International News in January 2008
Show all of 2008
Funding the arts : the false alternative
A counter to the ‘false alternatives’ argument against arts funding. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Agenda21 in Japanese
Agenda 21 for culture, the worldwide mission advocating the adoption of cultural development by cities, is now available in Japanese. 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 >
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 >
Barack Obama's Arts Policy
Democratic party presidential candidate Barack Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression. 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 >
Burnham named culture secretary
Andy Burnham, chief secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed culture secretary, replacing James Purnell. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
John McCain, Multiculturalist
Republican party presidential canditate John McCain is an 'ideological multiculturalist'. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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.
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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 >
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 >
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 >
America's Secret Weapon
Review of a book on how the CIA sponsored modern art exhibitions and literary journals during the cold war. 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 >
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 >
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 >
Culture is good for you!
Two Nordic Council committees are co-hosting a hearing about culture and health. 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 >
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 >
Stars force Arts Council to drop cuts
Theatre, dance and music groups win reprieve after fierce attack on funding plan. 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 >
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 >
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 >
Call for submissions: ‘grey literature’ policy reviews
The journal Cultural Trends is introducing review sections devoted to reviewing current policy (or 'grey') literature. 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 >
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 >
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 >
Iran's classical music needs reform
Reformation is essential in the field of Iranian classical and symphonic music. 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 >
'Posh' TV programme funding fears
The culture secretary, James Purnell, warns against applying the arts council model of funding to public broadcasting. 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 >
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 >
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 >
Minister seeks rise in arts sponsorship
Arts minister Seamus Brennan is aiming to treble corporate and business sponsorship of the arts. 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 >
Seoul Advised to Become Culture-Friendly
Prominent economists and scholars have stressed the importance of 'culturenomics' at an international conference in Seoul. 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 >
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 >
Culture Club
Despite being a 'giant moneymaking enterprise', New York's creative sector comes with special policy challenges. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Commentaries: Controversial Funding
An editorial in Kathimerini, Greece's International English language newspaper on the allocation of the culture ministry's funds. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Arts Council undergoes modernizing renovations
The Jakarta Arts Council office is undergoing a number of physical changes in efforts to modernize the organization. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >