International News in 2010
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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 2010
Solutions for the mobility of visual artists in Europe
The Internationale Gesellschaft der Bildenden Künste (IGBK) organised a meeting of European experts on ‘Mobility in the Visual Arts Sector in Europe’ in Linz, Austria in December 2009. Judith Staines gives her appraisal of the meeting. more >
IMPACT a great model for handling arts cash
Reports about possible financial irregularities within the Arts Council have led to the formation of a new, all-volunteer group, ACE — Arts, Culture and Entertainment — to handle distribution of funds to more than 30 groups. more >
Creation of national archive published
The government has published, in the state gazette, the creation of the National Archive of Angola, in order to adhere to the world tendencies of archiving policies and abide by the instructions of the International Council on Archives. more >
Intellectual Property in Chile
Chile’s Congress approved the bill that regulates the digital era’s progress and Internet downloads. more >
Propiedad Intelectual en Chile
El Congreso de Chile aprobó el proyecto de ley que reglamenta los avances de la era digital y, de manera especial, las descargas en Internet. more >
How new technologies secure a place for the arts
The fact is that the arts are doing better than ever, as new technologies secure them a place at the heart of everyday life. more >
Are arts facilities giving value for money?
It is likely the first in-depth study to be conducted on the dollars and cents of arts housing and facilities here. more >
Cultural priorities for 2010
Specialists point out the need to improve distribution and to provide institutional support. more >
Spain unveils its EU presidency cultural programme
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, the country's cultural minister Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde said she hopes the presidency will promote Spain's "valuable and diverse" cultural heritage. more >
Las prioridades culturales de 2010
Los especialistas señalan la necesidad de mejorar la distribución de la producción y brindar apoyo institucional. more >
UNESCO: Connecting culture and the people
Interview with Irina Bokova, Director General, UNESCO. Last September, after political infighting on a scale rarely seen at Unesco, Irina Bokova, 57, originally from Bulgaria, was elected as the first women to head the organisation. Last November she travelled to Egypt to rebuild connections with Farouk Hosni, her rival for the job. “The election is behind us, we have turned over a new leaf and I am very optimistic,” she told Le Monde. more >
Mobile apps and the arts: where we are and where we’re going
2009 saw many new technologies first start up (like Google Wave), slowly emerge (mobile apps), or explode with popularity (Twitter). more >
Artists find an unlikely home
A seafood shopping arcade, once near deserted, has been reborn as an oasis for whimsical crafts
But this isn’t some guerrilla Bohemian operation - it’s a government program, made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Small and Medium Business Administration, part of a national campaign to preserve and revitalize Korea’s traditional markets.
more >
Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes responde ante paro del Bafona
Subdirector nacional del CNCA manifestó la posición de la institución ante las demandas del ballet nacional. more >
Legislature passes law on culture and creativity
The Legislative Yuan passed the Cultural Creativity Act Jan. 8, requiring the government to promote the development of the arts through tax rebates, discounts and subsidies. more >
National Culture and Arts Council faced Bafona’s strike
CNCA’s National Deputy Director stated the institution’s position towards the National Ballet’s demands. more >
A new gallic idea: taxing Google
The French cultural elite has come up with a bunch of ideas to stimulate the legal consumption of digital goods. The basic principles are stunningly original: subsidize and tax. These creations are detailed in a report ordered by the Président de la République to the Ministry of Culture. more >
We need to act now to save theatre
Blog: British theatre has grown better and broader than ever this decade. But unless we improve models of arts funding, that progress will be swept away. more >
Q+A-What's driving China's latest Web crackdown
China's recent moves to tighten control of its online and mobile content industries have brought some uncertainty into the market but may not have a major immediate impact on the sector's biggest players. more >
Will US museums succeed in reinventing themselves?
The recession is forcing North American institutions to reconsider every aspect of what they do. more >
Spain approves anti-piracy legislation
The Spanish government approved anti-piracy legislation Friday that will allow National Audience, the country's federal court, to close or block websites facilitating unauthorized movie and music downloads. more >
Logo for National Day 2010 unveiled
The logo for this year's national day celebration was unveiled by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday, during the 3rd Executive Committee meeting of the 26th National Day celebrations at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports building. more >
The Fine Art Of Diplomacy
The lack of Australian cultural diplomacy in China has ramifications which reach far beyond the cultural sector. more >
AUB alumni name Saudi minister personality of 2009
Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh al-Asseiri met here a delegation from the Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut, before they visited the kingdom to invite Minister of Culture and Information Abdul-Aziz Khoja to a ceremony in Lebanon honoring him as Personality of the Year 2009. more >
Funding fears
Arts and Business, the organisation that fosters links between the cultural and commercial worlds, today offers more depressing statistics on private-sector investment in the arts, which it says fell by 7% to £654.9m for the financial year 2008-9. more >
First Azerbaijani festival of national theaters to kick off
The Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism will hold the first National Festival of State Theaters, according to sources in the ministry. more >
U.K. Art Spending to Stay Depressed for Two Years, Charity Says
After U.K. elections that are set to take place by June, arts subsidies are bound to be cut, Tweedy said. Philanthropists “are going to be the ones increasing the funding in the next eight to 10 years, not the government,” he said. more >
Media city planned
Saudi Arabia will soon have its own integrated media city that will help boost media activities in the Kingdom, said Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja. more >
Arts funding cuts proposed by Conservatives
Shadow culture secretary says Tory government would introduce administrative cost limits and encourage US-style philanthropy more >
Publishers plan group to fight Amazon
Twenty-one publishing houses in Japan will form an organization in February to stave off potential threats to their profits from Amazon.com Inc. and other service providers in the burgeoning e-book market. more >
Arts are in the picture for private investors in Wales
Private sector investment in the arts in Wales saw an above-inflation rise – in contrast to most other parts of the UK, according to latest statistics. more >
Arts Council agrees legislative changes are needed to protect creativity
The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts agrees with the need of legislative changes to ensure that the classification of creative works reflected the public's maturity and current realities. more >
Tories and Labour both warn of tougher times ahead for arts funding
Both Labour and Conservative culture secretaries have failed to commit to maintaining current levels of arts funding, if they win the next general election. more >
Why is the Tate risking our cash?
Blog: I try to imagine the Tate's esteemed director Sir Nicholas Serota taking some of his gallery's cash reserves, £6m worth, and walking into Ladbrokes with them. Nope, it couldn't happen. Sir Nicholas is not only too brilliant a gallery director, but he is also too cautious, sensible and law-abiding a man to take the risk. And the only horses he's interested in are by Stubbs. more >
PM says culture must become people's movement
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today regretted that many of India's monuments, works of art and historical remains were lying in neglect despite the fact that the world associated the country with these cultural showpieces. more >
A cultured do-it-now nudge
PM stresses prompt action in bid to preserve and promote the arts. A fortnight after Christmas, the Prime Minister played Santa Claus with a culture cap on his head, but also a do-it-now cane in hand. more >
Arts funding deserves to be election issue
Arts institutions are rarely heard to make a fuss about funding, for fear of biting the government hand that feeds them. However, funding for South Australia's major art galleries, museums and other collecting institutions is now looming as an important election issue. more >
Istanbul begins celebrations as European Capital of Culture 2010
Istanbul began celebrating its year as European Capital of Culture with spectacular light shows around the city. Ceremonies began with a protocol event at the Haliç Congress Centre, where Ministers from Turkey and neighboring countries participated, along with high level statesmen and diplomats, leading members of the business, culture and arts world. more >
Art shows no longer need license from Culture Ministry
Gallery owners no longer need to apply for an exhibiting license to hold shows in their galleries, said Ali Tan, director of the Galleries Office affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance here on Friday. more >
Meeting of the Asia/Pacific Network of Arts Education Observatories
The Network, which is coordinated by the UNESCO Bangkok Office, was created in order to act as a clearinghouse for arts education, collecting, analysing, re-packaging and disseminating relevant resources. more >
$20-million, 190 performances, 8 weeks
But will eight weeks of extreme culture have any lasting impact? Does $20-million buy any sort of legacy? The unsurprising answer from the Olympiad's director Robert Kerr is “absolutely”. more >
Azerbaijan has registered over 3,500 monument books
The Ministry of Culture & Tourism of Azerbaijan has started revealing existing copies of unique and rare books and editions of special importance and chronicles. The Ministry reports that the state register has added 3,566 names of book memorials of different form. more >
ACE proposes grants for commercial theatre
Arts Council England has unveiled proposals for a new “politician-proof” ten-year plan that would see a radical shake-up of its funding system, including allowing grant applications from the commercial theatre sector for the first time in decades. more >
In Europe, the arts ask for Alms
Last week the shadow culture secretary for Britain’s Conservative Party, Jeremy Hunt, promised to introduce “a U.S.-style culture of philanthropy” if the Tories come to power in the coming election. Speaking before the State of the Arts conference in London, Mr. Hunt foresaw a “golden age” of tax breaks to encourage private donations and help cut back on government spending. more >
Call for papers: Culture and Sustainable Communities
In the face of growing environmental and economic urgencies, issues of sustainability and resiliency
are moving to the forefront of planning, policy, and programs in cities and communities of all sizes. Contributions across a broad range of theory and practice are welcome.
more >
Ángeles González-Sinde presents the European Forum for Cultural Industries of Barcelona
The Spanish Minister for Culture, Ángeles González-Sinde, has just presented the work programme that will be tackled at the next European Forum for Cultural Industries, to be held on 29 and 30 March in Barcelona. more >
New NEA grants to support arts-related urban design projects
Chairman Rocco Landesman has announced that the National Endowment for the Arts will introduce 15 new grants to aid cities in the planning of arts districts and projects that enhance public buildings, libraries, and pedestrian bridges — among other public spaces.
more >
Cultural diplomacy activities reviewed
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held a meeting in Hanoi on January 22 to review the past year of cultural diplomacy and devise tasks for 2010. more >
Agency for Cultural Affairs secures record funds for 2010, despite stricter budget-making process
At the end of last year it was announced that the Agency for Cultural Affairs would be allocated 102 billion yen (AUD$ 1.2 billion) for fiscal 2010 – the highest annual budget it has ever received. more >
Don't give up the day job - how artists make a living
As they await their big break, today's young artists are having to make ends meet with day jobs. How are they coping? more >
@MIDEM: French Minister confirms collective licensing plan
French minister of culture Frédéric Mitterrand unveiled a set of measures aimed at helping the music industry, during a press conference at the MIDEM trade fair and conference in Cannes. more >
Art museums face funds shortage
As prices of art works, both traditional and contemporary, continue to rise, Chinese art museums are facing a tough situation in terms of collecting new works, their limited funding allowances placing the institutions under increasing financial pressure. more >
UNESCO has issued an appeal to protect Haitian arts from pillage
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Françoise Riviere, today issued an international appeal to protect Haiti’s cultural heritage from pillage following the earthquake that devastated the country. more >
La UNESCO hace un llamamiento para proteger del pillaje el arte de Haití
La subdirectora general de Cultura de la UNESCO, Françoise Riviere, ha hecho hoy un llamamiento internacional para proteger del "pillaje" el patrimonio cultural de Haití tras el terremoto que ha asolado el país y ha propuesto un embargo que impida temporalmente la compraventa de sus obras de arte. more >
At Sacramento retreat, wondering how to make the arts matter
A ray of hope: With the rise of interactive online experiences, people are become more interested in participating in the arts instead of merely watching them, and new means of connecting with the world of culture offer novel, fresh experiences that undermine the more traditional allure of going to a public arts event. The demand for arts education is up, too. more >
Arts Council CIO Owen Powell manages a change in scene and service
CIOs in all government sectors will be looking to make major savings and restructure their organisations to meet increasing demands this year but Owen Powell, IT director at the Arts Council, is already well down the road of transformation. An interview with Powell on the role of IT and the CIO in art. more >
Art falls victim to football hooliganism
Egyptians cancel Algerian pavilion at Alexandria Biennale following violent protests. Culture—like football—has always been politicised in the turbulent world of Arab nationalism. more >
Report: state arts funding creates revenue
A new study shows arts organizations generate almost $400 million for the state's economy. But that isn't sparing them from state budget cuts. more >
Seminario de Educación Artística, Cultura y Ciudadanía: Formación para la Vida
La oficina de Chile de la OEI en conjunto con la Universidad de Los Lagos están organizando el Seminario de Educación Artística, Cultura y Ciudadanía: Formación para la Vida. more >
Arts and Education, Culture and Citizenship Seminar: Education for Life
OEI’s Office in Chile, in collaboration with Universidad de los Lagos, is organizing ‘Arts and Education, Culture and Citizenship: Education for Life’. more >
'Reading crisis' alarms Moroccan writers
Ministry of Culture data show that Moroccans read only 2.5 books per year, while 1 in 10 don't read books at all. Worried by what they characterise as a national "reading crisis", Moroccan writers recently gathered to discuss restoring readers' love of books. more >
‘Arab Culture Capital’ celebrations begin today
The curtain goes up this evening on the biggest cultural event in Qatar’s history, when the celebration of “Doha Capital of Arab Culture 2010” gets underway at Sheraton Doha’s Dafna hall. more >
Northern Ireland to launch new national opera company
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has announced it is to create and fund a new opera company for the region following months of speculation about its intention to amalgamate two exiting companies. more >
Four Mekong nations reaffirm cultural connection
Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam have resolved to strengthen cultural connectivity between their countries, building on historic friendships and shared heritages to exchange knowledge and boost development. more >
Capital of Culture program gets big cuts
While Tallinn city hall and the national government quibble about how much should be paid, roughly half the events for the Capital of Culture 2011 could be canceled due to a lack of funding. more >
A Sense of the Possible: Art in America
Senior Programmer John Nein opened the Art in America panel on Thursday by pointing out that the panelists – two artists and two people involved in creating arts policy in Washington, D.C. – would be talking about something ineffable: “a sense of what is possible.” more >
Brazil’s 3.0 to go live at Campus Party
In 2004, the Creative Commons project in Brazil was launched. The then-Minister of Culture and Grammy Award-winning musician, Gilberto Gil applauded the efforts of these “freedom fighters of cyberspace” and endorsed the project as a way to solve copyright issues. Today, six years later, CC Brazil is unveiling Version 3.0 of the Creative Commons licenses. more >
Guidelines prompt artists to take cover
Some are feeling the pressure to avoid contentious subjects, writes Joyce Morgan. After her exhibition was closed and her house raided by police, the Archibald Prize-winning artist Cherry Hood made a pivotal decision. She would no longer depict nude children but would concentrate on portraits instead. more >
Norms relaxed for work near monuments
The Ministry of Culture has come to the rescue of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Capital. more >
Games' cultural legacy will disappear if arts funding cuts continue
It's good news Bramwell Tovey will stay another five years conducting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Similarly positive is the success of the Cultural Olympiad, the dozens of cultural events surrounding the 2010 Olympics. It's all planting the seeds for a cultural legacy. But will it all evaporate after the Games leave town? more >
Northern Ireland arts funding faces £1m budget cut
More than £1m is being sliced from the budget of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which helps fund a range of artists and arts organisations. The £1.1m cut follows budget reductions across the NI government departments, including £25.9m from the Department of Culture, which funds the council. more >
Scottish arts failed by trouble at the top
Devolution should have been a bright new dawn for the arts in Scotland, allowing local control over cultural policy for the first time, but progress has been slow and at times painful. more >
ARS BALTICA Secretariat has moved to Germany
ARS BALTICA Secretariat has moved to the State Cultural Centre of Salzau, located in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein/ Germany. For more information about the transfer of the Secretariat, please visit www.ars-baltica.net
more >
Making culture pay
As far as Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Emile Chih-jen Sheng is concerned, the recently passed Cultural Creativity Act represents a fresh start for Taiwan’s arts sector and signals the government’s commitment to promoting viable homegrown creative industries on the domestic and international stage. more >
Ministry not ready to rate online games
The ministry's official publication, China Culture Daily, responded to previous media reports that an age-appropriate ratings system would soon be implemented, indicating whether the games were appropriate for children and young teenagers. more >
Direct Arts Instruction vs. Arts Integration: a chance for reconciliation
In the recent issue of Teaching Artist Journal, Arnold Aprill, Founding and Creative Director of Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education, addresses the relationship between direct instruction in the arts and arts integrated learning, in his article “Direct Instruction vs. Art Integration: A False Dichotomy.” more >
Blog: Expressive Life
Do we need a new framework for culture? more >
Youngsters 'should get country dancing mentors'
Young people should get country dancing mentors to help safeguard Scottish traditions, it has been urged. more >
Sharjah Ruler attends opening ceremony for celebrating Doha as Capital of Arab Culture
H. H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, attended today a ceremony for launching Doha as the 2010 Arab Capital of Culture under the theme ''Arab Culture as a Homeland and Doha as a Capital''. Jerusalem was the 2009 Capital of Arab Culture. more >
Creative Edge Int. celebrates partnership with Saudi TV
Creative Edge Int. presented an overview of the latest developments made to the Saudi state run TV channels (STVs). The event follows an agreement between the Saudi Minister of Culture and Information and Creative Edge Int. in which Creative Edge Int. was declared the sole representative and developer of STVs. more >
2010, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
The year 2010 will be celebrated as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. more >
2010, Año internacional de Acercamiento de las Culturas
En 2010 se celebrará el Año Internacional de Acercamiento de las Culturas (ver Resoluciones). El objetivo de este Año consiste en poner el sello de la aproximación entra las culturas en cada política, a nivel local, nacional, regional u internacional, involucrando al mayor número de participantes. more >
February 2010
UNESCO urges ban on trade of Haitian Art
In an attempt to secure Haiti’s cultural heritage following the earthquake that devastated the nation last month, Irina Bokoa, the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has called on the body’s Security Council to pass a measure banning the sale of Haitian art and artifacts. more >
Obama's NEA grants shifting to propaganda
It’s amazing how quickly artists’ fear of government censorship evaporates when a candidate they support takes office. In the late 1980s and 1990s, the arts community vigorously protested when conservatives questioned whether the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) should fund art works that many considered acts of blasphemy, obscenity and pornography. more >
UNESCO makes move to protect Haitian heritage
UNESCO has called for a ban in the trade and transfer of cultural goods and artifacts from Haiti. As Agence France-Presse reports, the specialized branch of the UN Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization will be taking an active role in the struggle to prevent the country’s heritage being pillaged in the wake of the devastating earthquake of January 12. more >
A Decree-Law on Artists’ Social Security Has Been Approved
This document responds to suggestions proposed at UNEAC congresses and unifies the legislation currently in force for creators and artists. more >
Aprobado Decreto Ley sobre Seguridad Social del Sector Artístico
El documento ofrece respuesta a planteamientos realizados en los congresos de la UNEAC y unifica la legislación vigente para los creadores y trabajadores artísticos. more >
From neighborhood to museum?
The Ministry of Culture plans to spruce up Gamaliya and to develop it into an open air museum, like its neighbor, el-Muezz Street. "I need your help and support,” Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni told Gamaliya residents during his 7 January visit to the neighborhood, according to the local press. more >
Is Media Center taking conservative tone?
Members of Mediact International Solidarity protest Tuesday in front of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for depriving Mediact of its contract to run Media Center, a state-subsidized media education facility, and hiring a conservative organization as new operator. more >
Survey - local women read more than men
A recent survey on "the book and reading" which was instructed by President Ben Ali in 2009, showed that 22.74% of Tunisians have never read any book. The survey also reveals that women read more than men (+7.15%). more >
Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Culture resigns
RA Deputy Minister of Culture Davit Muradyan resigned from his post, said Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan at today’s government session. According to him, Muradyan decided to pursue his creative work. more >
China confiscates 36 mln illegal audio, video products in 2009
China confiscated 36.13 million illegal audio and video products during last year's nationwide campaign, the Ministry of Culture said Thursday. Law enforcement department across the country also revoked 6,632 licenses and imposed 180 million yuan (26.4 million U.S. dollars) in fines. more >
Condemned for wanting to broadcast woman’s lecture in Saudi Literary Club.
The chairman of Al-Khansa Hall speaks of the "satanic" plan to broadcast live a scholar’s lecture. Culture minister announces an investigation and possible action. In his defence the failed broadcast of the scholar and her husband. more >
The Liberal Democrats' arts policy revealed
Funding to be retained at current levels; BBC Trust to be abolished; national arts organisations to become truly national. more >
Milestones in 2009 cultural diplomacy
The year of cultural diplomacy 2009 was deployed strongly and comprehensively, contributing greatly to the foreign relations programme set out by the Party and State. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem wrote these comments in an article entitled “Milestones in the Year of Cultural Diplomacy 2009.” more >
Zabid cultural heritage to be preserved
The Ministerial Committee assigned to treat challenges and dangers threatening Zabid cultural heritage held a meeting on Sunday chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Local Affairs Saidq Abu Ras. The meeting discussed a report presented by Minister of Culture Mohammed al-Maflahi over the current situation of Zabid City and its position in the World Heritage List. more >
Jero Wacik's first 100 days of his second term
The January 31, 2010 edition of Bali Post carried an interview with Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik in which he assessed the success of his work program for the first one-hundred days of his second ministerial term. What follows is balidiscovery.com's free translation of that interview. more >
Sports and arts feel pinch from toxic brand backlash
Public anger over bank bailouts and concern over binge drinking could spell trouble for the sponsorship industry, writes Richard Gillis more >
Google book scanning: Cultural theft or freedom of information?
A proposed partnership between the French government and Google is stoking fears in France that the country's literary treasures will fall under commercial control of a U.S. technology company. Frederic Mitterand, the French minister of culture, has said that Google came to France with "the attitude of a conqueror" signing "unacceptable" and "one-sided" deals. more >
Culture Ministry sees no cultural value in white-red-white flag 16
The Ministry of Culture is not going to consider the issue of giving the white-red-white flag a status of historical and cultural property. Such a proposal had been made by the Belarusian Popular Front Party “Adradzhennye” to the Belarusian Republican Council on historical-cultural heritage issues of the Ministry of Culture. more >
China launches initiative for parental supervision of online games
According to ifeng.com, an initiative has been launched in China to enable parents to supervise the computer games that their children play. more >
Spanish ministers outline Council Presidency priorities
Spanish government ministers this week continued outlining the priorities for their country's presidency of the EU Council to a range of European Parliament committees including culture. MEPs took the opportunity to question the ministers as they embarked upon their six-month spell in office. more >
State Award in science, culture and literature founded in Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev Ilham Aliyev approved the regulation and composition of the Commission on state awards in science, culture and literature of Azerbaijan. more >
Ghazni prepares for 2013 Center for Islamic Culture celebration
Several members of the newly elected Ghazni Provincial Council met with government officials, district line directors, elders and the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team to focus public attention on the extensive planning and development projects necessary to host the 2013 Center for Islamic Culture in Ghazni City. Ghazni was selected to serve as the Asian capital of Islamic civilization for the year 2013. more >
Haitians cancel Carnival celebration
Haitians have celebrated Carnival through dictatorships, military coups and bloodshed. Popular belief was that if a government failed to deliver on Carnival, it was sure to fall, said Marie Laurence Lassegue, Haiti's minister of culture and information. But this year, the three-day festival has been canceled. more >
We'll support you if you come our way
Under the proposals put forward by the federal Arts Minister and former Midnight Oil frontman, foreign entertainers would have to engage at least one local band or musician as a support act for each of their performances in Australia to receive a visa. more >
Creative Rural Communities report launch
UK CREATIVE RURAL communities contribute more than 500m p.a. to the creative economy, British MPs have been told at the launch of the Creative Rural Communties report. more >
MCST is crossing a line with management of ARKO leadership
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s disregard for the law regarding Arts Council Korea (ARKO) Chairman Kim Jung-heun is crossing a line. The situation has reached the point where we believe a resolution for the situation will be impossible unless Minister of Culture Yu In-chon, who pushed Kim’s illegal dismissal, steps down. more >
Despite green mantra, public agencies use more electricity
Despite their repeated mantra to save energy, government organizations including the Ministry of Culture, turned out to have consumed more electricity in the latter half of last year compared to the same period in 2008, a civic group announced yesterday. more >
Official: 73% of cases against press cleared
The Ministry of Culture and Information has cleared about 73 percent of cases regarding various violations against the press, Abdulrahman Bawazir, Secretary General of Press Violations at the ministry, has said. more >
Ministers launch library campaign
Culture ministers, local government experts and trade unionists have launched a joint campaign to promote public library use amid increasing fears over cuts across council arts budgets. more >
Artists Break Down Barriers Between India, Pakistan
Two of the biggest media groups in Pakistan and India have orchestrated an attempt at a peace initiative called Quest for Peace. The goal is to bring the two nations together through music, literature; and other cultural and business interactions more >
Issues important to the arts are also important to society
This is the premise on which the Redford Center co-convened the first National Arts Policy Roundtable with Americans for the Arts in October 2006. more >
Arts Policy Salaries in New York, NY
Average arts policy salaries for job postings in New York, NY are 23% higher than average arts policy salaries for job postings nationwide. more >
National Council for Culture and the Arts: goals for the future
The president of the Catalan National Council for Culture and the Arts, Francesc Guardans, explained the goals of this new public agency that has, since its launch 10 months ago, been working on issues such as the promotion of excellence in creation, the professional development, promotion and dissemination of cultural products, as well as the safeguarding of cultural diversity, in order to attract the interest of the public towards the arts and promote the access to quality culture production. more >
Cuts in Arts Council funding
Letter of defense from Seán Mac Cárthaigh, Director of Public Affairs of The Arts Council to Willie White's criticisms (Arts, February 12th) of The Arts Council's funding allocations and complaints that the council is too procedural and takes too long to make decisions on which projects to fund. more >
New chairman of Culture Committee of Kazakhstan appointed
The new chairman of Culture Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan has been appointed. "The Minister Muhtar Kul-Muhammed introduced the new chairman of Culture Committee - Kozybaev Ilyas Manashevich," the press service informs. more >
Submission on the National Cultural Policy
In preparing this submission on a National Cultural Policy, CHASS sought input from more than 80 member organisations and other peak bodies in the creative and performing arts disciplines of Australian Universities. more >
Sweeping arts changes at Creative NZ
Creative New Zealand's four governing bodies are to be scrapped and replaced with a new umbrella board to oversee arts funding, slashing the number of directors from 28 to 13. The Arts Council, the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee will disappear under the new model. more >
New websites of Azerbaijan's regional libraries launched
Under the decree of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dated 6 October 2008 "About ratification of the state program of development of the library information sphere for 2008-2013", the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism continues work in the development of library affairs. more >
Reframing the cultural policy debate
The Rudd Government's decision to open debate about a national cultural policy is an opportunity for a comprehensive reframing of the debate. more >
Oficina de Educación y Cultura de la OEA lanza Fondo de Cooperación Horizontal
Fondo de Cooperación Horizontal para Misiones de Asistencia Técnica del proyecto “La cultura en el desarrollo: una red interamericana de información” more >
European art & the financial crisis: yes, it matters
Art is in crisis – again. No, it’s not a fight between alter-modernism and post-modernism or any other art world tussle. This time it’s all about the money. more >
The CoNCA establishes a fund to purchase artwork
The National Council for Culture and the Arts (Consell Nacional de la Cultura i de les Arts - CoNCA) of Catalonia, has created a National Fund for the purchase of works of art commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Media, to avoid another 'Centelles case', said its chairman, Francesc Guardans, during a parliamentary committee. more >
El CoNCA creará un fondo de compra de obras de arte para evitar 'caso Centelles'
El Consell Nacional de la Cultura i de les Arts (CoNCA) de Cataluña, creará el Fondo Nacional de Compra de Obras de Arte, por encargo de la Conselleria de Cultura y Medios de Comunicación, para evitar otro 'caso Centelles', según anunció hoy su presidente, Francesc Guardans, en una comisión parlamentaria para hacer balance del organismo y apuntar próximos proyectos. more >
OAS Office of Education and Culture launches Horizontal Cooperation Fund
Horizontal Cooperation Fund for Technical Assistance Missions in Culture. A Component of the Project: Culture in Development: An Inter-American Information Network more >
French culture shock over 'Work Less' art.
A Chinese artist found herself caught up in a political row after she decided to poke fun at France's work ethic. more >
Arts indaba to tackle policy, economic issues
Harare is playing host to a national arts and culture indaba in which 30 speakers from various sectors are expected to dialogue with nearly 100 delegates on issues of arts policy, cultural expression, constitutional reform, global contexts and funding institutions. more >
UNESCO lays foundation for International Coordination Committee (ICC) for Haitian culture
UNESCO laid the foundation for an International Coordination Committee (ICC) for Haitian culture at a meeting on 16 February in Paris. Addressing the Minister, Ms Bokova said, “Our goal is to define the most effective means that will allow UNESCO to help prepare and implement a comprehensive programme for the benefit of Haitian culture, by drawing on the vast capacities of your country’s cultural community, which has already mobilized its efforts, and by calling on internationally renowned experts.” more >
Big Musical Questions, and Some Answers
The topic was weighty: how music can save the world. more >
Diversity needed in American orchestras: Violinist who serves on Obama arts panel speaks at WMU
American orchestras need to develop and embrace musicians and leaders of different ethnic and racial backgrounds if they wish to remain relevant, a member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee said Wednesday . more >
Minister Yu warns against politicizing cultural policies
Yu In-chon, the longest-serving minister of culture, sports and tourism since 1990, warned against politicizing cultural issues Thursday. more >
Singapore Looks for a Softer Side of Growth
Singapore may be best known as a hub of electronics manufacturing and transportation, but as it plans for its next stage of economic growth, its leaders are looking toward a radically different sector: the arts. more >
Hard times: how the recession if affection arts funding around the globe
Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt wants a US-style culture of philanthropists to fund the arts. But is this working in recessionary America? And how are other places coping? more >
El BBVA dona fondos para crear una escuela nacional de artes escénicas en Uruguay
El banco español BBVA donó fondos para restaurar la fachada de un edificio histórico del centro de Montevideo que se convertirá en el Instituto Nacional de Artes Escénicas de Uruguay, según un convenio firmado hoy entre la institución y el Ministerio de Cultura del país sudamericano. more >
The BBVA donates funds to create a national school for the performing arts in Uruguay
The Spanish bank BBVA donated funds to restore the facade of a historic building in Montevideo’s downtown where the National Institute for the Performing Arts of Uruguay will function, according to the agreement signed today between this institution and the Ministry of Education and Culture of the South American country. more >
Dangers posed by globalisation on culture highlighted
A “fake wave” of modernisation, driven by an artificial fascination with the West, has swept the Arab world since the onset of the 20th century, resulting in many mistakes due to the misconception that heritage should be changed to suit the age, HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari has said.
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Cultural Policy Book to be Serialized
Now is the time for all Liberians to begin paying serious, sustained and unstoppable attention to their rich cultural heritage, so that we may come to know it, appreciate it, love it and practice it. more >
ACT - Arts and Culture Trust
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT), of which Nedbank is a founding Trustee, showcased Development Grant recipients in KZN recently. According to ACT Programme Manager, Nomalanga Nkosi, "The ACT Development programme is about nourishing all art forms, supporting creators, and making arts and culture more accessible to all South Africans. more >
Parents to blame for lack of reading culture
Parents were cited as the main cause behind the low reading culture in Brunei by Dr Mataim Bakar, Director of Social Services Section at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. more >
Culture Ministry to develop Cultural Heritage Code
The Minister of Culture, Religious Affairs and National Heritage Hunor Kelemen stated on Tuesday that one of the Ministry’s priorities for 2010 was to develop a Cultural Heritage Code and to submit it to the Parliament by October. more >
Arts funding cuts in Canada: the shape of UK things to come?
Blog: A howl of pain from British Columbia: not from the British curling team, but from Mark Leiren-Young, a Vancouver playwright who has written a piece, bemoaning the province's 88% cuts to public spending on the arts. British artists will be hoping that's not the shape of things to come in 2012. more >
Danish cabinet reshuffled
Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has reshuffled his cabinet, changing the holders of all but five of the 18 ministerial portfolios. Per Stig Møller is the new Minister for Culture. more >
Brumby backs down on live music laws
Melbourne 3000 Melbourne's live music venues have been given a reprieve, after the Victorian Government signalled it would back down on its contentious liquor licensing laws. As part of its crackdown on violence in Melbourne's streets, the Government introduced new laws this year requiring all late-night venues with live amplified music to put on extra security. more >
The future of arts funding will be decided close to home
Forget the big political debates – the biggest threat to Britain’s theatres comes not from Arts Council rebudgeting, but local council cuts more >
The figures don't lie but they bend quite a bit
Which theater here draws the most people? The editor of the Guinness Book of World Records rubbed his forehead in confusion. Before him was a thick document, "The Public Theaters in Israel 2008 Report," prepared by the Center for Information and Culture Studies, which was set up and is financed by the Ministry of Culture "to document and analyze cultural endeavor in Israel." more >
Artists might lose life time salary
The center-right government plans to abolish the so called life time artist salary. Maximum 157 people are receiving SEK 214 000 per year, without explicit demands on producing new pieces of art, music or literature. more >
The Arts Council needs 100 advisors
The Council for Culture and the Arts (Conca) in Catalonia, Spain, this year counts on a budget of 15.5 million euros, of which 10.5% are for grants to creators. Among the changes in the structure of the system by which grants are distributed, 38-100 consultants will be needed. more >
El Consejo de las Artes necesita 100 asesores
El Consejo de la Cultura y las Artes (Conca) cuenta este año con un presupuesto de 15,5 millones de euros, de los que 10,5 se destinan a subvenciones a los creadores. Entre los cambios en la estructura del sistema por el que se distribuyen estas ayudas, presentados ayer, destaca que se pasará de contar con 38 asesores a 100. more >
UNESCO Secretary General advised Government to see culture as a means of empowerment
The Secretary General of the National Commission for UNESCO, Mr Antonio Maynard says they have offered their expertise to the government, in using culture as a tool of economic empowerment. more >
The naked ballerina
An Iranian newspaper with a record of needling the regime has been forced to change its masthead because it was seen as depicting a naked ballerina, even though it was a stylised version of the title’s name in Persian calligraphy. more >
The cultural legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympics
Sport wasn’t the only winning act of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Music, art, performances and programs riveted hundreds of thousands of onlookers who gathered in official venues and on city streets to enjoy Olympic-inspired culture. more >
Government earmarks NIS 160 million to digitize Israeli culture
Some NIS 160 million has been earmarked for the Culture Ministry to digitalize Israel's cultural and spiritual heritage, ministry officials told Haaretz. The ministry intends to set up a virtual archive for the public to access cultural assets of permanent value from the early years of the state. more >
Chart the Future with Americans for the Arts Green Papers
As a way to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years in the arts field, Americans for the Arts has collected Green Papers from a variety of national arts service organizations and peer groups representing more than 20 different perspectives and disciplines. more >
Turkmenistan sets up bodies for procurement of museum exhibits and films
Turkmenistan intends to begin global distribution of Turkmen cinema and video products and systematic purchase of selected classic foreign films for translating into Turkmen and mass demonstrations. To this end, the country plans to establish the Kinovideohyzmat Association authorized to conclude contracts with foreign companies. more >
President makes MICAT appointments
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made a number of appointments in Government, affecting the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT). Mr. Cletus Sieh has been appointed Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism. more >
Noises off: Can bloggers save theatre funding?
Blogg: As the future of arts funding hangs in the balance, will new blogs help theatre workers get themselves heard? more >
Further tightening by world’s biggest online censor
China on Feb 23 began implementing strict new controls on internet by requiring all individuals wishing to operate Web sites to first of all meet in person with regulators from the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. more >
IBM aids British Library with web archive
Using a technology called BigSheets, IBM is assisting in the British Library's effort to preserve the U.K.'s online culture. more >
Government to set up online 'App Store'
The massive success of Apple's online content `App Store has technology companies around the world racing to produce similar products. The latest to jump on the bandwagon is the Korean government.
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Delays frustrate WA Ballet's grand plans
The West Australian Ballet has accused the Australia Council of thwarting its plans to become a fully fledged company and jeopardising a $1.2 million annual grant from the state government, which is tied to more federal government funds. more >
Freedom of expression
The Embassy of Bangladesh celebrated the Shaheed Diwas (Language Martyr’s Day) and International Mother Language Day 2010 at a programme organised on February 24 at the Russian Culture Centre. Minister for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Minendra Rijal graced the function as the chief guest. more >
Cultural Policy News: Budget
The budget of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia for the year 2010 is planned at 68.26 million LVL (97.5 million EUR). This represents a reduction of 20% in comparison to the year 2009. more >
G-20 Tourism Ministers to meet in Seoul
Tourism ministers from 20 major countries will gather in Korea to discuss how to boost the industry later this year. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced last week that Korea is going to host the second T-20 meeting in November. more >
March 2010
The Participatory Museum
The Participatory Museum is a practical guide to working with community members and visitors to make cultural institutions more dynamic, relevant, essential places. more >
President Ben Ali announces set of measures in sector of culture
President Ben Ali announces set of measures in sector of culture, among others, the restoration and maintenance of all archeological and historical monuments in the city of Kairouan, the proclamation of 2010 as the “Year of the Cinema” and the promotion of reading and of the book in Tunisia. more >
Publishing Scotland tackles "challenging" report
Controversy over the future structure of Scottish publishing continued to simmer at the annual conference of Publishing Scotland in Edinburgh yesterday (24th February). more >
Barcelona libraries paid out 100,000 euros in copyright payments last year
Under European law, municipalities must pay a management company for copyright, but now the Spanish Federation of Municipalities (FEM) is negotiating an agreement with the Ministry of Culture for it to take over the payments. more >
Tunisian film producer appointed Chairwoman of “Fonds Sud Cinema” in France
The Tunisian film producer, Dora Bouchoucha, was recently appointed by the French Minister of Culture and Communication, Mr. Frederic Mitterrand as the chairwoman of the commission of the “Fonds Sud Cinema”. more >
Minister of Culture, electronic books increased by 35 percent in 2009
The Minister of Culture of Spain said, electronic books increased by 35 percent in 2009, along with 375 million books. more >
Welcome to the culture club
Trying to encourage take-up of cultural services can be tough. A recent MJ debate, organised with Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), asked how we can engage young people in the arts. more >
Obama Wants to Consolidate Curriculum Programs
A chief concern is that the consolidation would lead to the neglect of issues Congress has long identified as national priorities, such as teaching U.S. history, boosting arts education, and distributing books to needy children. more >
Flaherty keeps status quo for arts and culture
No new cash, but no cuts either, drawing a mixed reaction from Canadian artists. more >
Romania and Bulgaria jointly present cultural values in Europe
Minister of Culture and National Patrimony Hunor Kelemen and his Bulgarian counterpart Vezhdi Rashidov had an informal meeting on Wednesday, in Bucharest, during which they tackled the topic of the common effort both countries needed to make, so that their shared cultural identity and values should be known to Europe. more >
Why we need a ministry of joined-up thinking
While the Government’s smart-economy framework plan implicitly recognises the important role the cultural and creative sectors will play, it could be argued that both sectors are still poorly understood and fragmented. more >
Swiss Arts Council opens Joburg office
The liaison office of Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, in Southern Africa, announces the opening of a new office in Newtown, Johannesburg. more >
National Arts Council Visits Luderitz
The National Arts Council of Namibia (NAC) who aims to encourage widespread public participation in arts, met with approximately 50 young people at the Luderitz Youth Centre to discuss and work out ways on how young people can build strong art organisations on local level, while promoting awareness of the value of arts and thereby also develop professional development of art leaders. more >
The 2010 Budget Statement in full
The full text of Finance Minister Paula Cox's Budget Statement delivered to the House of Assembly yesterday indicated that the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation is to be provided a budget of $72 million in 2010–2011. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >