings attributed to collapse of discipline
A UNESCO workshop on the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has discussed the cultural reasons and solutions behind the recent violence in Kenya. more >
UNESCO High-Ranking Official in Cuba
The General Deputy Director of the UN Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), Francoise Riviere, is in Cuba at the invitation of the island’s Culture Ministry. more >
New body to sustain the nation's creative mind
Tomorrow I am addressing the Scottish Arts Council's conference entitled Scotland: Creative Nation. It provides a timely opportunity to look forward with anticipation to Creative Scotland, a new body with a vital task: to develop the country's creative talent and excellence. more >
Cultural Policy of Afghanistan
The latest edition of Power for Culture's policy series finds that Afghanistan's arts are slowly emerging from the ruins left behind by the Taliban regime. more >
Culture ministry prepares for another Diversity Week
The Ministry of Culture is already making preparations for Antigua and Barbuda’s second Diversity Week celebrations. more >
A Heritage minister on the hot seat
Josée Verner is making a habit of snubbing the arts community. It's not such a great habit for the country's Heritage minister, who was appointed only last August, and has no serious background in the arts. more >
Dubai sets up Cultural and Art Authority
A decree has been issued to create a cultural and art authority in Dubai that will be a public body that will oversee the establishment of a developed culture and art infrastructure. more >
Study on the Internet's Impact on Museums and Libraries
A report has been released that offers insight into the ways people search for information in the online age, and how this impacts the ways they interact with public libraries and museums. more >
Officials 'broke arm's-length rule' over arts funding
Government officials have been accused of undermining the well-established principle of staying at arm's length when it comes to arts funding. more >
Jargon raised to an art form
Simon Hoggart balks at the 'interminable gibberish' of creative industries jargon recently used by one of the UK's culture ministers. more >
Culture dept mulls arts council
The government is soliciting views on the establishment of a national arts council for Botswana. more >
The official line on arts and culture
An interview with recently appointed Arts and Culture Director General Themba Wakashe about future challenges for South Africa's cultural policies. more >
Arts groups affected by economic slump, national leader says
While big business philanthropy to the arts has slowed in the USA, small- and mid-sized businesses are providing more than three-fourths of corporate contributions, and strong public support has raised federal arts funding. more >
Studies Suggest There's An Art to Getting Older
Creative activity may have health benefits. more >
Women in the Arts panel will look at career issues
Are female artists different from male artists? Do women make different kinds of choices about becoming artists? Do the questions even make any sense today? more >
Arts Council Wales chief executive Tyndall resigns
Arts Council Wales chief executive Peter Tyndall has announced his resignation after six years in the role. more >
Turkey at the heart of European music
In April Turkey will sign the Arts Festivals' Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue initiated by the European Festivals Association. more >
‘Left-Leaning’ Cultural Leaders Urged to Quit
The nation's top cultural policymaker urged left-leaning leaders of cultural organizations appointed under the Roh Moo-hyun administration to step down. more >
US Consulate and Palestinian Ministry of culture open Art Exhibit
The US Consulate General in Jerusalem, and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture in Ramallah opened a week-long art exhibit at the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center in the West Bank city of Ramallah. more >
Non-material cultural heritage protection center to be in China
Deputy Minister of Culture Zhou Heping revealed that UNESCO will establish an Asia-Pacific region non-material cultural heritage Protection Center in China. more >
Turn artists into teachers, say Danes
Unemployed artists in Denmark should teach in schools instead of just receiving unemployment benefits, the ministries of culture and education have proposed. more >
Artists' body won't cut off poet's funding
The Irish pension scheme is under scrutiny after a poet's mis-spending was revealed in a television documentary. more >
Culture group 'can rewrite rules'
The new legislation also dispenses with the much-lauded "arms length" principle which prevented culture ministers interfering with the artistic decisions of arts organisations. more >
Bjork incident won't change China's attitude toward foreign artists
Icelandic singer Bjork's offending support to "Tibet independence" at a Shanghai concert earlier this month won't affect China's policy on inviting foreign artists to come and perform in the country, a senior cultural official said. more >
Catalogue of Problems
Most artists in Cameroon are yet to know the importance of protecting rights. more >
Merged arts funding body will support best of Scottish culture
The bill that will abolish the Scottish Arts Council and merge it with Scottish Screen to form a new arts funding body for Scotland was introduced to parliament yesterday. more >
Britain, China explore potentials in creative industries
The Center for Creative Business in London hosted on Thursday Creative Exchange with China, exploring the possibilities of business ventures between the two countries in the creative industry. more >
Comorian national education minister to visit Yemen
The Comorian official is to hold talks with Minister of culture Mohammed al-Maflahi and other officials in some concerned bodies on mechanisms of cultural cooperation relations between Yemen and Comoros and means of boosting them. more >
Culture ministry recounts achievements during caretaker set up
Minister for Sports and Culture, has recounted the achievements of the ministry during the caretaker setup, with over twenty eight development projects approved regarding culture. more >
In the culture game: United States v France
France has maintained a strong commitment in promoting the arts and the culture of Haiti. more >
Mega-Project a National Survey on the cultural consumption of Cubans
Cubans' cultural preferences over the past ten years is among the main objectives of a national survey on cultural consumption which is to be made this year. more >
Convention's advance workshop topics finalised
Americans for the Arts annual convention 2008 will include advance workshops on topics such as arts advocacy, cultural planning and program evaluation. more >
Appreciating Culture is Key to Cementing a Sense of Nationhood
A ministry solely dedicated to culture would contribute towards the creation of a unified identity founded on the celebration of diversity. more >
Three Officials Step Down Under Pressure
Three heads of organizations under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry have tendered their resignations apparently under pressure from the government. more >
Yemen, Comoros sign cultural MOU
Ministry of Culture and Comoros Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research and Culture have signed a memo of understanding on cultural cooperation. more >
EU votes 2m-euro grant to support Ghana’s cultural development
The European Union has voted a two-million Euro grant for Ghana to design special programmes aimed at transforming the cultural landscape of the country. more >
Cultural roots need deeper protection
The country's top official overseeing intangible cultural heritage has tangible reasons for redoubling protection efforts. more >
New arts chief on a mission to change people’s lives for better
The new head of Arts Council England is on a mission to see “excellent” arts and culture made accessible to all. more >
Italian law to allow Puccini for pooches
The proposed law would allow pet owners in Tuscany to take their cats, dogs and other animals to any sort of public place - including museums, cinemas and even theatres. more >
Arts on the advance
Botswana, it is becoming increasingly evident, must take a bold step away from cosmetic 'airport culture'. more >
PNG to safeguard intangible cultural heritage
PNG's government agencies have started in earnest preparations for ratification of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. more >
A new leaf
Can libraries save a country? Such a notion seems quaint in the UK - but it has a very different force in Colombia, where only the privileged can afford books. more >
Doraemon sworn in as anime ambassador
In a bid to help boost Japan's international prestige and disseminate its culture, cartoon character Doraemon was inaugurated Wednesday as the official cultural ambassador for Japanese anime. more >
Pub music may dry up after copyright rise
THE variety of music played in pubs and nightclubs could be drastically reduced, or replaced by live music, as the Australian Hotels Association looks at ways to sidestep a 1400 per cent increase in the copyright payment for recorded music in venues. more >
Capital split over arts funding
One Auckland author's outburst has highlighted what many reckon is a Wellington bias in the distribution of arts funding. more >
Arts promises looking shaky
While one sympathises with Garrett's lack of ministerial experience and the imperative of keeping inflation in check, it would be ironic indeed if Labor was to prove just as economically rationalist in its approach to the arts as the much criticised Liberals. more >
Brown rebuffs calls to review child licensing laws
Gordon Brown’s lukewarm response to a Downing Street petition calling for the overhaul of licensing laws for child performers has been criticised by stage school representatives for failing to address concerns voiced by the sector. more >
Are Tax Credits for 'Cultural' Games a Good Thing?
Should video games with 'cultural value' receive government support? more >
What's the point of the Arts Council?
A radio show 'podcast' that takes a witty but thought-provoking look at the Arts Council. more >
Bulgarian, Dutch experts to preserve culture heritage
The Dutch and Bulgarian governments are collaborating on a number of projects on artefact smuggling and managing movable heritage. more >
Questioning UNESCO's Efforts on Culture and Development
UNESCO has played an important role in raising consciousness of the importance of preservation of cultural heritage, but its efforts in the field of culture and development seem less extensive and less effective.
more >
Visitor numbers plummet following introduction of entrance charges
Swedish museums have seen a drastic drop in visitors since the re-introduction of entrance charges in 2007, according to a report by the Swedish Arts Council. more >
Country Will Soon Adhere to UNESCO Convention
Opening a workshop on capacity building for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, the Arts and Culture Minister has said South Africa will soon adhere to UNESCO's Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. more >
Cuban Artists Call for a More Radical and Liberating Culture
In an interactive forum held Wednesday, Cuban artists agreed that to promote the interests and aspirations of a revolutionary culture should be the focus of debates during the 7th Congress of the National Association of Cuban Writers and Artists. more >
Commissioner Calls on Canadian Heritage Minister for a New Vision for Arts and Culture
The Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, is calling on the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Josee Verner, to outline a long-term vision of the government's plans for the development of the arts and culture in official language minority communities. more >
Visiting Arts - Celebrating 30 years of strengthening intercultural understanding through the arts
Visiting Arts held a reception to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. At this event, they were able to show images from 30 years 30 stories which are also on the website. more >
Korea forms lobby group for cultural industries
Ten Korean cultural organisations have formed a lobby group, the Korean Federation of Cultural Industries, to lobby the government and promote the cultural and creative industries of Korea. more >
PM calls for promotional push in Malaysian handicrafts
Malaysia's Prime Minister has said efforts should be taken to promote and enhance the reputation of Malaysian handicrafts locally and abroad. more >
Considering a Creative Scotland
If you're looking for interesting listening on your iPod or computer while you tend to other elements of your life, the Scottish Arts Council is at your service with this wonderful series of keynotes and conversations from their recent cultural summit. more >
Time for threatening loyalist murals to go
Funding from the Arts Council's 'Re-imaging programme' is helping to replace replace paramilitary murals with community artwork. more >
Random makes link with YouWriteOn.com
Publisher Random House has joined an Arts Council-funded peer-to-peer website that aims to help new writers. more >
Is music the key to academic gains?
The 'Mozart effect' theory advanced in the '90s may have been debunked, but new studies are providing evidence that music can play a very important role in a child's development. more >
An 'Alliance' against violence
The government-funded Violence Prevention Alliance promotes cultural expression to encourage people to turn to creation rather than destruction. more >
New arts body embraces computer games
Creative Scotland vows to take technology under its wing. more >
PM briefed by Culture Minister
The Minister for Culture has indicated that his ministry is formulating a new strategy to rationalise expenditure, and that ministry subsidies will be founded on cultural criteria, not on petty political party expediencies. more >
Broad discussions on culture, politics mark Havana book fair
The 2008 Havana International Book Fair was marked by a wide range of discussions on literature, politics, history, and other topics, including debate on the Cuban Revolution’s cultural policy. more >
Ministry of Education focuses on comics and fashion in cultural export efforts
Comic strips and fashion are being given high priority in cultural export funding. more >
New Identity for Museums and Galleries Body
The Scottish Museums Council is now Museums Galleries Scotland. The new identity and brand has been created to reflect the major role the organisation plays in the widening of access to and care of Scotland’s rich collections.
more >
Recommendations from the Second Annual National Arts Policy Roundtable
Americans for the Arts has released the policy recommendations resulting from its second annual National Arts Policy Roundtable, Thinking Creatively and Competing Globally. more >
Professor explores innovative angles for funding
It's time to challenge 'long-held and cherished views about what it is to be an artist and what art is', Brad Haseman says, but that does not mean it is no longer worth pursuing art for art's sake. more >
Afghanistan Moves to Censor TV
Afghanistan's lower house of Parliament passed a resolution Monday seeking to bar television programs from showing dancing and other practices deemed un-Islamic. more >
April 2008
Toward a Cultural Policy for Liberia
It is common knowledge that a nation that does not acknowledge its ethos is bound to repeat the follies of its past, spin its wheels, wasting precious time and resources in the present, and such a nation is doomed to a grim future punctuated by the folly of its past. more >
Campaign aims to boost performing arts
A coalition of performing arts groups has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at dramatically boosting community support for the sector. more >
Arts donor Carol Hogel quits Britain over ‘spiteful, philistine’ tax on foreign residents
An American philanthropist who has donated more than £20 million to the arts in Britain is to return to the United States in protest over the Government’s “nondom” tax and the “hostility” she has encountered in this country towards foreign donors. more >
Redford, Legend ask legislators to better fund the arts
Actor, Robert Redford, singer John Legend and actress Kerry Washington, joined arts supporters from across the United States for Arts Advocacy Day in Congress. They urged legislators to restore funds for the National Endowment for the Arts to the high of $176 million received in 1992. more >
Architects of the new Argentina
Argentina is in the throes of an unprecedented cultural revolution… Minister of culture, José Nun, is in a strategic position in a government seeking a redefinition of its historical traditions. more >
The OEI will launch the program ‘Arts and Education, Culture and Citizenship’ in Costa Rica
This program is an initiative of the OEI, supported by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI), which aims to strengthen the links between education and culture within the school systems and to build, as a result, a citizenship that takes into account and respects cultural diversity. more >
Arts Council disorientation
The proposal by the Arts Council to ask everyone applying for a grant to reveal - in the name of fostering “diversity” - his or her sexual orientation is grotesque. more >
Arts boost from public-private deal
Under the scheme, the State Government will match money that businesses donate to an arts organisation or individual artist over the next three years. more >
Daniel Pink and the Economic Model of Creativity
His basic thesis is simple: In our competitive and evolving economy, being logical and analytical is no longer enough. more >
The Role of Evidence in the Cultural Sector
The journal Cultural Trends held its first one-day conference on 22nd February 2008 at City University, London. The conference focused on the role that evidence plays in the cultural sector. more >
La OEI pondrá hoy en marcha en Costa Rica el programa ‘Educación Artística, Cultura y Ciudadanía’
Se trata de una iniciativa de la OEI, realizada con el apoyo de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECI), que se propone fortalecer los vínculos entre educación y cultura en los sistemas escolares y formar así una ciudadanía que reconozca y respete la diversidad cultural. more >
Restrictions on music discussed in parliament
A commission for cultural and religious affairs in Afghanistan's parliamentary lower house wants to impose new restrictions on music and dance performance in Afghanistan. more >
'We All Play a Part' Campaign Launched in Sydney
A coalition of national arts organisations and leading Australian artists today pledged to promote the part played by all Australians in making the performing arts industry a national and international success. more >
Too few women in key roles
Culture minister Margaret Hodge said there were far too few women in key roles at UK arts organisations. Is she right? And if so, who's to blame? more >
Arts sector plays new tune
Arts leaders have been attempting to change their tune in recent years, from subsidy-seekers to drivers of creativity and innovation. more >
Exhibits are counted
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has budgeted MNT 42 million for ongoing counting exhibits of museums in Mongolia. more >
Business-like arts a failure, says entrepreneur
Filling the boards of arts companies with business appointees has been a dismal failure that has stifled creativity. more >
Cuban artists for the defence and authenticity of the national culture
Cuban artists have called for a number of policy changes to improve the presentation of Cuban culture to the world. more >
Support Programme to cultural industries in ACP countries
Information notice for grants: The programme provides for intervention to enhance a common cultural space for ACP States, through the promotion of an enabling environment for creativity, cooperation and
exchanges, independence and viability, as well as the safeguarding of cultural diversity and fundamental cultural values.
more >
Launch of Cultural Development Foundation
Premier of Nevis said the establishment of the foundation had become necessary to relieve government from continually subsidising cultural activities. more >
Poll: 1 in 4 Norwegians not big on opera
Opera and ballet are the least favorite cultural activities for nearly one in four Norwegians, a survey indicated. more >
World Book and Copyright Day
By celebrating this day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. more >
Solomon Island changes focus to tourism development
The Solomon Islands Ministry for Culture and Tourism says it is changing the focus of its spending to developing tourism and cultural products. more >
Peter Garrett’s arts policy
After eleven years in deep freeze, Australia’s cultural policy debate appears to be slowly thawing out. more >
Sheikh Mohammed to open national identity conference
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development is hosting a two-day conference to spotlight issues surrounding national identity and culture, and ways to enhance it. more >
Five things you should know: Federal arts policy
After eleven years in deep freeze, Australia’s cultural policy debate appears to be slowly thawing out. Ben Eltham examines the new agenda. more >
Trisexual? Tell It to England's Arts Council
The British way of running the arts has fallen into terminal disarray. The thin blue Keynesian line that held politics apart from the arts has been eradicated under New Labour. more >
Bend it like an artist
A look at Singapore's creative industries and the government's creative industries and media support and educational policies. more >
Row over resale right grows
The Design and Artists Copyright Society (Dacs) and the Artists’ Collecting Society have disputed the findings of an independent report that criticises the Artists’ Resale Right (ARR), which became law in the UK in February 2006. more >
Portuguese Minister of Culture aims to double Ministry’s budget
Recently appointed Portuguese Minister of Culture José António Pinto Ribeiro has announced that he is committed to raising his Ministry’s budget to 1 percent or more of the State Budget. more >
Update on the cultural policy of Angola
An update on developments in Angolan cultural policies over 2007, including the implementation a new museum policy and the establishment of a 'film university' for actors, producers and directors. more >
Games to have international cultural appeal
China's Ministry of Culture on Tuesday released a tight schedule of major cultural events to be held in Beijing to celebrate the upcoming Games. more >
South African museums left empty-handed
Art made by South African artists is so popular at foreign auctions that the country's own museums can no longer afford to purchase the work. more >
Increasing Number of Private Museums Stir Debate in Art World
A growing number of wealthy art collectors are choosing to build their own museums rather than donate works to existing institutions, leaving many museum directors nervous about the future of their collections. more >
Ballet companies team up to boost classic dance
A new initiative funded by The Arts Council of Ireland has injected a new lease of life into Irish ballet with the creation an promotion of a long-term structure to enhance up and coming dancers and widen their audience. more >
Funding cuts threaten theaters
A frustrated arts community starts petition, plans protest. more >
Culture sent to rural areas in Anhui
'Mobile Stages', a program of the national ministries of finance and culture that stages art performances in rural areas, In 2007 nearly 2,000 performances were staged to 1.6 million spectators. The program promotes the constructon of key cultural projects and enriches local people’s lives in rural areas of Anhui province. more >
What's Denmark's cultural secret?
Even in an age of funding cutbacks, the Danes have done a better job than most in promoting the arts in Europe. more >
Opera revival: Youngsters' performance keeps musical form alive
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, only 0.7 percent of people ages 18 to 24 participate in opera, compared with 1.1 percent in ballet. more >
What are Taiwan's cultural goals?
Since the establishment of the Council for Cultural Affairs, it has never been clear just what the government thinks about culture. Now the council may be converted into a ministry of culture and be given charge of tourism as well. What great goal is the government trying to realize? more >
Hip hop gets bad rap from federal funders
Despite its obvious growth and popularity, documents obtained under the Access to Information Act from the CCA indicate that the genre might still not be accepted by the federal agency committed to encouraging the arts. more >
Sift through enough dirt and you find gold
The recent controversy surrounding bill C-10 -- designed to let the Heritage minister's bureaucrats refuse tax-credits to Canadian-made movies they don't like -- rekindled the old debate about arts subsidies. Why do we need them? more >
Hungary new approach is strengthening ties with Iran: Deputy minister
According to the report of Foreign Ministry Media Department on Saturday, the visiting Hungarian official called her country's cultural diplomacy "Important". more >
National Ballet of Canada goes West
Ballet company makes a rare yet successful jaunt to a foreign stage in San Francisco. more >
Everyone's a conductor with new game
But would-be Leonard Bernsteins who wave the remote control correctly as they try out "UBS Virtual Maestro" can experience a small part of what it's like to be a conductor. more >
Joe Musa’s reform mission in the culture sub-sector
The culture sub-sector is now becoming a major and attractive sector likely to be reckoned with as one of the nation’s greatest revenue earner as well as employer of labour in the very nearest future, given its assumed reform posture. more >
Confidence the biggest change in arts world
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham sets out his main policy challenges, including freeing the arts from targets and measurement, relying more on the critical assessments of artists and cultural organisations, and applying free entry principle more widely across the cultural sector, particularly the performing arts. more >
UNESCO supports opening of the virtual branch of the russian museum in Baku
A specially equipped “virtual auditorium” in the Museum Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan will give a chance to Azerbaijani audience to take virtual strolls around the Russian Museum and familiarize with the artifacts that are on display at the Museum. more >
El subsidio público de espectáculos culturales y la construcción de públicos
A la columna “La misión que nos deja Morricone”, de Arturo Navarro, sobre la necesidad de cambiar la Ley de Donaciones de Chile para que incluya el principio de financiamiento cultural mixto (público y privado), responde Jorge Orlando Melo, ex director de la Biblioteca Luís Ángel Arango del Banco de la República de Colombia, con una alternativa que surge de su experiencia en el contexto colombiano. more >
'We've got to rebuild our credit'
The arts council had a shambolic winter. Will its new boss put things right? more >
Public subsidy for cultural events and the formation of audiences
Arturo Navarro Ceardi argues for the need to include private funding in the Ley de Donaciones (Donation Law) that outlines the tax deductions for which a private company can apply when it supports a cultural or artistic event. more >
Modern Libraries To be Opened In Villages Of Georgia
Modern libraries will be opened in more than 100 villages of Georgia during 2008. more >
Smothered With Money
The arts are important. But that doesn't mean taxpayers should have to subsidize them. more >
Talfan Davies claims Welsh schools are failing the arts
Arts teaching is worse in Wales than England and leaves many unable to fully enjoy music and theatre, says a former Arts Council of Wales chairman. more >
Sarkozy and the embarrassment quotient
Nearly a year into his term, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has hardly mentioned the arts or culture. In late February, he said that French cuisine should be added to the Unesco World Heritage list. more >
2009, European year of creativity and innovation
Europe needs to boost its capacity for creativity and innovation for both social and economic reasons.
That is why the Commission has adopted a proposal to declare 2009 the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.
more >
The truth about music
The term ‘the research shows…’ is often deployed because we find it difficult to justify art as true or good in its own terms. This opportunistic manipulation of art ends up seriously devaluing it. more >
Publishing is 'unsung' success
UK culture minister Margaret Hodge has dismissed calls for more Arts Council England funding for publishing, and said the industry could benefit from more entrepreneurial libraries. more >
When suits tread the boards
Arts companies are under increasing pressure to take care of business. more >
The importance of being creative
Actor Cate Blanchett, co-chair of the creative Australia stream at the government's upcoming national planning summit, sets out her views on the importance of creativity. more >
Disabled dancers playing it safe
Restless Dance, South Australia's pioneering disability dance group, has set up a professional arm, where disabled dancers will be paid professionally for the first time in Australia. more >
Ministry Grants Funds for Multi-Cultural Projects
The Ministry of Education has awarded 400,000 euros in state grants to support multiculturalism and fight racism in Finland. more >
French Art for the French
France's Culture Ministry has announced measures aimed at reversing the general lack of interest among the French in buying art — a deficiency some fear is slowly bleeding an enormous vein of national culture dry. more >
Govt committed to addressing negative ethnicity
President Kibaki pointed out that the Government is creating a new department of national cohesion, which will be charged with the task of developing programmes for galvanising all the communities in the country. more >
Open Lines to Intercultural Dialogue: have your say
LabforCulture has launched an online participatory project, ‘Open Lines to Intercultural Dialogue’, which invites people from around the world to share their personal interpretations of intercultural dialogue. more >
Development of culture of the Russian North
Preservation and development of culture of the Russian North was the subject of discussion at the joint exit session of Committees of the State Duma on culture and problems of the North and the Far East and the Commission on preservation of cultural and spiritual heritage of Public Chamber of Russia. more >
Economics and arts are tarred with the one brush
In the relationship between public policy and the arts: how does one legislate for creativity? We know our society is poorer without the arts, but what they provide is not always quantifiable. more >
Arts Council: spend, spend, spend
The guardians of the arts are hoarding cash at the very time we need our spirits lifted. more >
Deal set to help Welsh artists make the most of opportunities abroad
A new agreement between the Arts Council of Wales and the British Council will be signed today, enabling the two organisations to further promote Welsh art abroad. more >
China launches largest ever Tibet cultural relic preservation
China has launched a project to preserve 22 historical and cultural relics in the southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region. The project, China's largest protection move in the region, will last until 2010. more >
Arts groups fear bill will `chill' free expression
A federal bill that would revoke tax credits for films deemed inappropriate by the government will open a 'Pandora's Box of censorship' that could see controversial ideas snuffed out across the arts. more >
Hungary's parties appear set to drop ‘internet tax’ proposal
A proposal to levy a tax on the internet, mobile content and imported furniture to raise revenue for the National Cultural Fund has come under heavy fire. more >
Culture Ministry idea floated at summit
Increasing access to the arts, boosting Australian TV content, and establishing a ministry of culture were the key policy ideas that emerged from the creative stream of the Australia 2020 summit. more >
Arts economy snapshot
It can take a while for an economic downturn to inflict serious pain on people, organizations and businesses. That appears to be true for regional arts groups. While it's business as usual for many arts organizations, they are bracing for what could be tougher times ahead. more >
Tourism backbone of Zim turnaround
Bright Madera writes on the importance of culture in developing Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. more >
Dancer's attack on Spanish culture
Tamara Rojo, the Spanish ballerina who has taken the British dance world by storm, yesterday delivered a stinging attack on her country's attitude to culture. The prima ballerina blamed the Spanish government for failing to make the best of its home-born talent. more >
Arts institutions feeling impact of ailing economy
Like homeowners and stockholders, museums, concert halls, dance companies and other arts organizations are feeling the pinch from the faltering economy. more >
China takes piracy steps
Chinese officials say they’re taking major proactive steps to prove to the entertainment biz and the world that it is serious about stopping piracy. more >
For Frohnmayer, all the political world's a stage
Frohnmayer, a U.S. Senate Candidate, is getting ready for the May premiere of a satirical musical titled "Spin," which is loosely based on Frohnmayer's account of his stormy tenure as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts when the elder George Bush was president. more >
Great cultural drive in Oman
Oman’s Under Secretary of Ministry of Heritage and Culture says attending to culture is part of supporting human development. more >
Culture body costs 'unreliable'
Cost estimates for creating Scotland's new arts body Creative Scotland have been branded vague and unreliable. more >
Spencer quits
An article on difficulties faced by board members of Barbados’ national arts funding agency in avoiding conflicts of interest. more >
Safeguarding culture for future generations
The Culture and Tourism Ministry and UNESCO have held a workshop in Jakarta on strengthening national capacities for implementing the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. more >
Sport and arts to benefit from plan
‘Cashback for Communities’, launched two years ago, uses money seized from criminals to help sports and other organisations. more >
Arts body poised for cuts
Staff cuts and a streamlined grant applications for artists are part of the Australia Council's $2million budget saving plan for 2008-09. more >
NEA Launches New Grants Initiative: Creativity and Aging
May 23, 2008 is the deadline for grant applications to a new Creativity and Aging in America initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts. more >
Hungary plans 'tie tax'
Hungary's culture minister has unveiled plans for a tax on ties to raise additional revenue for the arts. more >
Respect cultural diversity, says Najib
In a speech at the third Asem Culture Ministers Meeting dinner, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said that cultural difference is ‘an accident of birth’ and should never be the source of hatred or conflict. more >
State and private funding needed by the arts
Art and private money. The two, it seems, rely on each other if creativity is to enjoy public appreciation. more >
Russia, Iran agree to cooperate in sphere of culture
A memorandum on mutual understanding between Russia and Iran, signed after talks in Moscow between the culture ministers of the two countries, envisages the development of diversified cooperation, a boost in exchanges between delegations of cultural activists and regular art exhibitions. more >
Hunt for most musical city
A new competition launched by Arts Council England gives people the chance to choose the nation’s most musical city. more >
Action plan could see jazz jumping
Sydney promoter Peter Rechniewski has developed a proposal for a national jazz plan after coming across the dance plan, which resulted in increased government funding for both the traditional and independent dance sectors. more >
A truce in the culture wars
The government has an opportunity to heal some wounds and invigorate Australia's cultural outlook, writes cultural economist David Throsby. more >
Information ministry to go ahead with the theatre for every governorate project
The information ministry is determined to proceed with establish a theatre in every governorate to provide local theatres with suitable spaces to stage their performances and rejuvenate the Bahraini theatre movement. more >
Culture way to boost ties within Asean
The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry has called for more bilateral cultural and heritage development programmes among Asean member countries. more >
Dialogue among civilisations
An initiative that will publicly exhibit artworks throughout South Africa when it hosts the 2010 Soccer World Cup to prompt the public to internalize ‘moral ownership’ of values such as creativity, freedom of expression, inspiration, and respect for individual rights. more >
New website for Accessible Arts
Accessible Arts has launched its new website, with a wealth of information on arts and disability. more >
Foundation releases 'Sharing Strengths' report on cultural diversity Convention
A report from a March 2008 seminar that brought together experts from Commonwealth and Francophone governments and civil society to discuss the ratification and implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. more >
Cyberkaris now available in French
Cyberkaris, the monthly electronic newsletter for all those interested in the field of international cultural policies and cultural cooperation, is now available in French. more >
General discussion on the right to take part in cultural life
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will organise a Day of General Discussion on Friday 9 May 2008 on the right to take part in cultural life. more >
Discusión general sobre el derecho a participar en la vida cultural
El Comité de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales de las Naciones Unidas organizará un día de discusión general el viernes 9 de mayo de 2008 sobre el derecho a participar en la vida cultural. more >
Northeast Asia forum urges closer co-op in culture, education
Experts from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have made proposals for closer cultural and educational cooperation, including the establishment of a culture ministers' meeting.
more >
Asian, European countries seek to promote cultural interactions
Culture Ministers from Asian and European countries reiterated here on Wednesday that both Asia and Europe should take concrete action to further promote their cultural interactions. more >
Davey unveils ACE’s priorities for the arts
Newly-appointed chief executive Alan Davey has revealed his four strategic priorities for Arts Council England as it responds to the landmark McMaster Report. more >
Federal Government to Review National Culture Policy
The Federal Government in conjunction with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is to review the National Cultural Policy in order to make it more compliant with global trends. more >
Arts quango scraps £100,000 of grants to Scottish publishers
The Scottish Arts Council has quietly axed grants to about half a dozen Scottish publishers worth around £100,000, The Scotsman has learned. more >
Ma pledges to enhance the int'l status of local culture
The president-elect promised to spur cultural development during his term in office by raising the annual budget for cultural affairs to 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), from the current 1.3 percent. more >
NAG in news for all the wrong reasons
With the seat of the director general of Pakistan National Council of the Arts waiting to be filled, now is the time for the Ministry of Culture to take stock of blunders of the past, and to make amends by installing a visionary who can steer the National Art Gallery out of troubled waters. more >
Once it was only God, now we're all 'creators'
'Creativity" is a word much bandied about in our babble of culturespeak. Like "community", it has a warm glow around it, and we rarely give it much further thought. more >
Spacey in plea over theatre funding
Acting legend Kevin Spacey has complained that theatres and other artistic groups had to jump through an increasing number of 'hoops' to obtain funding from the Government. He told an audience of business leaders that arts organisations were having to spend more and more time 'ticking boxes', which was hampering their efforts to engage with communities.
more >
UN Seminar to Focus on Art as a Vehicle for Changing Attitudes Toward the Environment
A seminar to be be held at UN headquaters on 8 May 2008 as part of an ongoing initiative to utilize the universal language of art as a catalyst to empower individuals, communities, and leaders to focus on environmental values. more >
May 2008
New national project to examine impact of arts training
It will provide a first-ever in-depth look at the factors that help or hinder the careers of graduates of arts high schools, arts colleges and conservatories, and arts schools and departments within universities, whether the alumni work as artists or pursue other paths. more >
Spare a few million for the arts, guv
For the money that Roman Abramovich would have to spend to bring one decent striker to Chelsea, he could buy the services of an entire British orchestra more >
Turning over an old leaf
Only 24 books are produced for every tree felled. But book-swapping websites could provide a solution for the eco-aware reader. more >
Federal Government to Review Law for Cultural Institute, Others
Federal Government is set to review and restructure the laws of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO). more >
Conversation with Professor Chengyu Xiong
An interview with Professor Chengyu Xiong - director of National Research Centre of Cultural Industries, Tsinghua University, and advisor to the Chinese government on cultural policy and creative industries - about Chinese creative visions and the burgeoning development of cultural and creative industries. more >
Culture minister vows to purge dramas of vulgarity
Culture and Sports Minister Dr Tanveerul Islam has expressed the resolve to eliminate vulgarity and obscenity from stage dramas. more >
Creative economies have long-term development potential
With the potential to strengthen cultural identities and promote innovation, the creative economy is increasingly recognized as one of the world’s most dynamic emerging economic forces—and as a development imperative. more >
EFAH becomes Culture Action Europe
The European Forum on Arts and Heritage (EFAH) is changing its name to Culture Action Europe and launching a new website.
more >
Vogue ads to find women arts chiefs
Arts minister Margaret Hodge has attacked the 'ludicrous' under-representation of women in the boardrooms of British cultural institutions and plans to advertise in women’s magazines in an attempt to raise the proportion of women running museums, galleries and theatres.
more >
SNP breaks grants pledge to artists and writers
Review ordered to find alternative funding avenues for creative community. more >
Vague ambition puts Creative Scotland at risk of becoming another basket case
Creative Scotland is basically a good idea and keenly awaited. The worst thing that could happen after years of governmental paralysis and endless reports would be for it to raise expectations it is then unable to fulfil. more >
Kylie Minogue gets French cultural honour
Culture Minister Christine Albanel has presented the Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et Lettres, one of of France's top cultural awards, to Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. more >
NEA Chief Offers His Perspective
This is an excerpt of a conversation Dana Gioia had with reporter Valerie Strauss about poetry and the program Poetry Out Loud that the National Endowment for the Arts co-sponsors. more >
Risky business for Hollywood
To advocates, UNESCO’s Cultural Diversity Convention is a crucial defence of national cultures against the onslaught of 'global mono-culture'. Such a high-profile endorsement of cultural protectionism should worry both Hollywood and Washington. more >
Culture improves Nordic competitiveness
A new cultural campaign aims to improve the position of the Nordic Region in global competitiveness and to strengthen the creative industries and international dialogue, according to the Nordic ministers of culture, who have just agreed on a joint globalisation cultural initiative. more >
Cultural policy needs revision
The cultural policy needs to be revised in order to promote arts and culture in the country, said Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman. more >
Culture, root of Iran-Algeria ties
President Ahmadinejad has said culture is the backbone of Iran-Algeria relations, commending the current status of mutual cultural ties. more >
World Day for Cultural Diversity
In the lead-up to the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May, Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura reinforces culture as a contributor to sustainable development that respects people and environments, and serves the cause of dialogue and peace. more >
PM wants to promote country’s rich cultural heritage
The Prime Minister asked Culture Minister to devise a comprehensive policy to promote cultural activities in the country and prepare programs to involve youth in them. He said cultural activities should not be against Islamic values. more >
Cultural revolution
The Chávez government attracts attention for its social and political programmes, yet its effect on Venezuela’s art scene has been just as striking. more >
Evaluation of the World Observatory on the Social Status of the Artist
UNESCO is undertaking an evaluation of the World Observatory on the Social Status of the Artist through an online survey (in English, French and Spanish). Responses due by 20 May 2008.
FR: évaluation de l’Observatoire mondial sur la condition sociale de l’artiste
ES: evaluación del Observatorio mundial sobre la condición del artista
more >
Italian culture minister reaches out
Italy's new minister of culture tried to calm the waters between the government and the film industry Friday, announcing that he would seek to prove that the new Italian government could be a friend to culture and film. more >
Cyprus Minister of Education wants to modernise system
In the next few months the Ministry of Education and Culture will promote the creation of autonomous cultural centres all over Cyprus, to help involve the citizens more in cultural issues. more >
Culturescope.ca website ends
The website of the Canadian Cultural Observatory has been discontinued as at April 1st 2008. more >
iPods, HDD Recorders Might Be Taxed in Japan for Copyright Holders
Recorders with a built-in HDD and portable audio recorders were targeted for the compensation system because "These devices are primarily used for music and video recording," the agency said. more >
‘Culture’ catalogue to be presented in Azerbaijan
The edition offers concrete results of cultural policy and processes of cultural revival. more >
Iraqi artists and singers flee amid crackdown on forbidden culture
Iraqi singers, actors and artists are fleeing the country after dozens have been killed by Islamic radicals determined to eradicate all culture associated with the West. more >
No one's too young for a play
Listen to the practitioners of theatre for children and you may be inspired to believe that theatre is not just a force for good, but that it can change the world. more >
Putin’s New Ark
Under a new government structure, the functions of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography have been passed on to the new ministry of culture, headed by former Russian ambassador to France Alexander Avdeyev. more >
Minister of Information to inaugurate GCC seminar
The Cultural Department of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Kuwait, are co-hosting an inaugural three-day seminar on the 'GCC Cultural Development Plan' to boost joint GCC cultural action and activate the cultural plan. more >
Music transforms kids and towns in remote area of Bolivia
Inspired by a biannual baroque festival and the legacy of missionaries, young people join choirs and take up the violin and Vivaldi in parishes across the country's eastern lowlands. more >
Tracey Emin, Thom Yorke and Ian McKellen - please come and join my artists' parliament
The truth is that the leaner arts council had grown apart from the artists and organisations it funds, many of whom report little or no contact with their funders from year to year. more >
Why fund the arts?
The recent controversy surrounding bill C-10 rekindled the old debate about arts subsidies. Why do we need them? more >
SNAAP: New National Project to Examine Impact of Arts Training
A project has been launched to examine the impact of arts training. It will provide a first-ever in-depth look at the factors that help or hinder the careers of graduates of arts high schools, arts colleges and conservatories, and arts schools and departments within universities. more >
The Ministry of Culture shuts down Cameroon Music Corporation
The Minister of Culture, Amah Tutu Muna, has withdrawn the approval that gives the Cameroon Music Corporation (CMC) the legal standing to manage authors rights. more >
An inspector calls
Taxpayers' money must be accounted for. It cannot be sensible for all arts organisations to be funded from the public purse without condition, scrutiny or time limit. more >
Cullen replaces Brennan as Irish arts minister
A new Irish arts minister has been appointed - the third in less than a year - following a government reshuffle. more >
Express yourself: Arts Council's new way to judge how well public money is spent
Arts Council England is about to consult on what it believes could be a new model for judging success or failure in the public sector that involves both self-assessment and peer review. more >
Every self-respecting graduate needs to have cultural polish
Art is now on the agenda, so Business schools should also be about how people think, argue and interact. more >
The market for the performing arts in Spain
An interview with Lluis Bonet on his recent study on the market for performing arts in Spain, 'El mercado de las Artes Escénicas en el Estado Español'. more >
Creativity bides its time
This week's federal budget will do little to satisfy an arts sector looking for big-picture cultural policy and spending, despite a $103 million allocation for a new film body, Screen Australia, and $11.8 million for connecting young people with the arts. more >
Prague theatres plan unrest over funding reform
Theatre artists in Prague, dissatisfied with the way the City Hall finances culture and with its intention to change the status of certain state-subsidised theatres, plan to stage nationwide Days of Unrest on May 25-29. more >
Arts world delights in budget's great script
The Federal Government's first budget has been welcomed by the arts sector as a good start with its focus on education, emerging artists and on delivering on its election promises. more >
Business hands out a cool $171m in gifts
Arts companies have attracted $171.1million in sponsorship and donations in the past financial year, according to the Australia Business Arts Foundation, in what it calls the first reliable tally of non-government funds. more >
Noises off: Lessons in arts education
Chris Wilkinson considers instrumental and intrinsic arguments in support of the arts, focussing on arts education. more >
Serbia, Macedonia and Romania Join Europe in the Night of the Museums
Balkan cities are joining the international Night of the Museums, a ‘free-for-all’ event initiated by the French Ministry for Culture in which European museums stay open late into the night, offering nocturnal tours, light shows, theatrical and music performances. more >
A ministry for internet cafe culture - or what else can we do?
Why is it that most times the Culture Ministry comes into the news spotlight, it does so to pass comment on something 'wrong' with the way young people are living their lives? more >
Pride in our national culture will help transform the UAE
UAE's astounding cultural initiatives deliver powerful messages about both national pride and its place in the world. The key question is how to sustain these cultural achievements. more >
Agenda21 in Arabic
Agenda 21 for culture, the worldwide mission advocating the adoption of cultural development by cities, is now available in Arabic. more >
Creative crisis: the arts world in revolt
It was meant to provide new focus and impetus for the arts in Scotland. Instead the Creative Scotland Bill has been called a political car crash. more >
Arts council plans rejected
The arts council has been sent back to the drawing board by culture minister Ronald Plasterk after he rejected its wish to boost spending on the arts by 10% over the next four years. more >
Iran calls for promotion of cultural ties with China
Head of Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization has stressed the importance of expanding ties with China in various cultural fields. more >
Crooks' cash to boost cultural projects
Under the government's new CashBack for Communities programme, money seized from convicted criminals will be channelled into projects designed to increase access to cultural activities for youngsters in care. more >
A Musician Who Performs With a Scalpel
But to the extent that music heals, how does it heal? The physiological pathways responsible have remained obscure, and the search for an underlying mechanism has moved slowly. more >
WIPO to Launch Pilot Training Program for Indigenous Communities
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will launch in September 2008 a pilot program to assist indigenous communities to document their own cultural traditions, archive this heritage for future generations, and safeguard their interest in authorizing use of their recordings and traditions by third parties. more >
Culture Ministry backs idea of theatres’ transfer to self-financing
The Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan has backed a proposal for national theatres to become self-financing. more >
Creative crisis: the arts world in revolt
It was meant to provide new focus and impetus for the arts in Scotland. Instead the Creative Scotland Bill has been called a political car crash. more >
Greats of US literature pressed into diplomatic service
For the second time in recent years, US literature is being pressed into the service of international relations. more >
Anthony urges quick apprehension of channa bomb tossers
Guyana’s culture ministry came under attack around last Friday when a bomb was hurled into the ministry’s compound. more >
Cultural governance observatory
"CultureWatchEurope" (working title) is the Council of Europe’s cultural governance observatory and an information and exchange platform for culture and cultural and natural heritage. more >
World Culture Day
Stephen Chifunyise provides an African perspective on the commemoration of World Culture Day 2008. more >
Cuba Celebrates International Day of Cultural Diversity
Cuban cultural and social institutions, led by the Ministry of Culture, in coordination with UNESCO, are carrying out a series of actions that will conclude on Wednesday with an international colloquium on diversity in the Caribbean. more >
Copyright, conflicts of interest, and how to deal with Uncle Sam
US museum lawyers met last month to discuss the most pressing issues they are currently facing . more >
Advertisements Championing Arts Education
A new series of public service advertisements designed to promote the benefits of arts education has been launched across the USA. more >
Jamal Shah finally resigns from PNCA
The Visual Arts Director of Pakistan National Council of the Arts, has finally resigned from his post. more >
Implementing policies in favour of creative economy
The government has laid the foundation for an initiative in favour of the country’s cultural and creative industries. more >
Cultural heritage or artistic expressions
Is Eleston Adams minister of culture, or should he be minister of something more reflective of our overall expectations of his portfolio? If I was drafting the decision papers for a prime minister, about how to appoint a portfolio of this type, I would suggest the following: minister of heritage, the arts and celebrations. more >
Ministry Of Culture, NCC Partner On Creative Ingenuity
In its determination to safeguard the creative ingenuity of Nigerians, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation is going into partnership with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC). more >
Cultural Diversity, Weapon Against Poverty
UNESCO has emphasised that cultural diversity is a good weapon in the fight against poverty. more >
Respect all cultures, says Caricom Secretary General
Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) Secretary General has called on the Community to respect and promote the principles of cultural diversity and to ensure that the Community is a place built on mutual understanding and respect for all cultures. more >
Ministers pledge to boost artists' mobility
Promoting the mobility of artists and other cultural workers within Europe featured prominently among policy priorities for the next two years adopted by EU culture ministers on 21 May. more >
Bulgaria Celebrates Day of Slavic Script and Bulgarian Culture
People all over Bulgaria celebrated one of the country's most important national holidays - May 24, the Day of the Slavic Script and Bulgarian Culture. more >
Taking stock of culture
Dolores Cristina was appointed Minister for Culture as part of the general reshuffle of ministerial responsibilities after the election. What has changed? more >
Art mixes with politics
A malaise of bureaucratic inactivity, the internal politics at the arts council and its clashes with the arts community have made the shining, marble-floored National Art Gallery nothing more than an exhibition hall. more >
Forum recommends arts academy
A high level Trinity College Dublin forum on the future training needs for actors has recommended that the Government should consider establishing an independent Irish Academy of Theatre Arts. more >
Youth must be priority, Caricom SG says
Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary-General Edwin Carrington has reiterated the need for the community to create opportunities for the full development of the creativity of its young people, noting that this was central to the development of the region’s culture agenda. more >
Back to our roots
Fiji has ratified the 2003 Convention on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
more >
Talking Musika
There is absolutely nothing wrong with government taking an interest in the arts. In fact it must be applauded. But the artists of this county want consideration of the establishment of a national arts council that is not a child of the ministry of culture. more >
Artists seek royalties for 70 years from grave
Britain's artistic community is battling against leading auction houses and dealers to bring in a law forcing the payment of a royalty on artists' works for 70 years after their deaths — in line with writers and musicians. more >
Solving conflicts through the arts
The Ministry of Social Development has launched its Storytelling Caravan Competition in which students are encouraged to research, create and demonstrate how to avoid violence when settling disputes using art.
more >
Arts advocates thank Laura Bush for her support
Arts advocates are crediting first lady Laura Bush with kick-starting efforts to restore funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, which Republican leaders slashed in the mid-1990s. more >
What's going on with Culture Ireland?
Thanks to increased government funding, Culture Ireland appears to be a breath of fresh air in promoting the visual arts abroad. Looking at its pattern of decisions, however, visual arts may not be as well-served as appearances suggest. more >
Turkic states convene to forge common culture and elect new head
Ankara will host the 24th meeting of culture ministers from 14 Turkic states, which together form TÜRKSOY, an international organization that aims to 'consolidate Turkic culture’s place in world civilization,' in the words of its deputy director general. more >
Food for the Poor donates instruments
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport recently received a donation of 16 musical and wind instruments from Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc. to assist with the formation of a band for Carifesta. more >
Bid to promote national identity
One of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community's central objectives is to promote national identity, and most of its budget goes into doing so. more >
CARICOM secretary general calls for more opportunities for youth
CARICOM secretary general Dr Edwin Carrington says opportunities need to be created for the development of creativity of youths in the region. more >
ACE and DCMS slip back further on ethnic minority targets
Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have again come under fire for failing on targets to increase the number of ethnic minorities attending and taking part in the arts. more >
Rescuing Orphans: Can Congress Balance the Public Good and the Rights of Artists?
An analysis of the public good versus artists rights' issues surrounding ‘orphan works’ – artworks whose copyright-holders are difficult or impossible to locate. more >
New RSA Research Network on Creative industries and the Region
A new network aims to address trends and issues around the development of the creative and cultural industries at the regional level, fostering a multi-disciplinary and international debate among researchers, practitioners and policy makers. more >
Cate Blanchett calls on Prime Minister to soften Bill Henson art remarks
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's handpicked arts mentor Cate Blanchett yesterday co-signed an open letter urging the Prime Minister to rethink his public comments about artist Bill Henson's work. more >
Culture Ministers discuss creation of a joint Euro-Mediterranean cultural strategy
Culture ministers and civil society representatives from the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership are meeting in Athens on to exchange views on the cultural dimension of the partnership and to explore the substance and scope of a joint cultural strategy. more >
Cultural information project entitled ‘Global Cultural Futures’ launched
At a meeting on March 27-28, at which 30 scholars, journalists, cultural policy experts and officials from all continents took part, a new cultural information project was launched entitled ‘Global Cultural Futures’, an offshoot of the Cultures and Globalization Series. more >
Authorities raise concerns over performers' style of dressing
The National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) has threatened a ban to three dance and music bands – FM Academia, TOT Respect and Akudo Impact – for their stage shows' alleged semi-nude clothing, reported Majira on 29 May 2008. more >
Games and dot.com entrepreneurs join policy makers and educators for debate on future of the creative industries
The creative industries are poised for rapid growth. Will the latest government initiatives make a difference and help turn talent into jobs? more >
Old funds for new worlds
Virtual worlds and computer games are not everyone's idea of art, but these technologies come into their own when you take into account it's not just what you see and hear but what you do and how you interact with them that creates the art. more >
Serowe braces for Culture Day
According to Head of Division (Culture) in the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth Dineo Phuti, preparations for the event, to be held under the theme: Culture Is My Business, are at an advanced stage. more >
Culture an economic driver, says chairman of arts group
A new report will identify successful cultural development models from around the world, explore effective cultural investment targets and propose policies to facilitate the production of creative work. more >
Egyptian minister under fire for 'Goebbels-style' comment
Hosni, nominated by Egypt to be the chief of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), has recently raised Jewish ire for declaring in Parliament this month that he was prepared to burn Israeli books if he found them in local libraries. more >
A whole Lotto nothing going on
As scores of beneficiaries wait indefinitely for their grants from the National Lotteries Board and increasing numbers of people institute legal proceedings against it, the board’s chief executive is being hauled before the CCMA by his own staff. more >
Reflecting On Festivals- A Critique Of NAFAC
At a four-day training workshop, participants discussed challenges and issues of government policies and national arts festivals. more >
Italy on the World Stage: Frattini-Bondi Pact
Italy's Foreign Minister and Minister for Culture, Franco Frattini and Sandro Bondi, have today sealed an agreement to spread Italian culture around the world. more >
June 2008
Panel members against one cultural policy
Is there a need for a national cultural policy in India? A national committee has said no. more >
Your views on culture and development needed
The Commonwealth Foundation's Culture and Diversity programme is inviting interested parties to shape and influence its future work on culture, development and cultural policy. more >
Conductor says art’s at risk when funders call tune
The Arts Council of Wales now offers no specific funding for composers, and one American musician based in Cardiff warns that this could undermine major investment in musical institutions. more >
Singapore stages a renaissance
Through its National Arts Council, the Singaporean Government is creating programs and events that will encourage more Singaporeans to take part in the arts. more >
Arts funding favours establishments
New arts and culture funding in the government’s 2008 budget has seen some of the country’s big establishments getting a chunk of new cash, though community art remains underfunded. more >
Plan for Creative Scotland 'confused and confusing'
Plans to create a new cultural body through a merger of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen have been sharply criticised by a Parliamentary committee which has found that the proposal lacks clarity and could end up creating confusion. more >
Writers Meet Politicians to Discuss Their Rights
Attendees at the reception included Members of Parliament and Peers. Dr Gibson welcomed the assembled audience and was joined on the platform by The Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism, The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, who made the key-note speech and poet Wendy Cope who read her poem on the importance of copyright. more >
Call for pay shake-up for West End dancers
Leading choreographer Arlene Phillips has criticised pay levels for dancers in the West End and has called for a new wage structure to be implemented that reflects performers’ experience. more >
Audiences Wales awarded £20k to profile theatregoers
Marketing and development agency Audiences Wales has received a £20000 grant from Arts Council Wales to carry out a research project looking at the at the behaviour of theatregoers in the country. more >
Bulgaria Culture Ministry Destroys Publicly 30 000 Illegal CDs
29 955 unlicensed CDs, DVDs, CD-ROM, audio and video cassettes with business software, music, and movies were publicly destroyed Tuesday afternoon at the order of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. more >
Best practice at heart of new dawn for MLA
The MLA today set out the details of its significantly re-defined role, and new ways of working nationally and regionally. more >
Arts eyes generous donors
A plan to encourage more philanthropy as a source of funding for the arts is being prepared by the Arts Council. It has asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen for his assistance in developing such a culture. more >
There's one home but is there one love?
Dr Tan Sooi Beng, associate professor with Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Arts, believes that recent policies have polarised the arts. more >
Shafie: 915 cultural clubs nationwide
The Ministry of Unity, Arts, Culture and Heritage told the Dewan Negara that there are 915 cultural clubs in the country actively promoting traditional culture and arts with a participation from 27,727 people. more >
Courting Donors, Finding Freedom
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden should make everyone think twice about cultural economics and the costs of achieving quality in the arts: at the very heart of subsidized Europe, it is a nonprofit venture that receives not a cent of public money. more >
Summer Festival as Environmental Liability
Let's face it: summer festivals are not what you'd call environmentally friendly. Some festivals are attempting to minimize the damage. more >
Arts and Ecology day to raise climate change awareness
'Arts & Ecology Day' has been launched to engage the creativity and influence of the arts community in making London a more sustainable city. The day will raise the profile of sustainability by celebrating new plays, poems, music, artworks and dance across London, with the aim of developing into a world-wide campaign. more >
Why the rise of the private museum is rewriting the rules of the market
Dealers are growing increasingly wary of do-it-yourself institutions. more >
Arthouse Angles for Relevance in National Economy
Stakeholders have engaged in a brainstorming session, ‘Developing the Visual Art Sector: Prospects and Challenges’, to fashioning ways of repackaging the visual arts sector to promote wealth creation. more >
Women Call for Recognition
Responsible authorities are called on to recognize the need to set up a venue for women to establish themselves in their field of interest. The call comes amidst orders for a small group of women who sell baskets at the Art Gallery to vacate the premises. more >
Local playwrights consigned to the small end of town
About 100 new Australian scripts or texts are being professionally produced on stages nationally a year, but smaller theatre companies are "taking the brunt of that new work", according to new research. more >
The even dearer departed
Battlelines have been drawn between Britain's artistic community and a coalition of London auction houses and dealers over a law that would pay resale rights or a royalty on the sale of artists' works for 70 years after their death. more >
Funding pledge to protect rural arts
Arts chiefs have promised that regardless of how much cash is available to hand out, they remain as committed as ever to rural causes. more >
China commits 70 million dollars to preserve Tibet culture
China has agreed to commit 70 million dollars to an international fund for the preservation of culture in Tibet. more >
Media practitioners advised to report on Ghanaian culture
The Coordinator of the Cultural Initiatives Support Program has called upon media practitioners to report on cultural activities as a way of increasing the public’s interest in Ghanaian culture. more >
Arts, culture facing 'glaring problems'
Pallo Jordan, the minister of Arts and Culture, has pointed to some ‘glaring problems’ in the arts and culture sector. more >
1st international forum of culturologists held in Baku
The forum set the purpose to ensure development of culture propaganda, preservation and scientific surveys in the area of culture. more >
How can arts thrive in increasingly digital world?
Selling a trip to the symphony or a modern- dance recital has never been easy in this country, especially when that pitch is upset by violent tectonic shifts in the larger consumer landscape. more >
Thinking outside the box
If women are excelling in the arts, why - as culture minister Margaret Hodge claims - are so few taking the top jobs? more >
Culture and money
No one should doubt that festivals have an economic impact - but are the claims made for them overstated? more >
Raising standards across all art forms
Davinia Galea, CEO at the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, elaborates on the transition in the role the MCCA is making and the way she must balance the ethereal world of the arts with down-to-earth management. more >
Premio especial para la Coalición Chilena para la Diversidad Cultural
Se distinguió con un premio especial el trabajo realizado, durante estos últimos siete años, por la Coalición Chilena para la Diversidad Cultural. more >
Simon Brault: The Art of Cultural Action
As General Director of the National Theatre School and the Vice-President of the Canada Council, Simon Brault is one of Canada’s top movers and shakers in culture.
more >
Cultural centres set to boost tourism growth countrywide
The government has launched an initiative to establish community cultural centres to promote national culture and place culture in a strategic position to play a leading role in tourist product diversification. more >
Digital copyright: it's all wrong
The US has circulated a draft discussion paper for the G8 meeting in Tokyo in July that proposes a governing body for copyright protection that would operate outside organisations such as the World Trade Organisation and the UN. more >
Training program on documenting cultural traditions
WIPO will launch in September 2008 a pilot program to assist indigenous communities to document their cultural traditions, archive this heritage for future generations, and manage intellectual property. more >
Festival celebrating world culture
In a circular letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1906, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, invited members to an advisory conference to determine "to what extent and in what form the arts and literature can participate in the celebration of the modern Olympiads". more >
Info Days on - Culture Programme (2007 – 2013)
Get informed about funding opportunities under the Culture Programme. Conditions have been simplified with the introduction of a Programme Guide, which will be published mid June 2008. more >
Campbell named as Northern Irish culture minister
He said he would be “looking in particular how the Department for Culture, Arts and leisure can support the creative industries”. more >
The Chilean Coalition for Cultural Diversity receives a special prize
The Chilean Coalition for Cultural Diversity received a special prize that acknowledges the work it has been carrying out for the last seven years. more >
Culture is critical as the UAE struggles to define its ‘identity’
Dr Salem Humaid, a writer and researcher in cultural and anthropological studies, compares Western and Arabic definitions of culture. more >
mov-s 2008: Space for International Exchange of Dance and Movement Arts
mov-s aims to build bridges between artists and Dance and Movement Arts organizations in order to establish communication, collaboration and meeting channels. more >
National instrument bank launched today
The Music Council of Australia today launched the inaugural National Instrument Bank. more >
mov-s 2008: un espacio para el intercambio internacional de la danza y las artes del movimiento
mov-s busca construir puentes de unión entre los artistas y las organizaciones de danza y las artes del movimiento con el fin de establecer vías naturales de encuentro y colaboración. more >
Media organizations campaign to oust 3 ‘enemies of the press’
Three people - Choi Si-jung, the chairman of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission; Lee Dong-kwan, the presidential spokesperson; and Shin Jae-min, the vice minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism - have been criticized for leading a government attempt to control the media. more >
What's the point of the Cultural Olympics?
Millions of pounds have been set aside for a festival that no one needs and fewer people want. more >
Waiting room reading gets a dose of poetry
Medical waiting rooms are preparing to throw out celebrity magazines in favour of Shakespearean sonnets or the poetry of Emily Dickinson. more >
'Radical Ideas' at arts conference draws protest
June 12, 2008
A report from the National Performing Arts Convention, Denver, where nearly 4,000 artists and arts administrators have converged to try and determine a direction for the performing arts in the United States.
more >
NYEP Must Consider Culture
The Director of the Centre for National Culture has called on the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to draw up programmes and involve all relevant agencies in the promotion of national culture. more >
Who's in, who's out?
One of the fascinating series of discussions at the National Performing Arts Convention have hovered around what constitutes a 'national performing arts community.' It's an impossible question with a full cargo train of baggage behind it, but it's an essential first agreement for any community hoping to make a positive difference. more >
Government must address social reforms
The government should develop a cultural policy and effective plan to preserve Nepal’s diverse cultures. more >
New findings on the role of the arts
A new report from the National Endowment for the Arts shows that artists are a force in driving our economy. more >
Duffy, Gavin and Stacey lead the way
Plans for new laws to force Welsh local councils to promote arts and culture are being drawn up by the Assembly Government. more >
Culture ministry prepares colloquy on national identity
The Ministry of Culture will hold a colloquy, 'Cultural and National Identity', in the light of the programme called 'Culture Strengthens the Nation - More Culture, More Angola'. more >
Major shakeup of Wales arts funding
Heritage minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas wants a shake-up in the funding of the arts in the face of falling lottery cash and tight public finances. more >
Arts funding 'should be flexible'
Arts organisations in Wales should not always receive funding just because they have previously had it, the culture minister has said. more >
Free instruments for poor children
Children living on England's poorest estates will be provided with musical instruments and taught for free how to perform works by composers such as Bach and Beethoven. more >
2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage becoming operational
After two years of intense work by the Intergovernmental Committee, the Operational Directives of the 2003 Convention are ready for consideration by the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention when it meets in Paris (16-19 June). Once approved, the 2003 Convention becomes fully operational. more >
Cultural sector grows more slowly than expected
Culture satellite accounts suggest that since 1995 the cultural sector has declined as a proportion of Finland’s overall economy. more >
Melting pot provides next step for disability arts
Momentum 09 is an International Disability Art Symposium being held in Auckland, New Zealand, in February 2009. more >
Capaldi to replace Turner as Arts Council of Wales chief executive
Nick Capaldi has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Arts Council of Wales, replacing interim chief executive James Turner in the role from September. more >
Lessons for students in Indian heritage, courtesy culture ministry
The culture ministry has set up a Cultural Heritage Volunteers scheme, under which scholars, educationists and artists will inculcate in students the ability to appreciate art and culture and promote creativity. more >
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture call for proposals 2008
The Arab Fund for Arts & Culture has invited project proprosals from individuals, NGOs, cultural and educational organizations, governmental bodies and private companies working in culture and arts in the Arab World. more >
Regional Funds for the Promotion of Cooperation and Cultural Exchanges in West Africa
The Regional Funds for the Promotion of Cooperation and Cultural Exchanges in West Africa has launched its program to support the development of exchanges, networks and cooperation between the cultural actors of countries within the region. more >
Highlights of action plans coming out of Jamaican Diaspora Conference
The Jamaican Diaspora Conference 2008 has resulted in a number of recommendations for the government's cultural policies. more >
Desmond exercising his rights
Desmond Maphanga has filed an appeal to make null and void his suspension as CEO of the National Council of Arts and Culture in February 2008. more >
Huge Shift Looms for Italy's Opera Companies
“We must set off and promote only first-rate cultural endeavors, since casually showering our financial resources on a thousand directions would do nobody any good,” declared Minister for Culture, Sandro Bondi. more >
The cultural domain is just as sexist as the others
Contrary to popular opinion, the cultural workplace is just as sexist as that of politics or finance. more >
The Week in Arts
The Culture Secretary has given his blessing to a week of free admission to the arts. Why not try to attract new audiences the other 51 weeks of the year? more >
Fears over ‘lost year’ for arts in Scotland
Creative Scotland, the new body designed to replace the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, will go ahead as planned despite MSPs voting down the bill intended to form it last week, according to the culture minister, Linda Fabiani. more >
Watermans wins in legal action against Arts Council
West London theatre venue Watermans, home to numerous Asian productions over past decades, has won a small legal battle over its funding row with the Arts Council. more >
Violins for free No strings attached
A new €350,000 funding purchase scheme, The Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Arts Council in association with The IRMA Trust, provides support for the purchase of musical instruments. It targets highly-skilled performing artists, non-professional performing groups and those working in youth or community organisations. more >
Arts funding plan to reward donors
Plans to give gongs to philanthropists, as part of a broader shake-up in arts funding, will be set out by Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary. more >
Minister of hope
Jack Lang served as culture minister from 1981-1991. Mention his name to French people, and all at once their moods change, their faces light up and their eyes sparkle. more >
Tories' US-style philanthropy plan for the arts
In his first big speech since becoming shadow culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt will tonight outline the Conservatives' arts policy, saying that the Labour party, despite its self-projection as the natural party of the arts, has become "the party of arts bureaucracy". more >
First Extraordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee
The First Extraordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 24 to 27 June 2008. more >
Culture as an outpost for diplomacy
Culture as an "instrument for political dialogue and soft diplomacy" to promote the Italian system will be the leading edge of the foreign ministry's General directorate for cultural promotion and cooperation set up by minister Franco Frattini. more >
Arts Council to Issue Grants
The National Arts Council of Namibia (NACN) will this morning announce and hand over arts and culture grants to the first recipients at a press conference at a local hotel. more >
A set of coloured pencils is not good enough for our children
The teaching of the arts in government schools in the UAE is far behind other countries.
more >
Money is available to develop the arts
When artists apply for funding at the National Arts Council and their applications are unsuccessful, they often think that it is the end of the road. But this is not so because funding art development is available through provincial arts and culture councils. more >
State of the arts checks out funding in Canada
Artistic freedom, the fair adjudication processes, and the access to arts funding are both necessities and luxuries that many Canadians overlook or take for granted. more >
Culture Minister Comments On Books for Democratisation
Angola's Minister of Culture, Boaventura Cardoso, said books, as a key support in development of creativity and children's personalities, make possible the practice of democracy. more >
The Canada Council for Arts aids our artists in continuing to create
When travelling abroad, I'm often struck by the number of foreign artists who comment on how wonderful it must be to work as an artist in Canada. My American friends, in particular, seem to be especially envious of the cultural climate here. more >
Earnings, education linked to evenings out: Statistics Canada
The more money you make and the more education you have, the more likely you are to go to movies, plays or concerts, says a Statistics Canada study released Thursday. more >
Bukamal asserts ministry's keenness to set up strong ties with international cultural institutions
Information Minister Jihad Bin Hassan Bukamal said the ministry is looking forward to launch strong ties with international cultural institutions so as to boost Bahrain's status on the world's cultural map. more >
K42 million for Arts and Culture
The Department of Culture has placed its budget at K42 million, up from K30 million last year. more >
Talking Arts - Who cares about arts?
Going back through the files, the sad reality is that the much talked-about culture policy is rotting in one of the offices at the Capital Hill. To be precise, the culture policy has been lying there since 15 years ago. more >
Arts Patrons, the Next Generation
It is one thing to pass on a casual appreciation of the arts, but can one also pass on a lifetime commitment? How does one learn the ropes? And how do foundations integrate the sometimes different priorities of younger and older members? more >
Culture financing in Kazakhstan rose by 80%: Ministry
Financing of culture in Kazakhstan has been raised almost by 80% over the last two years. In 2007 the Ministry's budget made KZT 40.3 bln and in 2008 it has reached KZT 51.3 bln. Besides, 70 investment projects on the construction of the institutes of culture in the regions were included in the budget request. more >
'Rights Owners' Must Have Say In Arts Council Formulation
There should be a celebration of the registration of a company that will be entrusted with administering copyright in Botswana, presumably under the auspices of a copyright society. more >
July 2008
Diversity in Dialogue-the Cultural Wealth of the World
Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. In Ghana, the Ministry Of Chieftaincy and Culture has set aside November every year as a National cultural awareness Month. more >
Putting the Arts back into the Arts
An interview with Bill Ivey, former Chairman of the NEA, about why we’re making less art and what public policy’s got to do with it. more >
Direct arts funding ‘has an Eastern European feel’, says Burnham
Culture secretary Andy Burnham has ruled out direct government funding for the country’s flagship arts companies, claiming that such a move would undermine Arts Council England. more >
Germany to spend more on culture
Germany's coalition government has agreed to up its culture budget by 1.5% to E1.13 billion ($1.8 billion). more >
The Arts Council is heading in the right direction
ACE has helped many organisations in recent years and is in an excellent position to build on its achievements. more >
Wales Arts Council under attack
The Arts Council for Wales's provision of arts facilities is still insufficient at community and national levels according to a report by the Assembly's audit committee. more >
Let's aim for the cultural omnivore
Rather than competing against one another to sell subscriptions and single tickets, perhaps arts organisations could work together to increase cultural participation. more >
European Union Cultural Attaché Event
The meeting provided a platform to explore the UK’s statutory cultural funding bodies’ engagement with the European Union’s nations. more >
Sometimes Impatiently, New Generation of Arts Patrons Look to the Future
A small and privileged group of young adults is eager to make its mark in the world of arts philanthropy, bringing with them a fresh set of perspectives and priorities to the institutions and organizations they serve. more >
Hong Kong LegCo endorses $2.77 b funding for cultural district project
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council (LegCo) has approved a funding application by the HKSAR government for about 2.77 billion U.S. dollars to build a cultural district in West Kowloon. more >
Around the Arts: Panel review important to the arts
An behind-the-scenes look at issues in supporting new media arts via peer-review panels. more >
Magazine uses nude photo as protest
A taxpayer-funded magazine has used a picture of a naked six-year-old girl on the cover of its July edition in protest against the treatment of artist Bill Henson. more >
'Our media has no memory'
Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan, referred to as ‘the intellectual’, has a passion for freedom of expression. more >
Guidelines plan in nude child row
The Rudd Government will ask the Australia Council to develop a set of protocols to cover the representation of children in art, after a taxpayer-funded magazine put a picture of a nude six-year-old girl on its cover to protest at the Bill Henson dispute. more >
The runaway success of Müzekart
The Müzekart (museum card), recently introduced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to boost people's interest in Turkish museums, has proven far more popular than expected. more >
Going back to my roots
An interview with Fiji Arts Council director, Letila Mitchell, about the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. more >
Arts Council seeks groups for new roster
Arts Council England is developing a national design roster to develop the Council’s communications and branding. more >
Culture and Conflict: Introduction
A special article on culture and conflict that investigates how art provides practical help in times of war, conflict and violence in five countries. more >
Crop-Over spread
Minister of Culture Steve Blackett has foreshadowed ‘a paradigm shift’ in the development of the cultural industries through inter-ministerial co-operation between the Ministries of Education, Trade, Finance and Foreign Affairs.
more >
Artists as entrepreneurs
American artists "more entrepreneurial" than a high-tech CEO? How can that be? more >
Creative Exchange closes
Creative Exchange, a network for culture and development based in the UK, will cease operations at the end of July 2008. more >
Experience economy is good, but why, nobody knows
Research reports have found that too little is known about Denmark’s experience economy and that government policy is fractured across multiple ministries. more >
Culture line of defence against extremism
Minister for Culture Ms Sherry Rehman said on Tuesday that study of Pakistani cultural heritage is not only imperative for development of arts and culture, but it is also a line of defence against extremism in the present political scenario. more >
Germany's Imagemaker - Michael Zenner
The Directorate-General for Culture and Communication in the German Foreign Office seeks to make Germany an attractive nation abroad by disseminating “stimulating, credible information and dialogues on culture and education”. more >
What will the artistic face of İstanbul look like in 2010?
İstanbul is gearing up for the year 2010, when it will assume the title of the European Capital of Culture, and the projects to be carried out in connection with this have already started blossoming. more >
KEA study commissioned in the run-up to European Year of Creativity and Innovation
The European Commission has commissioned a study on policies to promote the role of creators and creative industries in fostering individual creativity and social innovation due for release in February 2009. more >
Prepatory work for Russia
The plans of the new Russian Minister of Culture, Alexander Avdeyev to boost the arts in the new Russia. more >
Silvertails not only ones with whole lot of art
The art galleries and museums of NSW are luring diverse crowds, particularly low-income earners, a study by Museums and Galleries NSW has found. more >
Arts Council accused of ignoring Watermans funding advice
Watermans bosses claim to have discovered that two departments within Arts Council England (ACE) recommended that their funding should continue and that a cut would cause huge damage to the arts centre - but this was not passed on to the decision board. more >
Bole promotes culture and arts
It is vital that we make art and culture a part of our core script, interim Minister for Culture and Arts Filipe Bole said yesterday. more >
GES plans to use cultural heritage as a major strategy for nation's development
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has mapped out a comprehensive strategy to preserve, harness and use the Ghanaian cultural heritage and resources to develop a vibrant and a prosperous national community. more >
Abu Dhabi prepares book on intangible heritage
The Department of Intangible Heritage at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage has prepared a book on the proceedings of the first regional meeting regarding intangible Arab heritage, held in Abu Dhabi in 2007. more >
Euphoria turns sad for Boyce
Promoter Peter Boyce seems headed for a clash with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF). For the third straight year, one party is accusing the other of trying to get artistes to sign exclusive contracts. more >
The Royal Ballet’s Asian tour is a great lesson in cultural diplomacy
Did an orchestra lure North Korea to the negotiating table? more >
Pressure mounts on EU leaders to double copyright protection length for performers
EU officials are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss proposals made by EU internal market commissioner Charles McCreevy, who has recommended that rights for performers should be extended to match the amount of time that music writers are currently covered by. more >
Review of ‘Art and Upheaval’
A review of the book ‘Art and Upheaval: Artists on the World's Frontlines,’ a collection on artists working with communities during conflict and war in a number of countries. more >
Is Britain failing to give children full access to the arts as required by UN's Charter on the Rights of the Child?
A UK umbrella body for arts organisations involved in providing arts for and with children, will launch the UK's first 'Manifesto for Children's Arts' on 21 July. more >
Arts council buries hatchet with theater companies
Kuwait's National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters(NCCAL) has long been accused of a lack of support for local theater companies and the arts in general. But after holding recent meetings between the two sides, their longstanding differences have been set aside. more >
Australian arts 'asphyxiated'
Soprano Lisa Gasteen says the arts are being asphyxiated in Australia and she is not surprised by Adelaide's failure to restage the Ring Cycle. more >
Orchestra funding hits bad note
Composer Stavros Xarchakos yesterday launched a strong attack on the government and the way that Greece funds the arts as he revealed that the State Orchestra for Greek Music (KOEM), which he conducts, is on the verge of financial ruin. more >
Earthquake-devastated culture fights for its survival in China
The Chinese Cabinet, or State Council, is weighing whether to establish a "cultural protection region" for the Qiang, the vice minister of culture, Zhou Heping, told Xinhua. more >
Why a bit of credit crunch may be no bad thing
There's no sign the 2012 Olympics is losing its capacity to suck away cash, says Rupert Christiansen. more >
Ministers call for consolidated effort in promoting historical, cultural heritages
Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin stressed today the need for consolidated promotion of Ethiopia’s historical and cultural heritages. more >
Nude girl magazine gets M classification
The Classification Board has given an unrestricted M rating to an art magazine featuring a nude six-year-old girl on the cover. more >
Ministry of Culture and Tourism investigates 11 artists
Action has been taken by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to stop the abuse of national symphony orchestra laws by launching an inquiry into 11 artists alleged to not be fully performing their duties. more >
Arts Council plans further three year initiative for Traditional Arts
The move comes after the successful completion of the Traditional Arts Initiative 2005-2008, which introduced the Deis scheme and increased support for the traditional arts through the Arts Council’s mainstream grants and awards. more >
‘Home & Away’: comparing national policies for live art touring
A brief report on the IETM/VTi Satellite Meeting in May 2008. A comprehensive report of the seminar will be produced later in 2008. more >
Debating Aspects of Cultural Dynamism
Habineza Joseph, Minister of culture and sports "Culture dynamism has always been useful in changing and admitting new and positive elements." more >
China bans entertainers who "offend sovereignty"
Overseas entertainers will be banned from the Chinese mainland if they are deemed to have "offended the country's sovereignty" during performances, says China's Ministry of Culture. more >
Returns to national arts and creativity policy stage
A seminar will be held on July 17-19 which will work to shape non-partisan policy recommendations critical to the advancement of American culture, and design a plan to encourage a stronger, more vibrant cultural policy environment for the arts in the future. more >
Cutting through black and white
If one seriously wishes to address the failure of transformation in the arts, hammering on about how the industry reflects the broader South African reality is a soft target. more >
Buyer beware
The law protecting cultural heritage is no longer serving the interests of Aboriginal artists, the international promotion of Aboriginal art, or the market. more >
Arts policies
An editorial looking at New Zealand's arts policy landscape in the lead-up to the 2008 general election. more >
Govt committed to promoting Pakistani culture, talent, creativity
Minister for Culture Sherry Rehman has said that the government was committed to institutionalising and promoting Pakistani culture, talent and creativity. more >
Investing in local talent
To the small band of resident artists currently operating out of the UAE, there’s little by way of the kind of grants, awards or incentive-based prizes that fuel art scenes worldwide. more >
Innovation Strategy: Music Service Corps
We should create a national service corps for musicians and artists to work in public schools and underserved communities. more >
Campbell issues equal cultural funding promise
The Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure, Gregory Campbell, has vowed that Ulster Scots and Irish cultural outlooks will receive parity of funding while he is in office - whether people like it or not. more >
Artists to develop child-art protocols
Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, has written to the Australia Council and Screen Australia, asking them "to develop a setof protocols to address the depiction of children in works, exhibitions and publications that are recipients of government funding". more >
Pacific Arts Festival hours away from opening
The 10th Festival of Pacific Arts opens tomorrow in Pago Pago, American Samoa, with a diverse range of art forms on show and a number of symposia focusing on issues in arts and culture. more >
500 researchers at Albanian culture seminar
The International Seminar on the Albanian Language, Literature and Culture, in Prishtina from August 18 to 19, will gather 500 people from over 90 countries to present research work on albanology. more >
Main results of the informal meeting of Ministers for Culture
Christine Albanel, French Minister for Culture and Communication, brought together her fellow EU ministers for an informal meeting in Versailles on 21-22 July. more >
The Greek cultural industry is bankrupt
Greece has great potential in cultural industries: with minimal investment its performance would be very good. But the Ministry won’t be able to negotiate the acquisition of the necessary resources. more >
Rosen launches children's manifesto
Action for Children's Arts, an umbrella body for arts organisations, has launched the UK's first Manifesto for Children's Arts. more >
A ministry’s artless posturing
The repeated cancellation of big arts productions gives an indication of the Culture Ministry’s future course. more >
Recommendations for Enhancing Cultural Presence Abroad
An Agency for Cultural Affairs advisory panel, tasked with proposing ways Japan can enhance its presentation of its culture internationally, has released its interim report. more >
USIA needs to be revived to fight anti-Americanism
At the urging of Congress, the Department of State, current home of the government's public diplomacy efforts, has commissioned a study to review the instruments and techniques needed to burnish the U.S. image. more >
The Arts Column: how to put children off culture for life
A counter-argument to the manifesto to put the arts ‘at the heart of the school curriculum’. more >
Promoting eBook a main policy of culture ministry
Promoting electronic books is one of the practical measures taken by the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry for the year to March. more >
Ex-Malian Culture Minister Pascal Coulibaly dies in Tunis
Former Malian Culture Minister Pascal Baba Coulibaly died on Wednesday in Tunis aged 57 years, an official source here told PANA. more >
Cultural identity and mental health
A Harvard University medical student has suggested ways in which links might be identified between Mäori cultural identity and better mental health. Interested in exploring some of the methods and identity scales currently being used to assess cultural identity and ways in which these scales might be modified to better capture the experiential identity of indigenous peoples in the 21st century. more >
KL’s cultural hot spots launched
The Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage has launched a program that will see ‘cultural hot spots’, or mini cultural centres, established around the country. more >
Remembering Scotland at War
Museums Galleries Scotland has announced details of Big Lottery Funding of £590,000 for the continuation of a museums-led initiative that will see young people working with older generations in communitiy arts events across Scotland. more >
As PONCHO regroups, Seattle arts struggle
The key problem is the shortage of public funding for the arts, as private donors are realizing they can't shoulder all the costs. more >
Looking for Equity in Arts Financing
Alternative views of arts grants distributed by New York City’s Cultural Affairs Department have reignited a lively debate about just what cultural equity means. more >
European culture ministers conference to take place in Azerbaijan
Ministers from European, ISESCO and ALEKSO member countries, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs will be invited to the European culture ministers in Azerbaijan this December. more >
Cultural organisations of the Caribbean call on governments to ratify the 2005 UNESCO Convention
Caribbean governments should observe the principles of the 2005 UNESCO cultural convention in trade negotiations and agreements. more >
5th Summit of the Americas: Draft Declaration of Port of Spain
The draft Declaration of Commitment for the 5th Summit of the Americas, to take place in April 2009, recognises inter-cultural dialogue and respect for cultural diversity and commits to nurturing creativity and promoting cultural industries. more >
Taiwan wants world heritage status for its sky lanterns
Taiwan wants to apply for world cultural heritage status for its sky-lantern festival, but may meet obstacles as it is not a member of the United Nations. more >
European Union – Towards a better recognition of performing artists?
On July 17th the European Commission adopted a proposal aimed at extending the duration of protection on music recordings for performers and record producers to 95 years. more >
Changes for Council of Pacific Arts
Major changes, including a new name for the Council of Pacific Arts, were decided at the 22nd meeting of the council on Wednesday in Amerika Samoa. more >
Govt finalises draft of culture policy
The government has finalised draft of new culture policy after revising over a decade-old policy of 1995 making it an action-oriented document to be implemented at the grassroots level. more >
Cabinet to attract foreign funds
The government is introducing a plan to boost the development of Taiwan's cultural creative industry that includes setting up a pricing mechanism for intangible cultural assets. more >
New Zealand Minister: We'll Help Pacific Protect Cultural Knowledge, Property Rights
The New Zealand government is prepared to offer resources and expertise to help Pacific Island countries and territories develop necessary programs and law to protect their rights of their culture and heritage. more >
Beijing Games cultural activities
The 6th Olympic Cultural Festival will not only show Chinese culture and international cultural artistic features, but the exchange and convergence of internationalisation and multiculturalism through broad international participation. more >
Culture Ministers to Meeting in Bolivia
An exchange among culture ministers and officials from member countries of ALBA (the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) and MERCOSUR (the Southern Common Market) will be held in La Paz, Bolivia, in July. more >
Zambia warns cultural associations not be used to advance tribal politics
Zambian Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande has warned that cultural associations should not be used to advance tribal politics, according to Sunday Post. more >
Cultural caregiver
This is the age of cultural caregiving. And ardently espousing this doctrine is Cecile Guidote Alvarez, executive director of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. more >
Public art policies promote civic creativity
This is the first article in a series of four that will examine arts policy and art in public places. The Sudbury Arts Council asked the city last year what guidelines are in place regarding art in public spaces, and guidelines regarding a general arts policy. more >
Analysts Comment on Rumours About Removal of Afghan Culture Minister
Rumours are circulating that Information and Culture Minister Karim Khoram will be removed from cabinet. more >
Youth Prepare to ‘Ignite the Americas’ in Canada
Dozens of young people from across the western hemisphere will converge in the city of Toronto, Canada this September for Ignite the Americas, a youth arts policy forum. more >
Estonian actors travel on the expense of culture money
The supporter of Estonia’s cultural activities culture capital is becoming the national travel agency since the Estonian actors are using the money on exotic travels and explain them with the purpose of culture- and self-perfection. more >
1200 museums to be free of charge by next year
In an interview, Vice Minister Zhang Bo of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage said that by next year, 1200 of China's national museums will be free of charge. more >
Economic Partnership Agreement good for the arts
Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris Sinckler has sent out a call to all artists to utilise the government's Economic Partnership Agreement program. more >
Thinkers, Artists Close Bolivia Talks
At a meeting in Bolivia, culture ministers and other authorities from the sector plan to meet to agree upon common development policies in culture. more >
China trip inspires Culture Minister to set new agenda
After a quiet four months in office, Culture Minister Anusorn Wongwan has finally found his groove - in China. more >
New global survey reveals city dwellers around the world hold similar views and feelings about city life
Cultural activities, entertainment possibilities and diversity ranked highly in a global survey of what city-dwellers like about the cities in which they live. more >
Czechs lack cultural policy - opposition shadow culture minister
The Czech state lacks a cultural policy, shadow culture minister Vitezslav Jandak (Social Democrats, CSSD) told journalists today. more >
Connections and Creativity - Ontario Arts Council's New Strategic Plan Now Online
The plan will provide a framework to guide the Arts Council's priorities in the coming years. more >
Diversity Unites
The Diversity Unites congress will present and discuss concepts, structures, models and core projects from different cities and regions in Europe, cultural circles and social formations; all these can be seen as prime examples of local intercultural work. more >
Peru’s Government proposes creation of Ministry of Culture
The creation of a Ministry of Culture has been proposed by President Alan García in order to boost artistic creation and re-evaluate ancient Peruvian cultures. more >
Vatican at the next Biennale?
Could the Vatican get its own pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2009? If Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican’s new minister of culture, has his way, we may be seeing more than a new national pavilion for the sovereign state at the Bienniale’s next iteration. more >
A portrait of art as a tax deduction
A federal crackdown on deductions for so-called fractional gifts of art has crimped donations of valuable collections. more >
Arts Council must regain credibility after funding fiasco, says report
Arts Council England mishandled its last funding round so completely that it ended up on the receiving end of "the most damaging publicity in its 60-year history," according to a report published today. more >
Brazil musician leaves government
The Brazilian musician and Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil, says he is standing down from the government to concentrate on his music career. more >
No Money For Cook Islands Artists Group To Attend Festival
Eighteen artists from the Cook Islands did not make it to this year's Pacific Festival of Arts in American Samoa due to the non-availability of government funds to pay for their airline tickets. more >
Unearthing hidden talent
The Department of Arts and Culture has helped launch the Youths in Art Programme aimed at equipping young artists with the resources they need to succeed in the music industry. more >
A Network for Culture and Development … beyond Creative Exchange
Following its demise, members of the Creative Exchange network have established
a new online networking space for culture and development.
more >
Art for art’s sake
There are more substantive reasons for valuing arts education than the current 'arts assist academics' perspective. more >
August 2008
Convocatoria para participar en ¡Ignite las Américas!
El gobierno de Canadá, en coordinación con la Comisión Interamericana de Cultura (CIC) de la Organización de Estados Americanos, llevará a cabo un foro de jóvenes sobre políticas de las artes llamado ¡Ignite las Américas! que tendrá lugar en Toronto, Canadá del 15 al 21 de septiembre de 2008. more >
Invitation to Participate in ¡Ignite las Américas!
The Government of Canada in collaboration with the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC) of the Organization of American States is organizing a youth arts policy forum called "Ignite the Americas", which will take place in Toronto, Canada on September 15 – 21, 2008. more >
Continent's Arts and Crafts Expo as a Lure for Economic Growth
Besides music and dance, with which we conquered the entertainment world, arts and crafts remain the twin African cultural attributes, for which Nigeria has been acknowledged as the hub. more >
Books not bread is what we need, says publisher
The managing director of the Iranian publishing company Teimurzadeh has recently put forward a proposal to the culture minister to start a program to raise Iran’s per capita book reading. more >
Nordic Forum for InterCulture, Oslo, August
The overall objective of the work done by the Nordic Forum for InterCulture is to promote a cultural life that reflects social diversity. more >
Culture Minister ready to work and promote Thai culture
Culture Minister Somsak Kitsuranond said he will look into his ministry's overall work and plans to continue and improve the work of former culture minister Anusorn Wongsuwan. more >
Jumping Through Hoops. Why do we continue to lie on funding applications and evaluation reports?
An essay that asks if the enthusiastic commitment to justifying art's role in regeneration does more to perpetuate the illusions of social inclusion and community cohesion through regeneration than it does to effect real change for the communities regeneration purports to be for. more >
Gilberto Gil stands down as Minister of Culture
Brazil's Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil, has announced that he is standing down from government to pursue his music career. more >
EU-ACP Support programme to cultural industries in ACP countries
The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Secretariat) is seeking proposals for cultural cooperation projects. more >
Lurking in the wings
Will state funding continue to outweigh private donations, or will a few major arts organisations be funded centrally by government and the remainder left to the private sector? more >
Sask. gov't to develop arts, culture and heritage strategy
The Government of Saskatchewan is launching a consultation process as its first step in building a long-term plan and policy framework for the province's arts, culture and heritage sector. more >
Australia increases spending on culture
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show total government spending on cultural activities has increased. more >
Toronto businessman Joseph Rotman to chair Canada Council
Canadian business mogul Joseph L. Rotman is set to take on the Canadian arts world after being named the new chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Local arts at 10-year high
The Singapore arts scene in a slump? Not if you go by the numbers. more >
Culture official turned diplomat
Experienced culture official has been appointed the president's special representative in charge of international cultural cooperation. What impact is that going to have, if any?... more >
Cultural missionary man
In the last three years, Culture Ireland has being promoting Irish arts with all the zeal of a missionary, and it is matching support for established acts with riskier projects. more >
The art of boosting growth
With the rainwashed streets of Edinburgh thronged with visitors darting in and out of the 40 participating galleries in the Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF), it might seem an odd time to query the capital's commitment to the commercial gallery sector. more >
Ethics code on Aboriginal art to deter fraud
The Rudd Government yesterday took its first step to clean up the Aboriginal art sector by supporting a national ethics code that aims to deter carpetbaggers and fraudsters. more >
Britain's stages to close to outsiders
Britain's leading contemporary dance companies have expressed dismay over stringent Home Office immigration proposals that will make it almost impossible for dancers from outside the European Union to perform in the UK. more >
Now that culture sector has keyed into the seven point agenda..
Nigeria’s previously under-estimated cultural sector is developing initiatives that integrate well into the nation’s 'seven point agenda' development plan. more >
Without the arts, our image grows dim abroad
Last week the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade announced it was cutting all ties to culture by axing its PromArt program, a $4.7 million annual fund that sent artists into the world to speak for Canada. more >
The arts belong in foreign policy
Cultural exchange is an aspect of diplomacy. It helps spread good feelings about Canada, and is good for business, trade, tourism and immigration. more >
Ottawa axes second arts subsidy in two weeks
The government has decided to terminate another cultural subsidy initiative, Trade Routes, which helps cultural groups export and sell products abroad. more >
Absence of rigour and an explanation
The painful progress of Creative Scotland, the successor to the Scottish Arts Council, has been a cause for concern ever since the Bill to set it up was published. more >
SNCAC meet Income Tax on entertainers
The Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) will tomorrow hold a meeting with the department of Income Tax to discuss issues of foreign as well as local entertainers. more >
Govt's got arts funding wrong: Kosky
Famed theatre director Barrie Kosky believes Australian politicians are ignorant when it comes to arts funding. more >
I just don't get modern art, says Italy's culture minister
Italy's culture minister has enraged members of the country's arts community with an attack on modern architecture and an admission that he is completely mystified by contemporary art. more >
Gordon Campbell On Arts Funding Policy
It’s a little surprising to find at this election, almost universal agreement has broken out between the political parties, big and small. more >
Free culture no strings attached
Culture vultures can gorge themselves on the arts next month when museums, galleries and theatres welcome them, free-of-charge in the first National Culture Night, an initiative of the Arts Council. more >
Cultural centre to promote fine arts
Sri Lanka’s first ever National Cultural Centre (NCC) is scheduled to be opened at Veyangoda before the end of this year. more >
Scheme to set up cultural complexes initiated
The Department of Culture and Tourism has initiated a scheme for the establishment of cultural complexes in different district headquarters, each complex comprising a library, mini-museum, art gallery, and an auditorium. more >
Garrett announces $37.5m in Indigenous arts funding
Nearly 250 Indigenous organisations will get a share of $37.5 million in federal arts funding. more >
Culture drive: improving access to arts
A report published by consultants hired by the government showed that still too many people are excluded from cultural pursuits because public transport simply can't take them there. more >
Ottawa to axe five more arts and culture programs
The Department of Canadian Heritage has decided to cut five more arts and culture programs over the next two years, even as a chorus of complaints from the arts community and opposition MPs rains down on the federal government over cuts announced last week. more >
Direct Democracy Against Dada
Several recent referenda have touched on the cultural landscape, prompted by a right-wing party that campaigns against excessive arts funding and has taken a cynical position regarding contemporary art. more >
Literacy, numeracy and now 'visuacy' for schools
School students should study Picasso alongside pictures of Elle Macpherson's underwear as part of a recasting of visual arts education away from traditional forms to include images of all kinds. more >
Want a 'culture of innovation'? Fund our artists
If the federal government believes the artistic community has a role to play in society and the global economy, it needs to reinvest heavily in Canadian artists and stop using the phrase 'culture of innovation' exclusively in the sense of corporate practices. more >
The vital difference between art and culture
There does not exist in Scotland, or anywhere else in the UK for that matter, a socially inclusive cultural framework that is understood by the cultural policy makers. more >
UN Population Fund gives $10M for Carifesta symposium
The donation is to be used for the Edutainment Symposium which is scheduled to be one of the activities geared specifically for youths at the upcoming mega-event. more >
Talking Musica
There appears to be increased government interest in not only making policy statements about the development of arts and culture, but a conscientious initiative to recognise them as a potential contributor to the growth of the national economy. more >
Using culture to smash the barriers
Staging Chinese cultural activities in foreign countries creates yet another way of showcasing Chinese culture. more >
Arts Alive 2008 - International Dance Programme
The Arts Alive 2008’s Dance component is being given a boost and an enhancement as the National Department of Arts and Culture is honouring Dance in this years’ Heritage Month. more >
Arts management journal becomes free and goes international
The Asia Pacific Journal of Arts and Cultural Management is now available online for free and is accepting articles from outside the Asia-Pacific region. View the journal at http://www.ojs.unisa.edu.au/index.php/ARTMJ more >
August Full Moon
The Culture Ministry will open 72 museums and cultural sites for free admission on Saturday, the night of the August full moon. more >
Welsh local authorities to be legally required to promote culture
Wales’ new heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones has vowed to make the promotion of culture a legal obligation for local authorities, in a bid to ensure that everyone in the country has equal access to the arts. more >
I do think we take festivals for granted
Last week, the minister announced the latest block of funding from the new Expo Fund, which has been designed to help promote Scottish artists in all the festivals, and also contribute towards the national and international touring of some of these acts in the future. more >
Not quite full circle
Guyana seems determined to take advantage of Carifesta 10 to develop projects designed to ensure something sustainable remains after the fireworks and pageantry of the closing ceremony fades. more >
Americans for the Arts Webinar Schedule
Americans for the Arts 'webinars' on topics in arts policy and arts advocacy enable you to get a high level of interaction with presenters, attendees, and content without leaving your desk. more >
Glasgow gets city of music honour
Glasgow is aiming to build on its rich musical heritage after it was named a United Nations City of Music. more >
Andy Palacio Foundation Launched
Andy Palacio's friends and family today launched the Andy Palacio Foundation. more >
Creative Industries emerge as key driver of economic growth
Creative industries have emerged as one of the world´s most dynamic economic sectors, offering vast opportunities for cultural, social and economic development. International trade in creative goods and services grew at an unprecedented average rate of 8.7% a year from 2000-2005, the figures show. more >
Funding cut hurts arts, institutions
Federal Government budget cuts are hurting smaller public bodies, including arts and cultural institutions. more >
Art and accessibility needn't be a recipe for worthy tedium
Arts policy is at a significant juncture right now. For years, anxieties have been expressed about overemphasis on accessibility and populism. But the McMaster report placed the value of production excellence as high as diversity of audience. more >
So what exactly are the arts good for?
But because we North Americans are a practical, materialist bunch, we must always think of reasons to support the arts. Support must have a purpose. The arts can't be just, well, wonderful, heartening, beautiful. They must be useful. more >
Creative Clusters 2008: Draft speaker list announced
Creative Clusters 2008 will feature some fifty speakers from around the world presenting case studies and films, running workshops and taking part in debates, discussions and provocation sessions. more >
UK immigration proposals could restrict employment of dancers from outside EU
An article from The Independent newspaper considers how proposed changes to UK immigration policy could change the face of dance performances, limiting the ability of dance companies and productions to employ dancers from outside the EU. more >
Quebec, Ontario culture ministers blast Tory arts cuts
The culture ministers of Quebec and Ontario have written an open letter to the federal government questioning its decision to cut arts and culture programs. more >
Stripping the Walls to Cover the Bills
Perhaps the time has come for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to start enforcing professional standards as well as making grants. more >
Ottawa to shift arts funds to Olympic programs
More than $40-million freed up by controversial cuts will be redirected to athletics, bilingualism plan. more >
More show venues soon
The Ministry of Culture is moving swiftly to address the shortage of venues to host major cultural shows across Barbados to allow the government to achieve its goals of unleashing the creativity in Barbadians. more >
Hey, where's my grant? I can be creative
If you cannot make a living in the arts through sales of your work, or voluntary grants from private organizations, you are probably in the wrong trade. more >
Rwanda wants to attract more culture enthusiasts
Virtually everyone comes to Rwanda see the gorillas or to enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of the 'country of a thousand hills'. But the government wants more than eco-tourism. more >
For good and bad, globalization has shrunk arts universe
Globalization has shrunk arts universe, leading to greater integration and interdependence, but also complications. more >
Indigenous culture needs a shot in the arm
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has 'lopsided priorities' in its support for indigenous cultural practice. more >
Cultural sector helps drive economy: report
The most comprehensive study ever made of Canada's cultural sector, commissioned with money from the federal Heritage Department, indicates that arts and culture make up 7.4 per cent of Canada's GDP. more >
UNESCO chief deplores murder of senior Iraqi cultural official
The head of the United Nations culture agency today condemned the murder of a senior Iraqi Government official who had long worked to protect and preserve his country's cultural heritage. more >
Creativity, policy and practice discourses
UNESCO Observatory on Multi-Disciplinary Research in the Arts has released a call for papers for volume 1 issue 3 of its E-Journal on ‘Creativity, policy and practice discourses: productive tensions in the new millenium’. more >
Lebanese Culture Min asks for broader cultural ties with Iran
Lebanese Culture Minister here Monday stressed need for broadening and strengthening cultural cooperation between his country and Iran. more >
State to host meeting on Arab culture
In cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, Kuwait's Minister of Information will inaugurate a meeting for a committee of Arab experts who are to update a comprehensive plan for Arab culture. more >
Resources on cultural mobility in Europe and the Mediterranean
The Association for European and International Cultural Development (ADCEI) has recently uploaded a list of resources contributing to cultural mobility in Europe and the Mediterranean. more >
'Seeing' the theatre through new eyes
The Disability Discrimination Act has boosted a professional service that allows visually impaired people to experience the immediacy of theatre. more >
‘Brush’ up your skills
The Ministry of Cultural and Information has announced a contest aimed at promoting young artists. more >
Harper defends cuts to federal arts programs
Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended $44.8-million in planned cuts to arts-and-culture programs. more >
No arts subsidies equals no fun for anyone
Few if any individual artists get grants that completely support them for more than a short time, and no artist or cultural organization is awarded this grant without a vigorous process that includes professional vetting of the application and a peer jury that makes recommendations for awards. more >
Local authors cry foul
The country should have an arts council focussed on a wider definition of the arts and a supervisory council free from government control. more >
Let us mainstream our creativity into our economy
An interview with Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Adetokubo Kayode, about the aims and activities of the Ministry. more >
Protesters decry arts cuts
A protest yesterday in Montreal drew 2,500 people and some of the strongest condemnations yet of almost $45-million in planned cuts to arts-and-culture funding. more >
Palaces and the people
Cultural palaces and public libraries are spreading their wings to the public. more >
DR Congo to help end illegal immigration through culture
The Congolese Minister of Culture and Arts, Esdras Kambale Bahekwa, pledged on Thursday that the country would help end the entry of illegal immigrants into Europe through cultural programmes. more >
Government program will include the concept of “European Cultural Capital”
Minister of Culture, Adrian Iorgulescu, said that in the draft of the government program he’ll present to the Prime Minister, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, tomorrow will include the concept of "European Cultural Capital", for which is stipulated a 5 million-euro budget. more >
Culture policy contradicted
A Conference Board of Canada report concludes, among other things, that "an important challenge for governments is to ensure communities have the means necessary to support creativity and diversity." more >
Arts Council responds to McIntosh Review
The Arts Council of England has committed to investigating the expansion of its membership and will review the support structures behind its front line funders, after broadly accepting the recommendations of an independent review of the body. more >
September 2008
Action on work permits & visas for European performers in USA
Pearle sent a letter to Vice president Barrot regarding the difficulties for European performers to obtain a work permit and visa if they want to perform in the USA. This is a topic within a framework of actions that Pearle undertakes to facilitate mobility and to draw the attention of the EU to the particularities of the performing arts sector. more >
Peace Environment Boosts Cultural Events
The achievement of peace in 2002 has opened the way for more funds from the government for cultural activities. more >
Heritage department takes aim at religious radicals
The federal culture department wants to fight religious radicalization in Canada. more >
Portuguese government passes changes to the Art Support Model
The Council of Ministers of Portugal passed a change to the public support to the arts regime in order to guarantee more equity in contest processes, broadening the number of entities that may receive support and guarantying more transparency and equality in the request of credit. more >
Government to restructure NCF
With a "highly successful" 2008 Crop-Over behind it, the Thompson Administration is pushing full steam ahead with its plan to restructure the National Cultural Foundation (NCF). more >
Wanted: A Healthy Cash Infusion for Italy’s Starved Cultural Institutions
Arts institutions across Italy are reeling from a sweeping round of budget cuts adopted this summer by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s four-month-old conservative government. more >
6 million cultural visits to Liverpool
Liverpool’s tenure as European Capital of Culture 2008 reaches its finale quarter with the news it has attracted an amazing 6 million cultural visits to date. Here are a few facts..more >
Networking aiming to promote the analysis, evaluation or impact assessment of cultural policies
Support can be given for groups of organisations to exchange and compare existing data and evaluation methodologies at national/local levels and produce new methodologies or data on cultural policies as well as to maximise the impact and have an EU wide reporting and dissemination of the results. more >
Opinion: Arts Council Korea Chairman
At a session evaluating the first-term board members early last month, outsiders voiced sharp criticism of the council`s ideologically biased policy, pork-barrel appropriations and favoritism committed by the first-term council. more >
Failed culture plans resurrected
Scottish ministers will press ahead with plans for a new national arts agency, despite the proposals having been thrown out of parliament. more >
Celebrate cultural diversity report
Cultural diversity in New Zealand should be taken advantage of and celebrated, instead of being seen as a negative. more >
Minister Eyes Cultural Hub
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced that the new administration will spur South Korea into a first-rate cultural hub by funding pan-regional projects among others. more >
Severe Lack of Funding Threatens Italian Arts Institutions
Arts institutions across Italy are struggling with a severe lack of funding after extensive budget cuts instituted by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's conservative government. more >
Culture-Cuba: The Debate Continues
After an interruption of over a year, the Criterios theoretical-cultural centre has resumed a series of lectures analysing the impact of the Cuban government's cultural policy on the arts, one of the tangible outcomes of the debate that shook society here in early 2007. more >
Announcement at last, but future is still uncertain for arts ...
Yesterday's announcement about Scotland's new funding body for the arts posed as many questions as answers. more >
Nigeria to host arts summit, exhibition in Abuja
Nigeria will host the first African Regional Summit and Exhibition on Visual Arts, part of efforts towards achieving rapid cultural and economic development as envisioned in the New Partnership for African Development. more >
Cultural Theme Planned for 2012 Olympics in London
The London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced on Thursday that it would launch a four-year program of cultural events to lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games. more >
Minister of Culture and Tourism criticizes employees of cultural institutions of Baku
The collegium of the Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism held a session with participation of heads of the institutions of culture and tourism of Baku. more >
Endowment Fund for Arts
The Federal Government yesterday said it has plans to set up an endowment fund in support of development of the country's arts sector. more >
Presidential Candidates on Federal Funding for the Arts
The NEA's current budget is a little less than fifty cents per American per year. America can afford to support the arts financially. This article provides a few reasons why our government should want to support the arts. more >
Minister keen to succeed
Alun Ffred Jones is Wales’ third cultural minister in just over a year. more >
Archer slams 'profit-driven' policies
The concept of 'cultural industries' is threatening to engulf the arts and diminish their importance. more >
Machakos proposed to host arts district
An arts district to be implemented under a Nairobi cultural strategy to enhance the creative economy’s contribution to the regional and national output. more >
The cultural challenge of climate change
On 25 September, a 40 strong crew of artists and scientists will set sail on Cape Farewell’s Disko Bay expedition to the west coast of Greenland. more >
Artists and musicians on board for Arctic project
Artists will travel to the Arctic as part of a programme bringing artists and scientists together to raise awareness of climate change. more >
Bowl full of cultural diversity
Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan has said that more could be done to promote cultural diversity and tolerance. more >
Swinton and arts world join chorus of disaproval for Creative Scotland
Leading figures claim that up to £7m will be spent on bureaucracy rather than artists. more >
There's only one way to find out what art is worth
People don't know what they want until administrators provide it for them with public money. And then they do want it. This maxim of arts funding is a limited truth with undesirable outcomes. more >
Use Arts to Promote Tourism
Zimbabwe arts industry is capable of raking in foreign currency and shape the image of the country, a Jenaguru Arts Centre official has said. more >
Latest news from the Committee on Culture and Education
The European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education adopted in September, amongst other documents, an opinion on the 2009 budget. The committee proposed reinforcing the support for intercultural dialogue and artist mobility. more >
Use Arts to Promote Tourism: Malunga
The Government should look at the possibility of establishing a ministry of arts and culture without the inclusion of other sectors like sport and education. more >
Ethics advice on arts council decisions
Randy Cohen answers the question: is it ethical for arts council members to receive arts funding? more >
Theatre pollution threat to London revealed
London’s theatre industry pumps 50,000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere every year - equivalent to 10% of the city’s total bus emissions or the annual energy consumption of 9,000 homes. more >
New Graduate Program in Cultural Industries
The National University of the Third of February (UNTREF) recently opened a Graduate Program in Cultural Industries coordinated by Stella Puente and directed by an academic committee formed by Octavio Getino, Hernán Gullo and Mariana Markowiecki. more >
UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists
The UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists promote the mobility of young artists in order to enrich their personal perspectives, to enable them to engage in an intercultural dialogue and expose them to cultural diversity. more >
Postgrado en Industrias Culturales
La UNTREF (Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero) acaba de lanzar un Postgrado en Industrias Culturales, con la coordinación de Stella Puente y un Comité Académico integrado además por Octavio Getino, Hernán Gullo y Mariana Markowiecki. more >
Free Speech Groups Urge Passage of Libel Tourism Bill
The president of American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression said the so-called practice of “libel tourism” “is a serious threat to American writers and publishers who face the nightmare of defending themselves before unfriendly courts where their books were never published. more >
Are Welsh arts enjoying a feast or famine?
Tony Bianchi, a writer and former Literature Director at the Arts Council of Wales asks whether artistic activity in Welsh is getting its fare share of public funds. more >
Playing Politics: The world might be a better place if presidents still went to the theater
Senators McCain and Obama, what is the last play you saw? Which is a specific way of trying to pin down intangibles like curiosity and imagination and, as the first George Bush put it, "the vision thing." more >
Give us the plan on culture, federal leaders urged
A coalition of Toronto arts groups gathered a who's who of the cultural community at Canada's largest film festival Wednesday to launch a campaign to make the arts an issue in the federal election. more >
Code on child depiction in art moving closer
The Australia Council is grappling with the shape of protocols for the depiction of children in artworks. more >
Make the case for culture to ordinary Canadians, artists told
Artists should stop assuming they are entitled to government money and start making the case for the arts to ordinary Canadians, a panel of artists told CBC News. more >
Gioia to Step Down as Chairman of National Endowment for the Arts
Dana Gioia will leave the National Endowment for the Arts in January 2009. more >
LabforCulture.org has a new interface
Labforculture.org have been working away to create a new and improved platform. more >
Testimony to Museums and Libraries’ Role in Strengthening Communities
Director Radice of the Institute of Museum and Library Services testifies on Museums and Libraries’ role in strengthening communities more >
NZSO brand move strikes a bum note
Highly strung old Wellington-based granny the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has decided a rebranding exercise is the way to prove it is better than its stroppy young Auckland rival, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. more >
IETM Satellite meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia postponed
In the light of the latest events in Georgia, IETM have decided to postpone the Satellite Meeting on the theme “Neighbour to Neighbour”, which was planned to take place in the capital city. more >
URBACT Culture report on line
The recent report by URBACT Culture examines the impact of cultural activities and creative industries on cities. more >
The royalty treatment
Tough legislation will guarantee artists a fair dividend when their work is resold. more >
Wall Street Woes Endanger Funding for the Arts
The turmoil on Wall Street will affect a wide swath of New York City's cultural institutions, hurting corporate and individual donations at a time when these organizations are facing what one philanthropist called a "perfect storm" of economic pressures. more >
Americans for the Arts Action Fund PAC Issues Congressional Report Card on the Arts
The entire Report Card containing letter grades and numerical scores of every Member of Congress based on his or her voting record on arts issues can be found online. more >
Support to Local Arts Service Organizations Affected by Disasters
In response to the devastation in Texas and Louisiana due to recent hurricane activity, Americans for the Arts is collecting donations to its Emergency Relief Fund. more >
Encuentro Binacional de Formadores en Gestión Cultural
Los temos incluyen el Estado de la formación en Argentina y Chile; y las perspectivas del mercado laboral de la gestión cultural. more >
Cultural Diplomats visit Scotland
August saw a visit to Scotland by 15 Cultural Diplomats, organised by Visiting Arts in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council, with additional support from British Council and DCMS. more >
Arts Groups Fret the Woes of Big Donors
With Wall Street in a shame spiral, "What's coming next?" is a question that has everyone in the arts community taking big, anxious gulps. more >
OAS Culture Ministers to meet in Barbados in November
In November 2008 Culture and the Creative Industries are to take centre stage as Ministers of Culture from the region, Latin America and other nations of this hemisphere will meet in Barbados. more >
Lawmakers accuse government of attack on an ancient culture and tradition
Lawmakers belonging to various political parties have accused the government of attacking an ancient culture and tradition by not allocating budget for traditional jatras (religious festivals) observed in Kathmandu Valley. more >
Is it the job of our schools to create an appreciative audience for higher culture?
A new Rand study concludes that schools must expand arts education to build a new audience, which raises the question: Is it the job of schools to create market demand for arts or any other endeavor? more >
Youths observe international day of peace
The festivities marking the celebration of the 2008 edition of the International Day of Peace took place this Sunday in Bissau, under the theme "Youth says yes to peace" and in the presence of Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture representing the country’s government. more >
No winners of Miss Vietnam 2008 picked for Miss World
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Inspectorate last weekend found the organizing board of Miss Vietnam 2008 violated the rules and requested a reconsideration of Tran Thi Thuy Dung’s Miss Vietnam 2008 crown. more >
Why public funding of arts matters to all of us
An article by Jan Ghomeshi in the National Post makes the case for the arts. Despite the best attempts by the PM and others to suggest that Canadian art is for a small elite, it's not, and he goes on to explain why. more >
A home for art in Belfast's stained soul
The Royal Uster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition '08 runs until Oct 19 at the Titanic Drawing Offices, Belfast. Campaigners hope that the North's new Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Gregory Campbell MLA, of the DUP, will be open to a more permanent arrangement. more >
Georgian cultural heritage sites located in the conflict zone are under threat
The Georgian government demands urgent implementation of a UNESCO mission in South Ossetia, with the aim of studying and assessing the condition of the monuments damaged by the conflict. more >
China officials to be punished for dance hall blaze
China's Ministry of Culture orders a national safety sweep on all cultural and performance facilities following a fire at an illegal dance club in southern China, just across the border from Hong Kong, which killed 43 mostly young people and injured 88. more >
Public media to be liquidated?
The Polish government is currently working on a draft bill that would do away with state-owned television firm TVP and Polish Radio, along with their regional divisions, establishing new companies in their place. more >
Layton and Duceppe protest culture cuts in Montreal
NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe joined the audience at a Tuesday night concert in Montreal organized by artists protesting $45 million in cuts to culture funding announced by the Conservative government last August. more >
Arts Council funds one million free theatre tickets for young people
A new scheme to encourage young people to experience live theatre was unveiled today by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. A £2.5 million programme - funded by Arts Council England, who will manage the scheme - will be focused on some 95 venues all over England. more >
Binational Meeting of Cultural Administration Educators
Topics include the current state of education in cultural administration in Argentina and Chile; and cultural administration job opportunities. more >
Yanar Dagh State Reserve devolved on Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Azerbaijan’s Cabinet has passed a decision to devolve Yanar Dagh State Historical and Monumental Reserve to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Yanar Dagh (Burning Mountain) is a mountain that has been continuously on fire for one thousand years. Prior to this, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources was responsible for the reserve. more >
Results of the Binational Meeting of Cultural Administration Educators
The Villa Ocampo Meeting concluded in a privileged and warm environment provided by the Villa Ocampo House (www.villaocampo.org), administered by UNESCO. more >
Resultados de la Reunión Binacional de Formadores en Gestión Cultural
Culminó el Encuentro del 24 de septiembre en Villa Ocampo (www.villaocampo.org), un entorno privilegiado y acogedor brindado por este inmueble administrado por UNESCO. more >
Parliament approves Kurdistan journalism law
Kurdistan parliament approved the journalism law in Monday's session after amending articles that had been criticized by Kurdish journalists. more >
Frankfurt backs Turkey decision
The Frankfurt Book Fair has stood by its decision to make Turkey the guest of honour this year, despite an increase in the number of arrests under the country's censorship laws and a planned boycott by some Turkish writers. more >
Museum of Russian Aggression to be established in Georgia
Nikoloz Vacheishvili, the Minister of Culture, Heritage Preservation and Sport stated that the Museum of Stalin, located in the city of Gori, will be altered to establish the Museum of Russian Aggression. more >
Contest attracts over 43,000 writings on Japan culture
Over 43,000 texts have been sent to a contest on Japanese culture, which has recently been held by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi. more >
Korea and New Zealand to sign film pact
South Korea and New Zealand will sign a film co-production treaty next week, 15 months after producers from both countries began the process. more >
The Lisbon Treaty – a Culture Action Europe perspective
In June 2008 the Irish voted ‘No’ to the Lisbon Treaty by 53 to 47%, a very convincing margin. Culture Action Europe provide an overview of the current situation. more >
Culture Minister highlights music contest importance
Angola's minister of Culture, Boaventura Cardoso, on Thursday here said the holding of musical contests is an important element for the promotion and divulgence of new artistic values. more >
Obama on the Arts
Barack Obama has assembled a National Arts Policy Committee of 33 arts leaders (approximately half are women), and with their help he has drafted a two-page platform in support of the arts. more >
Leonardo da Vinci drawings displayed in US
The Birmingham Museum of Art is hosting a collection of Leonardo da Vinci drawings that are being shown as a group outside of Italy for the first time. more >
Ministry has rights to Soviet cartoons
The state wants to take control of the use of Soviet cartoon characters. However, Russian law does not define the owner of the rights to the cartoon characters, and the ministry will have to face the creators of those characters in court. more >
Licensing process for staging a theatrical performance in licensed premises in Delhi simplified
Licensing process for staging a theatrical performance in any licensed premises in Delhi has been simplified. This has been done by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture. more >
Norwegians a step nearer to Nordic UIGEA
Proposed legislation seeks to disrupt financial transactions with online gambling companies. If the proposal is accepted by Parliament, the Minister for Culture and Church Affairs, Trond Giske, will have achieved something of a Nordic equivalent to the highly controversial American Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. more >
Culture isn't on the debate agenda
If history is any guide, we can say one thing for certain about the 2008 presidential debates, which are expected to get underway tonight in a televised performance at the University of Mississippi. There will be no discussion -- none at all -- of U.S. cultural policy. more >
European programs mix arts with the economy
Alternatives to Canada PM's feud with artists found in Europe. more >
Govt should not fund single community’s festivals: Culture Minister
Minister for Culture and State Restructuring Gopal Kirati Saturday said that the government should not provide funds to selected communities to celebrate their festivals. Alluding to the funds that the government provides for the animal sacrifice and other purpose during Dashain, Minister Kirati said that it is unfair to support a community only.
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We need more Sacred Defence books
The director of the literature department of the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Sacred Defence Works and Values said that only 6500 Sacred Defence books have been published over the past 25 years, a number that is not sufficient. more >
Fire destroys Egypt’s National Theater, two workers arrested
Egyptian firefighters put out the fire at the burning building of the Egyptian National Theater in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. A fire destroyed the main hall of Egypt's National Theater in the heart of the downtown Cairo, wounding three firefighters. more >
Ministry fights intellectual, fine arts piracy
The Ministry of Culture and Information has launched a number of initiatives that will make the Kingdom a regional leader in the battle against entertainment and information piracy. more >
NAFEST takes search for national dress sense to Coal City
The National Council of Arts and Culture is set to initiate a major discourse on national dress in Enugu, where the stage is set for this year‘s National Festival of Arts and Culture which has the theme, Culture and the Challenges of our Time: Promoting National Dress Culture. more >
Junta Amends Historical Commission Law
Burma’s military government has amended the Myanmar [Burmese] Historical Commission Law, transferring authority for historical research from the ministry of education to the ministry of culture, according to an announcement in the state-run New Light of Myanmar on September 25. more >
Completion of establishing Rosetta museum at a cost of L.E. 4 million
The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has finalized setting up the first national museum for the antiquities of Rosetta city in Beheira Governorate, as well as the completion of renovation of the antiquities of the historical city. more >
Tapardjuk appointed Minister of Language
Minister of Culture, Languages, Elders and Youth Louis Tapardjuk was given a new portfolio shortly before the Legislative Assembly dissolved on Sept. 19. The new ministerial position is intended to aid in the implementation of the Inuit Language Protection Act which was passed Sept. 18. more >
When it comes to culture, Canadians don’t speak the same language
This rather amusing sketch about the issue is a serious warning about the future of Canadian culture, which according to the clip, faces near-extinction. more >
President to make keynote speech in Derry
President MARY McAleese is to give the keynote address at a conference in Derry this weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of the historic march in the city on October 5th, 1968. more >
China bans Western religious music
China's culture ministry has banned public performances of Handel's Messiah and other major works of western religious music. more >
South Korea, New Zealand sign co-production treaty
South Korea and New Zealand have signed a co-production treaty that will allow films from both countries to enjoy the same benefits for financing, incentives and support programmes. more >
Renewed Web Site of the Asia-Pacific Regional Center of Culturelink
The newly revamped website features International Standard Setting Instruments, National Policies of Asia-Pacific Countries, Articles and Research Papers, Cultural Statistics, On-going Cultural Events and Projects and Web Links within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region. more >
October 2008
Marseilles and Kosice to be European Capitals of Culture in 2013
Slovakia’s first European Capital of Culture will be Košice, the second largest city after the capital, Bratislava. They will share the title with the famous Mediterranean hub of Marseilles that was selected by the panel a few days later. more >
Eurydice compiles Information about Arts and Cultural Education in EU Member States
The Information Network on Education in Europe Eurydice has decided to launch a comparative study on arts and cultural education in collaboration with the European Network of Civil Servants representing ministries of education and culture. more >
Invitation to contribute to the Virtual Fora promoted by the Organization of American States (OAS)
The ‘Summits of the Americas’ Secretariat is pleased to announce a Virtual Forum on the theme ‘Promoting Human Prosperity’. more >
Haga sus aportes a los foros virtuales promovidos por la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA)
La Secretaría de Cumbres de las Américas se complace en anunciar el Foro Virtual sobre el tema “Promoviendo la prosperidad humana”. more >
Arts and Culture in the journey to nationhood
A curious look at the Arts and Culture sub-sector in the wake of Nigeria yesterday celebrating 48 years of self-rule. more >
Vietnamese drama disqualified from Oscars’ consideration
The only potential Vietnamese candidate to compete in the 81st Academy Awards next February has lost the right to enter the movie industry event. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced it has disqualified Rung den (Black Forest) from vying for the Best Foreign Language Oscar category. more >
McCain's anticipated arts platform comes in at four sentences long
While the headlines have been filled with news of the $700 billion congressional bailout, GOP presidential candidate John McCain quietly issued this week a statement that took national arts advocates by surprise more >
Support programme for cultural and creative enterprises creates new website
A programme carried out in Medellín (Colombia), coordinated by the Interarts Foundation and the University of Antioquia, with support from the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID) is set to support creative enterprises. more >
UNCTAD launches global databank on world trade in creative products
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has presented a new database providing trade statistics on creative goods and services. The statistics cover about 235 products related to heritage, arts, media and functional creations. more >
Beacons of hope for arts funding
A total of 22 arts companies are sharing a slice of £4.5m after being awarded “beacon status” by the Arts Council of Wales. Karen Price discovers how five of the recipients will spend the money which is earmarked for specific projects. more >
Arts Action Fund: summary of 2008 Presidential candidates arts positions
Just released from the Arts Action Fund, a summary of 2008 Presidential candidates arts positions. more >
Gris Gris Film Embroiled in Controversy
No More Gris Gris claims that the Film entitled “Een Buitengewone Werk van Schoonheid,” is Anti-American and Disgusting, among other Criticisms, and they are calling on a Boycott of any American Theatre which elects to Exhibit the Movie. more >
Angola: Head of State installs new govt today
The new government will have 35 departments, whose portfolios will be held by 33 ministers and two secretaries of state. Rosa Cruz e Silva, minister of culture appears for the first time in the Central Executive. more >
Figel' on official visit to Ukraine
On the occasion of his official visit to Ukraine, the European Commissioner in charge of Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', presented themes for future cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in the areas of education, culture, youth and sport. more >
TMCA displaying works of art school professors
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA) is hosting an exhibition of artworks by masters teaching art at Tehran universities and colleges. The Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for artistic affairs Mohammad-Hossein Imani Khoshkhu stated, “I can imagine a good future for Iran’s visual arts". more >
We're being resold down the river: artists
Australian artists have waited years for a resale royalty scheme, but many were left disappointed by the model unveiled by the Federal Government. more >
Pianist now with his fingers on arts funding
As a professional pianist, Nick Capaldi would spend much time filling in application forms for funding. Now he is the man responsible for handing the cash out. Chief executive of the Arts Council of Wales, Nick Capaldi is interviewed by Karen Price. more >
Hungarian minister holds talks in Scotland
Hungarian Minister of Education and Culture Istvan Hiller held talks with Linda Fabiani, Scottish Minister of Culture, Foreign and European Affairs on bilateral cultural cooperation. more >
Vietnam silences singers who performed in US
Vietnamese authorities have temporarily barred two pop singers from performing after they sang politically sensitive songs while on tour in the US without government approval. more >
Top ten promotes Angolan music
The Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva, said Friday in Luanda that the "Top dos Mais Queridos" top-ten music contest is an exercise of promotion of the Angolan music. more >
Culture Minister wants media education
Minister of Culture and Sport proposes the establishment of a special media council for the purpose of improving media education for children and young people. more >
Korea-Thailand Partnership for the Future Proclaimed in Music
A year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary reached its peak Wednesday when Korean and Thai cultural performances took place in both countries at the same local time. more >
Farouk Hosni: Candidate for UNESCO Director General
Farouk Hosni, an abstract artist and Egyptian Minister of Culture, has been nominated by his government to be the next Director General of UNESCO, and is considered to be a leading candidate. more >
Proposal to create Peru's Ministry of Culture to be finished by the end of 2008
By the end of this year, the National Institute of Culture (INC) will finish a report to create the new Ministry of Culture. The goal is to collect proposals and ideas on what a cultural policy in the country should be. more >
National arts and disability strategy
The Council Minister’s Council (CMC) has agreed to develop a National Arts and Disabililty Strategy which is about giving people with a disability a greater voice in the develoment of arts policy and practices. more >
St. Philip Festival leading cultural resurgence in eastern communities
The annual St. Philip Festival season has been hailed as a shining example of what communities can achieve culturally and organisers have been congratulated for leading a cultural resurgence in the east. more >
The Other Side of the Arts Funding Issue
When we see or hear protests against the funding cuts, it is not ordinary Canadians protesting, but rather those who have made a career of living off government grants. more >
Culture-Cambodia: 'We don't have a Film Industry'
Improving the quality of the kingdom’s film and television industry is a priority for director Rithy Panh, as well as for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art, which is seeking investors to establish Cambodia’s first movie studio. more >
Artists mobilize against funding cuts
Artists across Canada united in protest against cuts to arts funding on Monday. more >
Darwish takes Palestinian Cause to world scene
Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development H.E. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais said Monday the late prominent Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish had added a deep dimension to the Palestinian Cause. more >
Follett replaces Hodge as culture minister
Barbara Follett has been appointed as the new Minister for Culture, the Creative Industries and Tourism, replacing Margaret Hodge, who leaves government. more >
Government to set up culture and tourism ministry
President Ma Ying-jeou told a youth meeting yesterday that the government is working toward the establishment of a culture and tourism ministry to better promote cultural innovation and tourism. more >
Rainbow Paper on Intercultural Dialogue: sign up to the recommendations!
Give the Rainbow Paper your support, increase the impact of the recommendations and become eligible for formal membership of the Platform. The Platform for Intercultural Europe has become an association and will be able to assume its assigned role as a "Structured Dialogue" partner of the EU institutions. more >
Sophia Labadi is the winner of CPRA 2008
Dr. Sophia Labadi, a young French international expert on cultural heritage and cultural diversity, is the winner of the Cultural Policy Research Award 2008, with the research project 'Measuring the socio-economic impacts of regenerated heritage sites characterised by a high degree of cultural diversity'. more >
Plan to develop libraries
Iyad Ameen Madani, Minister of Culture and Information, has revealed a comprehensive plan to improve public libraries in the Kingdom. more >
Rwanda to turn slain ex-president's home into museum
Rwanda plans to turn the former home of assassinated President Juvenal Habyarimana into a museum to promote reconciliation 14 years after his death, which helped triggered genocide in the central African nation. more >
Dancing With controversy
Modern dance is moving to center stage, despite those who condemn it as a sin. more >
U.K. gambling group mulls an appeal
In a licensing dispute with the Norwegian government that has been running since 2004, when it was refused a gambling licence, Ladbrokes has lost its case in an Oslo court this week. The court found that the Norwegian authorities had acted in compliance with European Union law in declining the licence. more >
'Sombre' libraries need chatter and coffee shops, minister says
People would be able to chat, drink coffee and watch videos in English libraries under a new government proposal, The Independent has learnt. more >
Canadian unions protest funding cuts
Canadian film and TV unions staged nationwide protests over federal arts funding cuts on Wednesday, six days before the country goes to the polls. more >
Asia art forum
Asia Art Forum is a dynamic series of lectures, featuring respected members of the Chinese contemporary art world discussing the emergence and historical development of Chinese contemporary art and its cultural institutions, as well as issues pertaining to the collection and market of Chinese art. more >
Italy tries to block sale of Bonhams antiquities linked to disgraced dealer
The London auctioneers Bonhams are under pressure to withdraw several of the prized pieces from its forthcoming antiquities sale after a senior Italian politician raised questions over their provenance. more >
ISESSCO holds training session in Alexandria on Cultural Diversity
The session, which will be held as part of the celebration of Alexandria as 2008 Islamic Culture Capital, is aimed at highlighting the role of dialogue among civilizations and cultures as a central component of cultural products, artefacts and communicational content. more >
Barbados to host OAS culture ministers conference
Barbados will host the hemisphere’s culture ministers and other top authorities responsible for culture next month. more >
Ashe to the wind - Performing arts group unable to find a home
The sustainability of performing arts company Ashe is hanging in the balance as the group has a no place to call home. more >
Fire in Azerbaijan State Theater for Young Spectators extinguished
A Fire in Azerbaijan State Theater for Young Spectators was extinguished. Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Etibar Mirzayev and Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev have visited the site. The theater is now under repair. more >
Falta de acuerdo salarial irrumpió en salas de cine: cinematográficos se retiraron de la negociación
A 19 días del final del cierre oficial de los consejos de salarios, se abrió un nuevo foco de conflictividad. La Unión de Empleados Cinematográficos del Uruguay (UECU) se retiró de la ronda y no descarta incluso, la ocupación de las salas de cine. more >
Writers’ House to be established in building of Writers’ Union
According to the Mayor, the historical building located on Machabeli Street # 13, which belonged to the Writers’ Union, will be given to Georgian writers under two conditions. more >
Controversial Bulgaria film screened in Amsterdam
Controversial Bulgarian film Baklava received its first European premiere at the Balkan Snapshots Film Festival in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on October 11 2008. According to the festival organisers, said Director Alexo Petrov could possibly be arrested for his part in the production of the film. more >
Celebrities back Doha Centre for Media Freedom
Golden Globe-winning actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow, are among the big names who make up the Doha Centre for Media Freedom's Advisory Council and Board of Governors. more >
Lack of agreement on wages erupted in movie theatres: cinematographers pulled out from negotiations
Nineteen days after the official closure of the salaries council, a new focal point of conflict appeared. The Uruguayan Union of Cinematographic Employees (UECU) pulled out from the meeting and is even thinking about occupying movie theatres. more >
Curtain not to be raised on the 29th Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre
The 29th Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre was supposed to get underway this month however, due to friction and riots between Jews and Arabs in the city during Yom Kippur, Acco Mayor Shimon Lankry has decided to cancel the Festival. more >
National cultural festival opens
The Festival of Cultural Exchange among Areas and Regions Nationwide was opened in Hanoi on October 6, 2008 in the presence of Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh. more >
Artistas (reflexiones sobre una nueva ley pensional para artistas)
El miércoles pasado, la Cámara de Diputados aprobó un proyecto de ley que reconoce el carácter de trabajadores a los artistas de la música, la danza y la actuación, abriendo el acceso de esas colectividades a la seguridad social. more >
Artists (thoughts around a new national social security law for artists)
Last Wednesday, the Chamber of Deputies approved a law project that acknowledges artists (musicians, dancers and actors) as workers. more >
Artists Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago
The Artists Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) represents the formalization of an ongoing process to create an umbrella body to represent local artists and their interests. This process is being facilitated by the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI). ACTT currently is in work-group discussions with 18 artist representative groups towards forming this national body. more >
Two major UNESCO conventions for culture are now in force
From October 16 2008, Switzerland is a full party to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. more >
Conference of the Culture Ministers of the Baltic Sea Countries
The Ministers for Culture of the Baltic Sea States (BSS) met for the 8th Conference Future of Culture in the Baltic Sea Region in Riga, on 17 October 2008. Attended by ministers for culture, ministerial representatives and cultural experts from Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Sweden, as well as representatives from the Nordic Council of Ministers, the European Commission and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). more >
Angola to Attend African Countries' Culture Ministers Meeting
The Angolan Culture minister, Rosa Cruz e Silva, is to travel Friday to Algeria, where she will participate in the Second Session of the African Culture Ministers Conference, set for 19-23 October. more >
Iraq Cultural Heritage Project (ICHP)
The principal goals of the Project include: establishment of a Conservation and Historic Preservation Institute in Erbil; the Iraq National Museum: Improvements to the professional environment within the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad; professional Development and Capacity Building for Iraq’s Museums. more >
Ghanaian musician denied Canadian visa
Ghanaian musician Francis Kofi Akotuah was recently denied a Canadian visa, delaying his cultural workshop tour with drummer Larry Graves for at least a week. more >
Iranian Minister proposes cultural atlas
Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Safarherandi has suggested the making of a culture-based atlas that will embrace all Iranian customs.
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NAPA is our investment for the future
Centrally located and ideally linked with Arts Council of Pakistan, the yellow-stone Hindu Gymkhana was leased out to National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) for 30 years in 2005. However, its 200 students in different disciplines of performing arts are now facing the threat of a possible relocation. more >
Cultural Leadership Programme: international exchange placements programme
The cultural leadership programme is a government funded investment in excellence in leadership across the creative and cultural industries. A pilot programme, it offers international exchange placements for UK and overseas cultural organisations. more >
Translation Is Foreign to U.S. Publishers
It is a commonly held assumption that Americans don’t like to read authors who write in languages they don’t understand. more >
£5m fund for creative industries
A £5m fund has been created to help stimulate the growth of the creative industries in Northern Ireland. more >
MEIFF presents Syrian Minister for Culture with Black Pearl Award
His Excellency Riyad Nassan Agha, Syria’s Minister for Culture, was presented with the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) Black Pearl award to congratulate Syria on the occasion of Damascus being named the ‘2008 Cultural Capital for the Arab World’ by the Arab League. more >
Report from Thessaloniki: 2008 Europe Theatre Prize
Backstage drama because winning artists must personally pick up the European Union Commission-funded prize, if they expect to take home the hefty money (about 20,000 euros) attached to it. Wouldn't the prize money be more meaningful to an artist who has recently taken ill? more >
Artists caught up in Lenihan’s tax net
Art has suddenly become a more taxing business. The 1% income levy introduced by Brian Lenihan, the finance minister, last week will draw hundreds of artists, writers and musicians into the tax net for the first time. more >
GCC Culture Ministers to meet in Doha
GCC Culture Ministers will hold their 14th meeting in Doha on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to feature ways of enhancing the cultural coordination and cooperation among the GCC states as well as reactivation of GCC cultural and heritage activities. more >
Husain declines ministry’s plea
Renowned artist M.F Husain, living in self-imposed exile in Dubai, has declined the Ministry of Culture’s request to be a member of National Culture Fund’s council — a trust working with private partners for preservation of cultural heritages in the country. more >
Bollywood a big draw in Tajikistan
Bollywood, is a big draw in Tajikistan confirmed Tajik minister of culture Asrori Mirzoshokhrukh at the inaugural function of "Day of Culture: Of the Republic of Tajikistan in India". The 6 day festival is a joint initiative by the Indian Council For Cultural Relations and the Ministry of Culture, Republic of Tajikistan. more >
It's show time at the North Korea Film Festival
Back in the days when North Korea had allies, it was called the "Film Festival of Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries." Now that the government in Pyongyang has few real friends, it accepts entries from countries that are at least not overtly hostile. Hollywood need not apply. more >
Bae Receives National Order of Culture Merit
Hallyu (Korean wave) star Bae Yong-joon has been given the Hwa-Gwan Order of Culture Merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at an event celebrating the 2008 Culture Day. more >
A Round Table Discussion Grouping African Cultural Institutions Opens in Algiers
A Round Table discussion under the theme: 'Harmonisation and Coordination of Cultural Policies, Programmes and Activities', was organised last Friday 17 October 2008, within the framework of the Second African Union Conference of Ministers of Culture scheduled for 22 – 23 October 2008 in Algiers, Algeria. more >
Arts and disability strategy for comment
A discussion paper on developing a National Arts and Disability Strategy was released by Cultural Ministers Council. Submissions are open until 3 November 2008. more >
2nd Cultural Awareness Month: any hope?
The Ministry of Culture has announced its readiness to lead the people of Ghana through a ‘Cultural Awareness Month’ next month. If it does come off, the programme will be the second of its kind since the new Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture was created. more >
Conceptual art against a canvas of commerce
In 2006, Irish business spent €15 million on arts sponsorship, according to the Dublin-based industry body that helps broker arts sponsorship deals, Business2Arts. more >
Being seen
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a national seminar on cultural diplomacy from October 15-16 in Hanoi as a part of efforts to promote Vietnam’s culture overseas.
more >
Pablo Groux: 'We are the heirs of a unique cultural tradition'
State Secretary of Culture of Bolivia Pablo Groux has definite ideas about the role of culture in society more >
Days of Belarus culture to be held in Azerbaijan
Days of Belarus culture will be held in Azerbaijan on October 22-24. A spokeswoman for Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism said that the Belarus delegation, would be headed by deputy Minister of Culture, Vladimir Gridushko.
more >
Experts urge new era of global human rights and equality amidst world economic turmoil
More than 120 of the world’s leading human rights and equality experts are today calling for the most radical re-think of equal rights in two generations as global economic turmoil holds nations in its grip. Signatories from 44 nations are urging governments and individuals to back the new declaration. more >
Call to involve art in diplomacy
The re-alignment of America's foreign policy according to the country's traditional values will be one of the prime responsibilities of the new US President. more >
NC takes exception to homogeneous culture
Constituent Assembly (CA) members of the main opposition Nepali Congress have said the budget allocation for the Ministry of Culture and State Restructuring was formed to create a “homogeneous culture based on Maoist ideology.” more >
Culture Minister attends African Conference
Angolan minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva, arrived Monday in Alger, People Democratic Republic of Algeria where she will participate from Tuesday in the II session of African Culture Ministers Conference. more >
Haigazian University honors Minister of Culture
Haigazian University honored Minister of Culture Mr. Tammam Salam for his contributions to the enrichment of society, during its Founders’ Day celebration, on October 13, 2008. more >
Culture hub plan losing money
The project aimed at transforming Gwangju into a hub of Asian culture is expected to yield a deficit of about 100 billion won a year, but the government has not taken any measures to prevent the loss, a lawmaker said Tuesday. more >
China sets library standards for booming urban communities
China's Ministry of Culture on Tuesday set building standards of public libraries to ensure that they can meet the demands of the country's booming urban population. more >
Museum of Africa to be built in Algiers
A report by experts ahead of the second session of the Conference of Ministers of Culture of the African Union (AU) that was held in Algiers, said the great museum of Africa (GMA) to be built up in Algeria, must express the present and the future of Africa’s freedom from colonialism and racism. more >
Latin America and the Caribbean increase their contribution to the Memory of the World Programme
Outstanding experts on documentary heritage from Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Saint Lucia and the Bahamas met at the 9th Annual Meeting of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme (MOW) Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean. more >
Should arts funding change?
Should artists have more control over the way they are funded? That is the question being debated by heavyweights of the arts world at the Young Vic theatre, following claims that artists have lost confidence in the body they depend on for funding.
more >
Wolfgang Petritsch new Chair of the ECF Board
ECF announced this week that Wolfgang Petritsch has accepted to be the ECF's new Chair. more >
Discounted Tickets for Teachers, Students
Unsold tickets to cultural events will be sold at discounted prices to students and teachers starting next year, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon said Thursday. more >
African Culture Ministers Outline Development Strategies
African ministers of Culture this Thursday analysed the need of creating methods and strategies to promote education and culture, as well as the elaboration of mechanisms for the implementation of cultural programmes and activities in Angola. more >
Days of Kazakhstan culture opens in Dushanbe
A ceremonial opening of Days of Kazakhstan culture open in Tajikistan. The cultural events will last until October 24th more >
Deputy Minister for boost to National Culture Award
The deputy minister of Culture, Cornélio Calei, Friday in Luanda said that the country's cultural agents should engage more and give a major boost to the National Culture and Arts Award which he considered as a contest of "excellence". more >
Beninese President reshuffles cabinet
The Beninese Head of State, Yayi Boni, on Friday night reshuffled his cabinet for the second time since he came to power in April 2006, while replacing the MPs who refused to join his cabinet. The Minister of Crafts and tourism is Mrs. Bako Mamata Djaouga and the Minister of Culture, crafts and promotion of local languages is Galiou Soglo. more >
IV International Muslim film festival “Golden minbar” opens in Kazan
The opening ceremony of IV International Muslim film festival “Golden minbar” which took place in the entertainment centre “Pyramid” started traditionally with a prayer. The film forum was opened by the Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Culture, Zilya Valeyeva and the head of the Russian Muftis Council, Ravil Gainutdinov. more >
World's leading creative businesses come to the UK
World leaders from the creative and financial industries will convene in the UK next year to help ensure that our creative industries continue to grow and thrive. more >
Festival of culture in London shows that gamers are not just playing around
The London Games Festival kicked off last night with leading British and international artists, game designers and even government ministers joining forces to applaud computer games as a legitimate art form that deserves recognition from the wider public. more >
Cuba and China Expand Cultural Exchange
Zhang Rui, Foreign Affairs Director of China’s Culture Ministry, announced in Beijing that her country and Cuba will further expand cultural exchange, which will strengthen friendship relations between the two nations. more >
Newspaper vendors may pay authors' rights soon
After a strike action by Messa Presse newspaper distributors that paralysed newspaper distribution Monday, October 20, in Yaounde, a series of meetings are underway to set a new authors' rights tax. more >
Culture Minister Offers Apology for Swearwords
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon apologized Sunday for swearing at photojournalists during the parliamentary audit at the National Assembly.
more >
Cinema Festival draws Celebrities to Tunisia
In the presence of the Tunisian Minister of Culture and Heritage Preservation, the 22nd edition of the cinematographic Days of Carthage (JCC) began on Saturday evening. more >
Garrett hits bung note on funding
One of Australia's leading classical music schools is threatened with closure, following notice from federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett that its funding will cease. The Australian National Academy of Music has been told that funding of $2.6 million will stop this year. more >
French minister promises action
Christine Albanel, French Minister of Culture and Communication, has told European indie group Impala that the French government will almost immediately debate a Creation and Internet law proposal to examine how to deal with online piracy. more >
Cultural Olympiad 2009: Where the world comes to play
Gravity defying dance, rousing music and a new spin on graffiti art today gave a taste of the more than 400 free and ticketed performances and exhibitions audiences will enjoy as part of the Cultural Olympiad 2009 program. more >
Seychelles celebrates int’l Creole language, culture day
The Seychelles minister of Culture and chairman of the Creole Festival Committee, Vincent Meriton, on Tuesday asked all Seychellois to seriously reflect on the role that culture has been playing and is still playing in the economic development of the country.
more >
MP launched new community archive
Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Gregory Campbell, has welcomed the development of the Northern Ireland Community Archive. The Minister attended the launch of a pilot website and the first phase of the project at Lagan Legacy, Belfast. more >
Election ’08: who has the best dance moves?
Voiceofdance.com wants to know who you think has the best dance moves in this year’s U.S. presidential election. Watch the videos of political figures trying out their hottest moves and vote for your favorite! Is dancing a great judge of character? more >
Taliban storm Afghan culture ministry, kill 5
Taliban fighters stormed the Ministry of Culture in the heart of Kabul Thursday, killing five people in an attack the president said aimed at derailing the government's new effort to draw militants into a peace process and end a seven-year insurgency. more >
business committee for the arts to merge with Americans for the Arts
The boards of directors of the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. and Americans for the Arts have decided to enter into a merger agreement to create the strongest national private sector arts advocacy organization in the country. more >
China to build largest contemporary art museum
China has announced it will build its largest yet museum of contemporary art at the Beijing Yihaodi International Artbase in the first half of 2009, according to the Ministry of Culture (MOC).
more >
November 2008
Access to culture platform – 1st meeting of the board
The board for the Access to Culture platform met in Brussels on 7 October to discuss the development of three working groups set up within the Platform (Education and Learning; Creation and Production; Participation and Audiences). more >
Chair appointed to Creative Scotland
The establishment of a single dedicated body for Scotland's arts and culture sector today gained further momentum as Ewan Brown was named Chair of Creative Scotland, the new publicly owned limited company which will be established. more >
Pedro Querejazu: 'Bolivia's cultural policy magnifies differences'
"Contemporary art in Bolivia is still primarily considered a matter for the white urban elite. That idea is actually a bit out-dated. In photography and street art in particular, new expressions can be seen that have little to do with the differences between city and country, for example, or white and Indian." more >
Cosmetic government carousel
Georgia has a new Government, but with practically the same composition as the old one, except for the appointment of Grigol Mgaloblishvili to replace Lado Gurgenidze as Prime Minister. Political experts think that the changes made in the Government of Georgia are merely “cosmetic.”
more >
National arts body boss unveiled
Ewan Brown, the vice president of the Edinburgh International Festival, has been appointed to spearhead the creation of a new national arts body. more >
New Secretaries take over in Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Culture
Shri Jawahar Sircar, IAS (WB.75), has taken over as Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Earlier, he was Special Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. He succeeds Shri Abhijit Sengupta, IAS (KN.72), who retired on 31st October, 2008. more >
Minister plans long-term blueprint to promote culture
Culture Minister Yu In-chon said he will formulate a long-term overseas promotional strategy to boost the global popularity of Korean culture. more >
PM Stanishev and Culture Minister to open new building of St. Luke school for applied arts
Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev and Minister of Culture Stefan Danailov will open the new building of St. Luke school for applied arts at 11.00 on Monday. more >
Ministries of Education and Culture sign MOU for promoting national identity
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and the Ministry of Education have signed a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation for promoting national identity, and achieving cultural and educational development in line with the federal strategy of governance. more >
Arts Council promises a new era ... can we believe it?
An interesting and wide-ranging speech from Alan Davey, chief executive of Arts Council England talked of "a new era" with promises of new artistic risk, excellence and innovation, and creating work that has "authenticity and integrity". more >
Whodunnit? Mystery over £3m prize to build new arts venture
A £3 MILLION award to build a new "creative and elegant" arts venue in Edinburgh was unveiled yesterday.
Competitive bids were invited yesterday to win funding for a new or refurbished arts space of "exceptional architectural and cultural merit" for Edinburgh. The winning project, to be built by 2013, could be anything from a concert hall to artists' studios.
more >
Blog: Arts Council promises a new era ... can we believe it?
Alan Davey launches a discussion on funding and peer review designed to shape the future of theatre. more >
Arts behind bars
If we believe in rehabilitating offenders, then we must recognise the role cultural activities can play in rebuilding self-esteem. more >
Yemen, China sign cultural cooperation agreement executive program
An executive program of the cultural cooperation agreement in antiquities, manuscripts, museums, stationeries and traditional handicrafts was signed on Wednesday between Yemeni and Chinese culture ministries. more >
Ministry closes Shahrvand weekly publication
An official from Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, today confirmed the closure of the weekly Shahrvand-e Emruz [today’s citizen]. more >
Out of Africa, a rich palette for art lovers
African artists recently had an opportunity to show their work in China. As many as 29 African countries took part in the event titled African Culture in Focus, which was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The event was sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Culture.
more >
New heritage minister not about to reverse arts cuts
Those who hoped to persuade Canada's new heritage minister to reverse the government's proposed cuts to arts and culture programs are going to be disappointed. more >
Canada's new heritage minister not about to reverse arts cuts
Those who hoped to persuade Canada's new heritage minister to reverse the government's proposed cuts to arts and culture programs are going to be disappointed. more >
Support for arts good for economy says Tizard
Tizard says Labour's arts policy release today emphasises jobs, continues support for major organisations in film and music and focuses on regional and community development – all of which will help the sector to flourish. more >
LabforCulture has gone Italian.
Two years after launching the networking platform with information on arts and culture across borders in Europe, the portal is now adding the Italian language version to the site. This will make the site more accessible to a wider part of the Italian community and expands the site to 6 languages. more >
Afro-Bolivians push for political recognition
Afro-Bolivian community of 400 residents located three hours north of the capital, La Paz, filled the dusty streets, throwing holy water and confetti, while performing a combination of music and dance known as saya. The festivities, which lasted for several days, were attended to show solidarity for a growing political movement that demands official recognition. more >
Arts and sport grants cost too much in bureaucracy, say MPs
Taxpayer-funded organisations handing out money to arts, heritage, voluntary and sports groups are spending far too much on administration costs and seem unwilling to work together to bring them down, a Commons committee complains. more >
Reps ask culture ministry to refund N1.4 billion
The House of Representatives has asked the Culture and Tourism Ministry to refund N1.4 billion excess expenditure from the Ministry's 2008 budget just as the lawmakers resolved to look at all the financial engagements of the Abuja carnival for which they approved N350 million. more >
Sexto Encuentro de Fundacult: Acciones Culturales de Entidades Financieras y Empresas Iberoamericanas
La escena cultural y artística ha sido un excelente medio para propiciar un punto de encuentro entre socios. more >
Adetokunbo Kayode joins the golden league
Adetokunbo Kayode, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Nigeria's minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, walked gracefully into the golden club recently. more >
Moving art underground
No one is suggesting that Barbie is sacred. But the removal of images of the long-legged incarnation of unrealistic beauty from the walls of a Beirut art gallery this week struck a blow against freedom, culture and mutual understanding that might easily have been avoided. Why the Ministry of Culture should step in and put this image back in an art gallery.
more >
Nat’l Museum of Contemporary Art manager let go
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that they were terminating the contract of the head of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Kim Yoon-su, due to violations of contract employment regulations. more >
Daegu gears up to lure visitors ahead of 2011
Daegu is busy grooming itself now 2011 has been designated “Visit Daegu Korea Year” by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
more >
Fundacult’s Sixth Meeting: Cultural Actions of Ibero-American Financial Entities and Companies
The cultural and artistic scene has been an excellent media to favour create a meeting point between partners. more >
Eduard Miralles, new President of the Interarts Foundation
On 7 November, Eduard Miralles was appointed President of the Interarts Foundation. Between 1996 and 2004 he was Director of the Cultural Resources and Study Centre of the Barcelona Provincial Council and, at present, he continues to work for the Provincial Council as advisor for international cultural relations. more >
Thousands of titles at Palestinian book fair
Abu Daqqa said that obstacles were great this year for organizers “as a result of the occupation and control of the border crossings, and the siege on us, the fear of publishers to participate despite their recognition of the specificity of the Palestinian situation. Many of them were rejected by the occupation authorities the necessary permits to enter.” more >
2009 Catalogue - Council of Europe Publishing
Council of Europe Publishing is the Organisation’s official publishing arm and offers a wide choice of books and electronic products in all the subject areas linked to the co-operation developed between the 47 member states. The 2009 catalogue is now available for download. more >
Arts funding bodies spending too much on administration, say MPs
Publicly funded organisations that give grants to the arts are spending too much on bureaucracy, an influential committee of MPs has warned.
more >
Art gallery could be saved - Culture minister says cost will be the determining factor
The Grande Prairie Art Gallery could be saved, says the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. In March 2007, the roof collapsed on the gallery and numerous pieces of art were removed and given no permanent home. more >
Ministry to organise UAE culture week
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, will hold a UAE Culture Week in Syria from November 13 to 19. The event is part of the activities marking the choosing of Damascus as the Arab Capital of Culture for the year 2008. more >
Attacks on publishers and book-burnings in Athens
A letter addressed to Ms Ana Maria Cabanellas, President of the International Publishers Association draws attention to the fact that there has been a series of attacks on book publishers and their bookstores in Athens, Greece. more >
Democratizing culture in Venezuela: a must
“Our people are gradually showing us the way", said Hector Soto, Venezuelan Minister of Culture, assuring that his country has the necessary conditions to consolidate itself as the platform for cultural, political, economic and social exchange on the Latin American continent. more >
Ministry of Culture provides guidelines for ‘sema’ programs
A notice sent out by Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay detailing new guidelines on conditions under which "sema" (whirling dervish ceremony) programs can take place has been well received by experts in Mevlevi cultural history. more >
Taiwanese get a dose of Pinoy culture
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Department of Tourism, and the Council of Cultural Affairs in Taiwan recently hosted the 2008 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival. more >
Cuban, Chinese culture ministers meet
Culture Ministers Abel Prieto (Cuba) and Cai Wu (China) met in Havana on Monday to exchange views and strengthen bilateral cultural relations. more >
Minister raises alarm over Abuja carnival
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Adeto-kunbo Kayode, in Abuja at the weekend, raised the alarm that some groups had engaged in blackmail over the forthcoming Abuja Carnival. more >
Turkish film producers call for sponsor support
Turkish movie production industry currently attracts $15 million annually from the private sector. The movie production firms need more sponsorship to continue to develop, particularly during a time of global economic crisis, urged industry representatives.
more >
Ministry considers artists' union extremely importance
The deputy minister of Culture, Luís Kandjimbo, on Monday here declared that the National Union of Artists and Composers (UNAC), represents an association of extreme importance for the country's cultural sector. more >
Chinese culture minister expresses solidarity with Cuba
The Chinese Minister, who arrived this Sunday in Havana, is working an intensive official exchange program between his nation and Cuba. more >
Arts Creation Fund gives new works shot in arm
Writers, musicians, photographers, visual artists and playwrights can now take heart - there is a new fund that will support arts-related works in their nascent stages. more >
China to name and shame lip-synching performers
China will name and shame artists who lip-synch or engage in other "fake" acts at commercial concerts, with repeat offenders getting their performing licenses revoked, local media reported on Thursday, citing the Ministry of Culture. more >
Culture Ministry concerned over economic problems of Iranian artists
As the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is responsible for visual arts, it also concerns itself with the economic problems of the artists, the director of the Visual Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance told CHN. more >
Recession 'could hit' arts funding
During the good times hedge fund billionaires were happy to splash their cash on the arts, but in economic hard times will that sponsorship dry up? more >
Henson works could be culled as old laws surface
Bill Henson has broken the law. So has every artist in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Western Australia who in the past few years painted or photographed a naked child. more >
Contracts outlining conditions for artists working with kids
Visual artists who want to work with children and who apply for government funding for their projects will have to sign a contract agreeing to a raft of conditions, according to the Australia Council's draft protocols for working with children. more >
Stakeholders Discuss Continent’s Art Issues
In order to highlight common areas of interest and potential growth, the National Arts Council of South Africa recently initiated and invited representatives from various African nations to participate in the first-ever cross-national dialogue on arts and culture funding and support agencies from across Africa. more >
Bahrain's Mai to take charge of renamed ministry
Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa is set to become Bahrain's new information minister, replacing Jehad Bu Kamal in a limited cabinet reshuffle slated for Monday. Shaikha Mai, the former assistant undersecretary for culture and heritage, will be the second woman in the government, and the third woman to ever hold a ministerial portfolio. more >
Artists' Mobility - Aspiration or Reality: Conference Summary
Artists' Mobility - Aspiration or Reality - the annual conference of the European Council of Artists took place in Dublin on the 7th and 8th of November, with approximately 60 participants representing artists’ organisations, ministries of culture, arts councils etc. from 20 European countries. more >
Art talent under threat from £50m
The future security of Britain's most talented arts students is under threat because the arts world is distracted by the high-profile campaign to save two Titian paintings from export, it was claimed yesterday. more >
Massive state funding for culture projects
China will invest 800 million yuan (US$117 million) this year improving cultural facilities in rural areas where some 800 million people live. more >
NRK-director cuts own salary by 400.000
The broadcasting director, Hans-Tore Bjerkaas felt that his salary was far too good, and cut it by 400,000 kroner. When Bjerkaas assumed the post as NRK-director in March 2007, an annual salary of 2.3 million kroner awaited him. After further reflection, he felt that was a little too much. more >
Music returns to Baghdad as vice squad enforcers retreat
After years on the run from Shiite and Sunni militias and morality police, Iraqi musicians are slowly returning to the streets of Baghdad, looking to fill the silence left by the fading civil war. more >
Arab culture conference highlights importance of advancing Arabic language
Arab culture ministers issued a statement on advancing the Arabic language at the end of their two-day conference. more >
Culture Minister meets Greek counterpart
During a meeting in Sofia with his Greek counterpart Mihalis Liapis Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture Stefan Danailov put forth the issue of opening a Bulgarian cultural center in Greece. more >
China offers subsidies for heirs to intangible cultural heritage items
Heirs to state-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items will receive an annual work allowance of about 1,160 U.S. dollars from the central government, the Ministry of Culture has announced. The subsidy is to support folk arts, crafts and rituals, many of which are in danger of dying out.
more >
Rethinking arts leadership
I am of the opinion that the arts sector and arts organizations in South Africa have not realized their full potential. So who do we blame? This is the text of a speech delivered by Ismail Mahomed Director of the National Arts Festival. more >
Council gives green light for the European Year of Creativity and Innovation
The Council has adopted a decision proclaiming the year 2009 "European Year of Creativity and Innovation". The aim of this year is to support the efforts of Member States to promote creativity,
through lifelong learning, as a driver for innovation and a key factor for the development of occupational and entrepreneurial competences.
more >
Support for arts leaders of the future
Young people in the arts are the winners in the latest round of State Government funding grants. Culture and Arts Minister John Day said more than $90,000 had been given out in grants to fund activity for, with and by young people aged 26 years and younger working in a variety of artforms. more >
Smuggled £1m painting returned to Greece
A £1 million Byzantine painting smuggled into Britain after being stolen from a Greek convent 30 years ago has been officially returned following a High Court ruling. more >
Pippa Cross made UKFC board member
Indie film and TV producer Pippa Cross, producer of "Shooting Dogs" and the forthcoming "Heartless," has been appointed to the U.K. Film Council's board of directors for four years, Minister for Culture Barbara Follett said Friday. more >
Tributes flow for Helen Clark
Tributes for Helen Clark, former Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, have flowed into The Big Idea website, from arts leaders and the creative community. more >
Arts Council delay
Why has the Arts Council been left without a chair and a full complement of members for almost four months? more >
Ottawa literary scene faces funding cuts
Several literary events in Ottawa are facing financial shortfalls next year, due to 2009 budget cuts that have been proposed by senior City of Ottawa staff. more >
EU decides to create heritage label
European Union decided on Thursday to create its own label for its heritage. more >
Arts Indaba Set for SA Next Year
The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) will host its international arts and culture summit for the first time on African soil, at the Museum Africa Newton in Johannesburg in September next year. more >
Culture year added £13m to Highland economy
The Highland Year of Culture generated almost £13m for the economy of the Highlands and Islands and created nearly 500 jobs, according to an evaluation of the year-long celebration. more >
IMLS and China strengthen cross-cultural connections
The U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China signed an agreement establishing the Partnership for Cultural Exchange between museum, library, archive, and information services at a November 16 ceremony at the Library of Congress. more >
Al.Mansoori congratulates Shaikha May on being appointed as the Minister of Culture and Information
Al Mansoori Publicity & Advertising Co. Publisher of Prime Magazine congratulates Shaikha May Bint Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al khalifa on being appointed as the Minister of Culture and Information. more >
Iran blocking access to 5 million websites
Judicial authorities in Iran admit to blocking access to more than 5 million websites deemed immoral or antisocial. Iranian media this week quoted Abdol Samad Khorram Abadi, an adviser to Iran’s prosecutor-general, as saying the country’s enemies "seek to assault our religious identity by exploiting the Internet." more >
NAPA’s fate in limbo
The door is closing for the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA). Two months ago, the Sindh Ministry for Tourism and Culture caused a stir when it issued a notice for eviction to the NAPA administration for violating its term of contract by illegally building a structure in the courtyard of the Hindu Gymkhana Building. more >
In Venezuela, learning as Dudamel did
In the poor hillside neighborhood of Chapellín and at nearly 250 other locales throughout this nation, tens of thousands of young Venezuelans are learning to play classical music and to make art a permanent cornerstone of their lives. more >
Iran-China ties could become global model
Visiting Head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Publicity Department Liu Yunshan conferred on Saturday with Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi on expansion of cultural ties between the two countries. At the meeting, the two sides called for expansion of cultural cooperation between Tehran and Beijing. more >
Cairo independent film festival postponed
Hours before its opening last Friday, the Cairo Independent Film Festival was postponed due to what a Rawabet Theater official said was missing paperwork sealing the approval of the Ministry of Culture. more >
Hard times for the arts
Economic downturn reduces income from endowments and contributions. The Baltimore Opera Company's production of "Norma" (above) went on as scheduled, but projected ticket sales for the production of Verdi's "Aida" have already fallen short of the company's goal by $200,000. more >
Oyster card for the arts in Mayor's culture masterplan
An "Oyster card" for the arts, giving free or cheap entry to events and venues, could be handed out to Londoners under plans announced by the Mayor. more >
Access and excellence - Boris Johnson outlines key priorities for culture to 2012
The Mayor of London has outlined his plans to enhance Londoners' experience of arts and culture in the capital, including better provision in the outer boroughs, measures to improve music and art education and a drive to reduce red tape and to support creative and grassroots talent. more >
Ministry says nations’, nationalities’ day celebration essential for tourism dev’t
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said celebration of the nations’ and nationalities’ day would play role in boosting tourist flow to the country by promoting the culture and values of Ethiopians to the rest of the world. more >
Art Leaders Gather at Knowledge Exchange to Discuss Public Art Master Planning
This Knowledge Exchange will provide an in-depth exchange of insight and information among public art, urban planning and design, and private development professionals from across the country. more >
South Korean gov invests in content
The South Korean government is to deliver its third stimulus package to local cultural industries, with the announcement that it will invest 410 billion won ($274 million) in what it calls ``killer content'' with international potential by 2013. more >
Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award selects no winner
The award ceremony of the Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award was held on Saturday at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. Each winner of the award would receive 110 Bahar Azadi gold coins (worth over $200,000), but this year, Iran’s most lucrative literary award had no winner. more >
Khalifa hails Qatar’s new Museum of Islamic Art
Qatar’s new Museum of Islamic Art was hailed as a cultural centre for the entire region by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, at its official opening this weekend more >
European Ministers of Culture to sign Baku Declaration
The meeting of European Ministers of Culture will take place in Baku on December 2-3. more >
New issues and models surrounding cultural sponsorship presented at the first CultureBusiness forum
The first ever CULTUREBUSINESS forum organised by AGENDA brought together an international audience of over 200 participants at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris on the 20th and 21st November to tackle and discuss new practices and issues surrounding commercial sponsorship at this time of crisis. more >
Do we have culture policy or arts policy?
Why do we persist in using the 'arts and culture' phrase? It is enormously confusing, for these are two separate concepts. more >
No tomamos en serio la protección del medio ambiente. Naturalista y poeta, dice que todavía no hay conciencia de que es un tema muy urgente
Alfredo Lichter ha dedicado buena parte de su vida al estudio del mar y a desarrollar mensajes que pusieran de relevancia la necesidad de modificar nuestra relación con la naturaleza. more >
After the credit crunch – the arts crunch?
The bright spot on the financial horizon is that – in theory at least – after a period of disinfection a new, sanitized world awaits us. In culture no parallel purge is necessary, because the arts in Britain are in blooming health. more >
We are not taking the environment’s protection seriously, says Argentinean Naturalist and Poet
Alfredo Lichter has dedicated a good part of his life to studying the sea and to creating messages that give relevance to the need of changing our relationship with nature. more >
Polish business sponsors culture
The award ceremony of the 1st edition of the ‘Polish Culture Benefactors’ competition was held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on November 26. The competition is a joint initiative of the Royal Castle and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. more >
What about the Theatre Royal?
Gibraltan Shadow Minister for Culture Steven Linares will ask the Government to say whether they have now decided to proceed with the Theatre Royal project in its original site or to carry out this project elsewhere.
more >
Intangible cultural heritage protection law expected to be passed
China's first national census on intangible cultural heritage is coming to an end, according to Zhou Heping, Vice Minister of Ministry of Culture. Collections of each province are expected to be published before 2010. more >
Madrid 2016 welcomes creation of Ministry of Sport in next Spanish reshuffle
The leaders of the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid today welcomed the news that Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will create an exclusive Ministry of Sport in his next parliamentary reshuffle. Like other European countries, sporting policy in Spain is currently linked with the Ministry of Culture. more >
Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Avignon Forum
Aga Khan on the value and importance of cultural diversity and its role in promoting peace and development (Avignon, France) more >
Ukraine libraries cleared of Soviet books
Libraries throughout Ukraine are beginning to get rid of literary works written by Soviet authors as part of a government effort, an official says. Minister of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine Vasyl Vovkun ordered to remove Soviet literature from all libraries as communist and chauvinistic works. more >
Major changes to the Impacts 08 website
Impacts 08 – The Liverpool Model, is a joint research initiative of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, which evaluates the social, cultural, economic and environmental effects of Liverpool’s hosting the European Capital of Culture title in 2008. more >
Sydney Opera House architect dies
The Danish architect of the iconic Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon, has died at the age of 90, after suffering a heart attack. Mr Utzon, an award-winning architect, put "Denmark on the world map with his great talent," said Danish Culture Minister Carina Christensen. more >
Cultural Canon, Culturelab
In 2008 expert committees in the fields of architecture and design, film, literature, folk traditions, visual art, music and performing arts gathered to come up with the preliminary list of outstanding art works. more >
Latvian National Library
The construction of the new building of Latvian National Library, the Castle of Light project, began in summer 2008 after having overcome long lasting public and political debates.more >
Relax. You might just enjoy yourselves
Why are audiences at classical music gigs so uptight? Because the culture industry has its foundations in fear and shame. more >
Obama will have to appoint cultural managers, too
President-elect Barack Obama has his economic team in place and his national security squad is soon to be named. Somewhere down the line, he will have to fill out his culture roster. more >
Art, entertainment groups struggle to become financially independent from government
In 2005, thousands of arts and entertainment organizations across the country were told by the central government to become financially independent. In 2008 many groups are struggling. more >
Anne Marie Ndzie challenges artists to be responsible
Seventy eight-year-old Cameroonian musical legend, Anne Marie Ndzie, has called on Cameroonian artists to adopt positive attitudes in the composition and presentation of their artistic works. more >
December 2008
Culture Ministry shuts down photo gallery
Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance shut down the Asar photo gallery in Tehran for displaying works that are “contrary to Islamic dignity and… offensive to religious sanctities.” These works belonged to 39-year-old Payman Houshmandzadeh. His signature art is generally known to defy and provoke people’s perceptions of their place in the fast-paced world. more >
Morocco issues biometric ID cards
Morocco's national security service has begun issuing millions of "contactless," biometric identification smart cards. Artists, however, will continue to be issued a professional ID card by the Ministry of Culture. more >
Global village will honour human rights
The Ministry of Culture will be holding various events to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the universal declaration of Human Rights signed on December 10, 1948. Minister of Culture, Dale Butler said the Human Rights Commission will be holding a global village with the theme, 'One World, One People'. more >
Vietnam, Cambodia sign agreement on culture
Vietnam and Cambodia will step up high-ranking delegation exchanges and organise cultural days in both countries. Under the plan, Vietnam will also help train Cambodian students at those schools under the management of Vietnam ’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. more >
Hundreds protest arts and culture cuts
About 200 citizens protested proposed cuts to the arts and social services Monday at a demonstration outside City Hall. more >
Preserving national identity is focus of federal strategy, says Al Za'abi
This year has been "excellent in maintaining the national identity of the UAE," a top government official told Gulf News. Ahmad Jumaa Al Za'abi, Director of President's office predicted that the coming years will witness more focus on the national identity concept, to further activate and make it a daily practice in young people's lives.
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Senegalese thirsty to learn find an oasis in a simple library
In a nation of 40 percent literacy and great poverty, students read novels in lunch-break installments at this struggling civic institution. more >
Promoting art as an artist and from the Ministry of Culture: interview with Hakim al-Akil
That art needs to be better promoted in Yemen is something clear to Hakim al-Akil. He studied art in Russia where he specialised in murals and now he works as an advisor for plastic arts at the Ministry of Culture, al-Akil tries to improve the situation of art from two different levels. more >
2905th meeting of the Council: eductaion, youth and culture
Press release for the 2905th meeting of the Council: Education, Youth and Culture in Brussels, 20 and 21 November 2008. more >
For deserts in culture – Gloria Artis
The minister of culture and national heritage of Poland Bogdan Zdroyewski is to visit Baku from 1 to 3 of December 2009. Within his Baku stay Mr. Zdroyewski will participate in the ceremony of awarding two Azerbaijani citizens with medals “For deserts in Culture – Gloria Artis”. more >
Minister of Culture and Tourism Artur Cozma dismissed
Artur Cozma was discharged from the post of Minister of Culture and Tourism following a decree issued by President Vladimir Voronin on December 1. more >
Medellín awaits Ibero-America in 2010
At the Colonial Art Museum, placed in Bogotá’s historical downtown, the Ministers of Culture of Spain and Colombia signed a new cultural cooperation agreement, which has resulted in the Third Ibero-American Congress of Culture 2010. more >
Long road to UNESCO
When Egypt nominated Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, to be UNESCO's next director-general all hell broke loose. His latest battle, as a candidate for UNESCO's director-general, is being fought on an international front. Assem El-Kersh and Nevine El-Aref speak to him about his campaign. more >
Medellín espera a Iberoamérica en 2010
En las instalaciones del Museo de Arte Colonial, en pleno centro histórico de Bogotá, los ministros de Cultura de Colombia y España firmaron un nuevo convenio de cooperación cultural, el cual dará como resultado la realización en el país de la tercera versión del Congreso Iberoamericano de Cultura en el 2010. more >
Polish delegation in India to strengthen cultural ties
The Deputy Minister of Culture, Tomasz Merta, has began a three-day visit to India regarding Polish representation in the regional conference held by the Indian Foundation for Culture and Cultural Heritage. more >
New English Contemporary Ballet funding cut ‘catastrophic’
New English Contemporary Ballet has been plunged into crisis by the decision of Arts Council England not to grant it funding under its Grants for the Arts scheme. more >
Council of Europe support realization of Baku Process
The Council of Europe (CE) will support the realization of Baku process. The Baku declaration is a new appeal to the world to promote intercultural dialogue, Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture and Tourism, said. more >
The Council of Europe Culture Ministers adopted the Baku Declaration
Today The Council of Europe Culture Ministers’ Conference adopted the Baku Declaration on Assistance to the Intercultural Dialogue. more >
Mercedes Giovinazzo elected president of the executive committee of Culture Action Europe
Following the election held during the Annual General Meeting of Culture Action Europe in Marseilles on 23 October, the Executive Committee has elected Mercedes Giovinazzo, the Director of the Interarts Foundation, as its new President. more >
Presentation of the new project on cultural enterprises in Honduras
On 27 November, Interarts presented its new project on ''Promotion of Cultural and Creative Businesses in Honduras'' in the framework of the 3rd Central American Forum of the Interlocal Network, in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras. Funded by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID), the project is managed jointly by Interarts and the ''Santa Rosa Vive el Arte'' programme, as a local partner, and aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of cultural agents in Santa Rosa de Copán and to foster culture-related business projects. more >
Meeting on culture and youth in the Mediterranean
This meeting brought together the members of EUROMEDINCULTURE, a Euro-Mediterranean Network of Cultural Organisations, in order to foster the mobility of young cultural professionals by accessing existing European programmes. more >
Small grants programme replaces awards for all arts funding
From December 16th 2008, the Arts Council's 'Small Grants Programme' will replace the Big Lottery Fund's 'Awards for All' scheme as the prime source of small grants for groups seeking National Lottery funding for their arts activities. The 'Small Grants Programme' will offer grants of between £500 - £10,000 to voluntary and small professional groups for a wide range of community-based arts activities. more >
Arts Council chief dismissed
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism dismissed Kim Jeong-heon as chairman of Arts Council Korea after he violated rules concerning the council's promotional funds. more >
Angst over arts funding. Arts organizations prepare for a drop in donations next year
Arts organizations expect fewer donations from business sponsors as a weak economy forces them to curtail support in 2009. more >
Cabinet reshuffled
Grigol Vashadze, the current minister for culture, has been nominated as the foreign minister, replacing Eka Tkeshelashvili. At the same news briefing Vashadze, who was a deputy foreign minister before and becoming Minister of Culture on November 1, said the new appointment was a total surprise for him. more >
Arts community braces for budget news
Mayor Nutter pledged his support to the Philly artistic community during a meeting in City Hall last night, but said cuts to arts funding may not be over. "I can't stand here today and tell you we won't have to take further action in the current fiscal year," Nutter said to the standing-room-only crowd gathered in the mayor's reception room for a town-hall meeting on how the budget crisis will affect the arts. more >
Peskin would cut S.F. arts funding by 50%
Three of San Francisco's most highly regarded arts institutions - the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet - would see their city funding slashed in half under a dramatic cost-cutting proposal intended to spread the city's financial pain around. more >
Adriatic region in focus: part I online now
The Adriatic Euroregion is the focal point for the next two editions of LabforCulture's Region in focus. The Adriatic Euroregion Part I starts with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. Part II will cover Albania, Italy and Montenegro and will be posted early next year on LabforCulture. more >
Support to intercultural dialogue through EU programmes
The Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission has recently presented a brochure which features more than 20 EU programmes which can support activities in the fields of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. more >
Venezuela book fair: big rise in sales shows thirst for reading
The Fourth Venezuela International Book Fair, held November 7-16, registered substantially higher sales of books than last year, fair organizers reported. more >
New Premier's council puts spotlight on Alberta's arts and culture
Eleven inspiring Albertans have been selected to champion and strengthen our province’s cultural identity as members of the new Premier’s Council on Arts and Culture. more >
New Portal of Colombian Publishers
The Independent Colombian Publishers Network –REIC– presented its official portal, where a complete catalogue of their publications will be exhibited and on-line sales will be made. more >
Nuevo portal de editoriales colombianas
La Red de Editores Independientes Colombianos -REIC presentó su portal oficial, en donde se exhibirá el catálogo completo de sus publicaciones y se realizarán ventas en línea. more >
More changes in cabinet
An influential lawmaker, Nika Rurua, was appointed on the post of Minister of Culture. In the Parliament MP Rurua has been a deputy chairman of the committee for defense and security since 2004. more >
China submits 35 examples of culture to UNESCO
China has submitted 35 files of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Chinese calligraphy is listed as one of the files presented. more >
Call for tenders: Study on the contribution of culture to local and regional economic development as part of European regional policy
The study must give an overview on how and to what extent culture has been integrated into the regional development strategy since 2000 in the framework of the European regional policy (last programming period 2000-2006 as well as the current programming period 2007-2013 of the structural funds). Deadline: 12/01/2009. more >
Cultural think tank to advise Garrett
Australia Council chairman James Strong, film school head Sandra Levy and gallery director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor are members of a new cultural think tank that will advise the federal Government on cultural policy. more >
Arabic music fest expands horizons
An annual festival to celebrate the best of the Arab world’s recording artistes and composers, the Ziryab International Music and Arts Festival, is set to expand its boundaries by inviting entertainers from around the world in the near future. more >
No cuts to arts funding or festivals in the 2009 city budget!
Looks like efforts from the arts community actually made a difference! A group of councillors from the City of Ottawa brought and passed a package motion that results in a 4.9-per-cent property tax increase and avoids serious program cuts. more >
Three Calgarians named to new Alberta Arts Council
The CEO of Theatre Calgary, a financial manager for the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association and a three-time Olympic athlete have been named as Calgary representatives of the newly formed Premier's Council on Arts and Culture. more >
Yemen to take part in closing events of 2008 Damascus Arab Culture Capital
Yemen is participating in the closing events of the Damascus Arab Culture Capital for 2008.
The ceremony will be held on 20th December by a play "al-Moatasm" by author Abdullah Sa'ad. The play talks about Arabic history and events which reflect strengthen of the Arab unity.
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Egyptian MPs stop Israeli pilgrimages
Egyptian members of parliament and activists are campaigning to prevent thousands of Israeli Jews from flocking to Egypt every year to visit the grave of a famous rabbi. more >
Ballet company under threat
The New English Contemporary Ballet (NECB) have ambitious plans for 2009 with no less than three World premieres and 1 UK premiere. However they have been plunged into a crisis as a result of Arts Council England (ACE) deciding not to grant the company funding under its Grants for the Arts scheme. more >
Chinese cabinet appoints new officials
China's State Council, or the Cabinet, appointed nine senior officials on Wednesday. Chen Xi was appointed Vice-Minister of Education, Ouyang Jian and Wang Wenzhang vice ministers of Culture, Wang Songhe and Lu Peijun deputy ministers of the General Administration of Customs. Meanwhile, Zheng Xinmiao was removed from the post of Vice-Minister of Culture. more >
Arts body frustrations discussed
More than 100 artists and arts organisations are due to attend two separate meetings to discuss their frustration over plans to shake up arts funding in Scotland. more >
Wales Millennium Centre responsibility ‘should be handed to Arts Council for Wales’
The Assembly Government should consider handing responsibility for the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) to the Arts Council for Wales, AMs have recommended. more >
Peru’s First National Cultural Policy Congress
Comments provided by the public, on documents on the country's cultural future will serve as a guideline for the debate that will take place in Peru’s First National Cultural Policy Congress. more >
1er. Congreso Nacional de Políticas Culturales del Perú
Las observaciones formuladas por el público, en los documentos sobre la cultural del país futuro servirá como una guía para el debate que tendrá lugar en el Perú de la Primera Congreso Nacional de Políticas Culturales. more >
Dos videos en Youtube sobre el debate actual en Perú sobre la creación de un ministerio de cultura
Expertos y agents culturales, públicos y privados, opinan sobre la creación de una cartera de cultura en Perú. more >
Two Videos on Youtube about the Current Debate in Peru on the Creation of a Ministry of Culture
Experts and cultural agents, public and private, give their opinions on the creation of a Ministry of Culture in Peru. more >
Fears over Arts Council policy shift
Architecture centres fear that events focusing on building design will be marginalised in favour of art projects after Arts Council England officially scrapped Architecture Week. more >
Arm's length arts council in the works for Vancouver
Vancouver could have a proposal for an arm's-length arts council by springtime, according to Vision councillor Heather Deal. more >
New ‘Creative’ guide launched for West Midlands entrepreneurs
A special guide has been launched today for the Creative, Cultural and Digital Industries in a bid to help start-ups and boost business performance in what is one of the fastest growing sectors in the West Midlands. more >
Censorship debate fires up arts in 2008
The story around Bill Henson and his controversial nude photographs of pre-pubescent children was undoubtedly the arts story of the year. more >
Minister opens ‘Media Expo 2008’
Qatar’s Minister for Culture, Arts and Heritage, H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, opened ‘Media Expo Qatar 2008’, a four-day media exposition and conference, with much fanfare at the Qatar International Exhibition Centre here yesterday. more >
Paris life models make nude protest to demand respect ... and better pay
In front of the tastefully decorated Christmas trees outside Paris city hall's culture department, the naked and goose-pimpled models demanded a pay increase, proper contracts and, most of all, respect for their craft as they held trade union banners in the pose of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People. more >
Second Tehran Art Expo to open next week
The second edition of the Tehran Art Expo will open at the Vahdat Hall on December 21. In a press conference at Vahdat Hall, Mahmud Shaluii, director of the Visual Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Asghar Amirnia, managing director of the Rudaki Foundation, and expo secretary Amir Abdolhosseini took part and elaborated on the programs of the expo. more >
Musicians Must Be Ready To Fight For Their Cause
It is important that the musicians, in cooperation with artists under the banner of an arts federation, to have a fighting vehicle that will enable the practitioners to impose their will upon any decision that is made in relation to the way in which they make their livelihood. more >
On-The-Move anticipates closure of mobility information services in 2009
Since 2002, On-The-Move (OTM) has operated as a very economically efficient instrument filling an existing gap in information and encouragement to arts mobility. It has gained recognition beyond the performing arts as the key information provider on mobility, reaching up to 360.000 visitors per year, disseminating a monthly newsletter to over 8.500 subscribers worldwide, commissioning and publishing expert dossiers on practical aspects of mobility, downloaded more than 120.000 times. more >
Incoming power-sharing government agrees on portfolio allocation
Democratic-Liberals will be in charge of the Ministry of Communication and Information Society, the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs and National Heritage, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Tourism. The Social-Democrats get the portfolios of Education, Research and Innovation; Small and medium-sized Enterprises and Business Environment. more >
Working Group on Synergies between Culture and Education set up
On 22 September, the working group “Synergies between culture and education” gathering together representatives from EU Members States was officially set up. more >
Theatres offer free seats for young people
Culture secretary unveils scheme for people under 26 to watch drama for nothing at 99 theatres in England. more >
Capital of culture under threat
The Vilnius European Capital of Culture 2009 (VECC) project financing may be cut in half due to the economic crisis. The government has announced that its cost cutting effort will seriously affect the national budget, including the funding for the VECC project. VECC, the public institution responsible for commissioning and implementing the Capital of Culture events, proposed a 12 percent saving plan. more >
Building on progress is key to arts
President-elect Barack Obama has called for a more prominent role in the White House for the arts and culture. But the economic climate makes it unlikely that governmental funding of the arts will increase anytime soon. And mixing art and government can spell political trouble, especially at the federal level. more >
Call for Bids: The Sixth International Conference on Cultural Policy Research
The International Scientific Committee of the International Conference on Cultural Policy Research (ICCPR) hereby addresses universities, research institutions, researchers and research administrators who might be interested in hosting the Sixth International Conference on Cultural Policy Research. more >
Sidelined and cash-strapped, dance deserves a fairytale ending
The art form is more influential than ever, but remains woefully under-funded. Let's hope that a new Arts Council survey will prove its rising status. more >
Pat Moylan appointed Chair of Arts Council
Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism announced new membership to the Arts Council including the appointment of independent theatre and film producer, Pat Moylan as the new Chairperson. Six other appointments have been made to the Board, including one re appointment. more >
Charest announces Quebec's new cabinet
Quebec's Premier Jean Charest unveiled his cabinet at the National Assembly in Quebec City Dec. 18, 2008. Former journalist Christine St-Pierre retains her job as minister of culture and communications and retains responsibility for language. more >
Website of the future Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The official website of the Czech Presidency of the European Union Council www.eu2009.cz was launched on December 1, 2008. The Czech presidency started officially on January 1, 2009. The website is prepared for the Czechs and the public abroad: general public, experts and media representatives in three languages: Czech, English and French. The information includes events taking place during the Czech Presidency, about the Czech Republic, The European Union and its policies and what the Czech think about them. more >
Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (APRCCN) of the Culturelink Network issues newsletter
Combined with the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (APRCCN) website, the monthly e-newsletter is designed to help keep readers informed on news, events, research, and other developments in the field of cultural policy both within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region. more >
OTM users react to anticipated closure of mobility information service
OTM users react to anticipated closure of mobility information service. OTM subscribers and users have reacted rapidly to the news that OTM is anticipating closure of its much appreciated mobility information service in 2009. Here is a selection of OTM users feedback: more >
Heritage minister: Arts will be part of economic stimulus package
Can Canadians expect a boost for arts and culture in a Conservative economic stimulus package? more >
Keynes's vision for investment in culture and creativity for tough times
It is a remarkable reflection on the profound effect of the economic crisis that the name of John Maynard Keynes is once again being heard in the corridors of power. more >
Arts council pulls the wool, hat and trench coat over our eyes
With a scrubbing brush in one hand and a packet of Ajax in the other, the Australia Council is scouring the internet of art. It's not the arts bureaucrats' fault, poor wretches. Being the cleaning ladies of the cyber age is not what they signed up for. They had dreams of "cultivating the nation's creativity" until the Rudd Government put them to work to scrub pictures of children from the net. more >
Compendium community celebrates its 10th anniversary in Baku
Hosted by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the 10th Anniversary celebrations were held from the 4-5 December 2008 in Baku. The meeting welcomed the "Baku Declaration" of the preceding Conference of Cultural Ministers, which mentions the Compendium as one of the important instruments facilitating intercultural dialogue. more >
Elections for ARS BALTICA Chairman for 2009 are completed.
Mr Gert Haack, from Minister- President- State Chancellery, Schleswig Holstein, has been re-elected as ARS BALTICA Chairman for 2009. more >
Linz – the European Capital of Culture in 2009 wants to invite guests from all parts of Europe for a new year celebration
Linz is going to celebrate the start of its European mission with three days of festivities in the company of its visitors from near and far. During 3 days citizens and visitors of Linz will have the opportunity to watch plenty of music shows, performances and other events. more >
Recognition to creators in FIART 2008
The XII International Craftsmanship Festival, a place where the most varied handicraft styles from different countries come together, ended the commercial activity of its pavilions until next year with the handing out of the FIART 2008 awards in the A Room, in PABEXPO. more >
The Arts Council has had its day
Congratulations to Dame Liz Forgan, right, on being appointed the new chairman of the Arts Council. She should examine the Arts Council thoroughly, and then urge the Government to abolish it. more >
Government support for home-grown music still going strong
Western Australian contemporary music received another boost from the State Government today with a significant increase in successful regional applications. Minister for Culture and the Arts John Day said the rise in the number of applications from the regions and the focus on mentoring and skills development was a promising step forward for WA music. more >
Polish culture coming your way...
The Minister of Culture, Bogdan Zdrojewski, has approved a bill which has been forwarded for consideration by Premier Donald Tusk over changes concerning the future of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, a government body that promotes Polish culture throughout the world. more >
Arts needed more than ever
We hear dreadful news these days of closing operations and layoffs. The vicious circle of a worldwide depression and falling consumption lead to a decrease in production. The field of culture and the arts is no exception. more >
Zigzag policies stand in way of multicultural society
Korea is on a long but unavoidable journey to becoming a multicultural society. To cope with a soaring influx of non-Koreans, the government has unveiled a series of unprecedented policies to support them. Civic groups have also run a variety of campaigns to lead them into the nation's mainstream. more >
FENAC 2008: big names in the world of culture storm Maroua
The National Festival of Arts and Culture, FENAC, opened over the weekend in the Far North Regional capital Maroua.Presiding over the ceremony, the Minister of Culture, Ama Tutu Muna remarked that the event should be a forum to exchange ideas and experiences amongst artist from Cameroon and without. more >
Middle East: Ministers welcome proposed culture forum
Culture ministers in the Middle East have welcomed a proposal by the Italian Culture Minister Sandro Bondi to create a global cultural forum with the United Nations' culture body, UNESCO. Egypt's Minister for Culture, Farouk Hosni, said Italy had the best qualities to create a "political and cultural hub on a level that would draw the attention of leaders around the world". more >
The coming of new helmsmen
New ministers recently approved by the Senate take charge in their ministries. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 swore in 16 new ministers. Adetokunboh Kayode, former minister of culture and tourism, is now minister of labour; Idi Hong, former minister of state, culture and tourism, is now minister of state and health. Amongst the 16 new ministers sworn in is Senator Bello J. Gada as the new minister of culture and tourism. more >
Civic group wants culture minister to apologize and recall controversial books
The Korea Liberation Association and other related organizations called on the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to apologize for his actions and recall all the books distributed to middle and high schools across the country. The minister was hit by a wave of opposition when the books were criticized for ignoring the legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which is recognized by the Korean Constitution. more >
Cuban Culture Minister ratifies the values of the Cuban cultural policies
The main features of the cultural policy of the Revolution, which is celebrating its 50 anniversary, with priority in the defence of the nation and an open university, were highlighted by relevant figures of the Cuban culture. more >
Iran concerned over economic growth of visual arts
Iran is concerned over the economic growth of visual arts, Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs mentioned during the opening ceremony of the second Tehran Art Expo at Vahdat Hall on Monday. more >
Settling scores
It was not an easy week for Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni and the members of his 2009 UNESCO election campaign committee. Hosni was caught up in yet another drive against his nomination for the post of UNESCO director-general and its impact lingers on. more >
Ministers Vow More Cultural Exchanges
Culture ministers of Korea, China and Japan agreed Thursday to boost cultural exchanges through various channels. more >
Top ten cultural, sports and tourism events
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism today held a press briefing to announce the top ten events for the sector over the past year. more >
Put Culture in the Cabinet
The president should create a cabinet-level position — a secretary of culture. more >
Culture ‘can bridge gap’ between US, Arab world
Culture can go beyond politics and bridge the gap between the US and Arab countries, speakers agreed yesterday at the three-day seminar titled “The US image in the modern Arab culture” which began last night. more >
CCA pledges to promote cultural, creative industry internationally
Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) Minister Huang Pi-twan said that the CCA will invest NT$5 billion (US$1.5 billion) over the next four years to promote the transformation of Taiwan's cultural and creative industry and market it to the international community. more >
No Bailout for the Arts?
While government bailouts are being offered or considered for financial institutions, the auto industry, homeowners, and so many other needy and worthy sectors, one group is quickly and rather quietly falling apart: our nation's arts organizations. more >
Cultural support programs for the needy to increase
Kwak Young-jin, director of the planning and coordination office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks during a briefing for the ministry’s 2009 policy report to President Lee Myung-bak Saturday. more >
Ratification of the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The Government of Botswana is in the process of ratifying the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in order for the country to be able to safeguard and ensure respect for its intangible cultural heritage. more >
The New New Deal 2009: Public Service Jobs for Artists?
The appeal of public-service employment for artists isn’t hard to understand. In our market economy, many more people would like their creativity and livelihood to be conjoined than there are paying jobs for artists; when the public sector steps in, that can change. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >