International News in March 2008
Show all of 2008
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 >
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.
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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 >
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 >
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 >
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.
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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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
An 'Alliance' against violence
The government-funded Violence Prevention Alliance promotes cultural expression to encourage people to turn to creation rather than destruction. 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 >
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 >
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 arts body embraces computer games
Creative Scotland vows to take technology under its wing. 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 >
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 >
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 >
Are Tax Credits for 'Cultural' Games a Good Thing?
Should video games with 'cultural value' receive government support? 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Arts on the advance
Botswana, it is becoming increasingly evident, must take a bold step away from cosmetic 'airport culture'. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Cultural roots need deeper protection
The country's top official overseeing intangible cultural heritage has tangible reasons for redoubling protection efforts. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Catalogue of Problems
Most artists in Cameroon are yet to know the importance of protecting rights. 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 >
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 >
In the culture game: United States v France
France has maintained a strong commitment in promoting the arts and the culture of Haiti. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Culture dept mulls arts council
The government is soliciting views on the establishment of a national arts council for Botswana. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Studies Suggest There's An Art to Getting Older
Creative activity may have health benefits. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Garrett keen to nurture creativity
Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has declared a 'brand new day for arts and culture'. 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 >
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 >
Brassed off
Why does the Royal Opera House get 260 times more funding than brass bands? 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 >
Protests Against French Cultural Budget Continue
Following last week's strike, the French cultural sector continues to protest the national ministry of culture. 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 >
What Education Can Learn from the Arts
Educult's Michael Wimmer contemplates Elliot W. Eisner’s 'The Arts and the Creation of Mind'. 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 >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >