International News in February 2010
Show all of 2010
Culture defines who we are
Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Wimal Rubasinghe spells out the Government's mission and vision in the vital area of arts and culture. more >
2010, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures launched at UNESCO
The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova yesterday launched the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures with the establishment of the High Panel on Peace and Dialogue among Cultures. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
Big Musical Questions, and Some Answers
The topic was weighty: how music can save the world. 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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.
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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.
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 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 >
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 >
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 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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >