International News in 2012
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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 2012
The Question of culture in the ongoing struggle
Is one of the consequences of the revolution going to be limited freedom of expression and creativity in Egypt? As the Islamists sideline the liberals, the ball is in the miltary's court? more >
General Directorate of Books and Fine Arts suppressed
The DirectorateGeneralof Books, Archivesand Librariesand theDepartment of FineArtsand Cultural Heritage have both been removed from the new Ministry ofEducation, Cultureand Sport. Furthermore, the DirectorateGeneralofCultural Policy and Industries will also form part of the new Secretary of State for Culture. more >
Minister of Culture unveils new strategy
HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari has unveiled the ministry’s new strategy to promote culture within the framework of the National Development Strategy 2011-2016. more >
Funding Opportunities for International Cultural Exchange in Asia | research project
The Asia-Europe Foundation and its online platform culture360.org are conducting a research on Funding Opportunities for International Cultural Exchange in Asia. The research will focus on mapping resources for funding in Asian countries which allow individuals or organizations to engage/take part in international cultural exchange. more >
Officials call for support of the cultural industry
To compete with foreign rivals, Chinese cultural businesses should both become stronger and adapt to the international culture market, according to a senior cultural official. more >
Kenya to promote cultural integration
The move is aimed at uniting sections of member states with similar traditional values which will result in a better East Africa Community. more >
Why should we fund the arts?
Publicly funded arts institutions are under more pressure than ever to quantify the social benefits they bring, as would be done for schools and hospitals. But isn't the crucial role of art to challenge the way society is run? more >
Panama will have a Ministry of Culture
For the first time in its history, Panama will have a Ministry of Culture to give the sector a proper management of the XXI century reality, said Jose Blandon, the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Cutlure and Sports of the National Assembly. more >
First Quadriennial report of the European Union on the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions
This questionnaire contributes to the preparation of the first quadriennial report of the European Union on the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. The European Union must submit the report in line with its obligations as a Party to the Convention. The received contributions of civil society organisations will be annexed to the EU report. more >
Minister mentions Patronage Law as incentive to arts
The Angolan minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva, Friday in Kuito, central Bie province, mentioned the Patronage Law as a valuable instrument to stimulate artistic production in the country. more >
Financial crisis grips Bosnia heritage sites
Reading rooms in Bosnia-Hercegovina's National Library have opened without heating as a funding crisis grips the divided country's heritage sites. more >
No mention of cultural activity in proposed measures of wellbeing
Time is running out for the cultural sector to make the case for the impact of the arts and culture on quality of life. more >
Know Your Arts Advocates: Americans For The Arts' Robert Lynch
According to some estimates, there are as many as 40,000 lobbyists in Washington, D.C., but you don't even need all of your fingers to count how many work on behalf of artists and arts communities. more >
Welcome to The pARTnership Movement!
Americans for the Arts is excited to introduce you to The pARTnership Movement which is designed to reach business leaders with the message that partnering with the arts will advance their bottom line goals and build their competitive advantage. more >
El Ministerio de Educación se fusiona con Cultura y Deporte
El presidente del Gobierno, Mariano Rajoy, ha decidido fusionar los ministerios de Educación, Cultura y Deporte en un solo departamento y nombrar a José Ignacio Wert, sociólogo, jurista y político, como ministro. more >
Launch of a new Journal: – Cultural Management and Policy, an international e-journal
On Monday 9th of January ENCATC has officially launched the first issue of the ENCATC Online Journal of Cultural Management and Policy. more >
The Ministry of Education merges with Culture and Sport
The Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, has decided to merge the ministries of Education, Culture and Sport in a single department and appoint José Ignacio Wert, sociologist, lawyer and politician, as its minister. more >
Minister urges reduction in consumption of foreign cultural products
The minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva, urged Sunday in the city of Kuito, Bié Province, the need to reduce consumption of foreign cultural products, unrelated to national identity.more >
Argentinian cultural heritage all in one online portal
The National Heritage Directory (SENIP), inaugurated in September 2011, aims to bring together in one site all the information int he collections of museums and archives of documents in Argentine in order to generate knowledge on Argentinian culture. more >
The Catalan Government creates one office for all art grants
The Catalan Government creates one office for all art grants. more >
Presidential candidates are asked to explain their cultural policy plans
The candidates seeking to become President of Mexico should give equal importance to cultural policies to other issues, agreed the experts of the Reflection Group on Economy and Culture. For the moment none of the Mexican presidential candidates have explained their cultural policy aspirations. more >
EU countries ponder massive increase in arts spending
The European Commission's plan to launch the world's largest ever cultural funding programme is to be tested in coming weeks as EU states ponder if they want arts spending to go up 37 percent in the next EU budget. more >
United we stand – divided we jeopardise the future of arts funding
Rachel Briscoe: the tiny minority of arts organisations that abuse their funding through laziness discredit the whole community. We must stop them. more >
National Institute of Culture and History launched the Maya 2012 Calendar of Events
On Wednesday, January, 11th the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) alongside the
National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) launched the Maya 2012 Calender
of Events.
more >
Artists call for support of Culture Ministry
The women artists Wednesday in Luanda, asked for more financial support and constant institutional presence of the Ministry of Culture, for the makers to do more of the arts to participate in the process of developing the sector in various fields of activity. more >
Teresa Lizaranzu is the new Director of Cultural Industries and Books
Teresa Lizaranzu will be named the new Director of Cultural Industries and Books in Spain. more >
The Race for Cervantes reopens
The Ministry of Culture proposes a change of ministry in the management of Cervantes, the main tool of cultural promotion of Spain. more >
An Alliance of cultural managers and artists decides to support one presidential candidate
A 'Cultural Alliance for Danilo' in the Dominican Republic has decided to formally support one presidential candidate who pledges to support 'broad cultural activism' to promote the image of the country as a tourist destination. more >
Grass roots enjoying free admission to Chinese museums
When it reopened in March 2011, Beijing's National Museum of China joined many other cultural sites around the country in not charging admission fees, attracting more low-income visitors. more >
Building a Cultural Front Against the West
President Hu Jintao of China made headlines in the early days of the new year saying China and the West were engaged in an escalating culture war, and calling on Chinese people to strengthen cultural production to defend themselves against the assault. more >
A new legal act to reorganize the arts sector
The new Culture Act on the organisation of the National Culture System is currently in the Assembly, but president Rafael Correa has already issued Act No. 985 according to wchich all cultural institutions that receive funding will be under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture. more >
Russian Culture Minister ends career with firework of events
Recently, Russia’s Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev said that he will quit his job after the presidential elections in the Spring of 2012. So, what will the last months of his work be like? Despite his wish to quit, Mr. Avdeev is optimistic about the future of Russian culture. more >
New Culture Minister Appointed
The Honduran government has designated Tulio Mariano Gonzalez as Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports, according to Secretary of Government Africo Madrid. more >
The Game-ification of Dance: The Future Is Now
Imagine this as the dance class of the future: You are digitally tracked and gain experience points for every exercise you do. Imagine being able to instanteneously send these statistics to a choreographer you might want to work with who then offers you a chance to audition. more >
Ministry of Culture, Heritage Should Retrieve Nation's Archives
South Sudan as a toddler is in desperate need to retrieve the archives as remaining relic of the recorded forefathers and ancestors' activities of their glorious past. more >
Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch Appointed to U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, today announced that its President and CEO Robert L. Lynch has been appointed to a two-year term on the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. more >
Changes to censorship rules aim to strengthen artistic expression
The ministry denied it was a simple change on classification. The change was in line with the national culture policy launched last July. more >
Opening soon: Mumbai workspace for Dutch Designers
On 5 February 2012, the Dutch Design Workspace India will officially open its doors. It will be a home base for Dutch designers and design companies wanting to establish themselves in India, and the first point of contact for Indian designers and organizations who want to connect with design, fashion and architecture from The Netherlands. more >
Open letter for Mr Barroso
Upon the initiative of the European coalitions for cultural diversity, the culture professionals are addressing an open letter to Mr Barroso so as to remind the European Commission of the urgent need to defend strong commitments in favour of culture. more >
Groux plantea unir desarrollo turístico con el patrimonio
“Vincular sólidamente nuestro patrimonio con el desarrollo turístico es el desafío del Ministerio de Culturas. Nuestras expresiones intangibles, los sitios arqueológicos y todas nuestras manifestaciones nos caracterizan”, dijo el nuevo ministro de Culturas, Pablo Groux. more >
Groux will unite tourism development and heritage
“To link cultural heritage and tourism development will be the challenge of the Ministry of Cultures. Our intangible cultural expressions and archaeological sites constitute our identity”, said the new Minister of Cultures, Pablo Groux. more >
Provisions Research Residencies
Provisions Library, a non-profit instigator of arts and social change in Washington DC, is pleased to launch research residencies that investigate futures for creative civil society. more >
The future of Britain’s creative industries
Let me begin by saying what a privilege it is to represent the creative industries in Government. It’s a commonplace nowadays to talk about the success of the creative sector in the UK, but it’s a commonplace because it’s true. more >
Stars queue up to participate in new online plays on demand service
Richard Eyre, Simon Callow and Tilda Swinton are among the names lined up to curate work for a new online video on demand service screening plays, dance productions and concerts alongside backstage and interview footage. more >
Culture Ministry lays out monuments profitability plan
The Culture Minister, Rosa Cruz e Silva, said on Wednesday in Ebo district, central Kwanza Sul province, that her ministry is working on the drafting of management plans of the existing monuments and sites in the region, taking into account the definition of access rules for their profitability.
more >
Pulling Out All the Stops on Arts Funding
Performing arts organizations face a general funding crisis. Opera Boston closed its doors this January after a number of successful seasons because one donor (who singlehandedly gave more than 15 percent of its budget by himself) pulled out. more >
The Capital Region of Denmark enters into a strong new cultural collaboration
For the first time, a cultural agreement has been signed between the region, the municipalities and the government, according to a press release issued by the Capital Region of Denmark.
more >
Agreement for Arts Education signed
National Institute for Fine Arts and the Centre for Economic Research and Teaching will together create a centre to collect and analyzes information on arts education in Mexico. more >
Lifting Jamaica's brand quality - cultural diplomacy strategy required
In her swearing-in speech on January 6, Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller acknowledged, inter alia, that included in her mandate is the imperative to "protect the good name of Jamaica at home and in the international community". more >
Funding art with food
Wednesday Wagbas, a new initiative at the Townhouse Gallery, is aiming to give funding to artists for new projects at a time of increasing uncertainty in the Egyptian visual art scene. more >
Traditional culture promoted for new wave of hallyu
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will push Korean traditional culture as the new driving force for “hallyu,”or Korean Wave. more >
Traditional festivals face new challenges
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has planned to tighten inspection and regulations so that traditional festivals will be organised more carefully to improve safety and order. more >
Military Funding vs. Funding for the Arts: What Does the Difference Say About American Values?
During World War II, Britain's finance minister recommended to Winston Churchill that they cut arts funding in order to better support the war effort. Churchill's reply was, "Then what are we fighting for?" This remark resonates with an enormous difference in values between the U.S. and Europe. more >
Creative Economy with Andrew Senior
On 7 February, the Ministry of Culture organises, through the Secretariat of Creative Economy a talk with the creative economy expert Andrew Senior. more >
Signs of times as Melbourne theatre heeds deaf
When Sydney-based actor Luke Watts steps on stage in Tribes this week, he will become the first member of the deaf community to play a leading role for MTC, according to the company's general manager, Ann Tonks. Watts, who has severe to profound hearing loss, said theatre companies needed to make their productions more accessible to the deaf. more >
Icom drops Turkish committee
The International Council of Museums (Icom) has ditched its Turkish committee, which is backed by the country’s ministry of culture. Julien Anfruns, the director general of Icom, which is backed by Unesco, says that the accredited Turkish arm, established in the 1960s, “has unfortunately not moved with the times, despite discussions since 2010”. more >
17 New Projects Receive Funding from the IFCD
The Intergovernmental Committee approved 17 projects to be implemented in 17 developing countries for a total ofUS$1.3 million in funding. more >
17 nuevos proyectos reciben financiamiento del FIDC
El Comité Intergubernamental aprueba el financiamiento de 17 proyectos que se llevarán a cabo en 17 países en desarrollo por valor total de US$ 1,3 millones. more >
February 2012
Morocco report views culture as key to development
In a first-of-its-kind study, Morocco's Economic and Social Council (CES) explored how culture can serve as a powerful tool for youth integration. more >
Entertainment more important than culture
Cultural policy in Serbia has to define concrete goals that would redefine allocation of modest assets that our country in transition can afford. The priorities have to be precisely defined just like the line between entertainment and art. more >
Off to market: why art needs commerce
The golden age of public funding in arts is over – it's time policy makers help visual artists link creativity to revenue. more >
Plan of action for arts and culture in Zimbabwe: Interview with Josh Nyapimbi
The Zimbabwe creative civil society’s has just completed the preparation of a five year plan of action for arts and culture following a thorough consultative process initiated in May 2010. more >
The cultural sector in Spain contributes nearly 4% to GDP and employs 2.8% of Spanish workers
The Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, José Ignacio Wert, appeared for the first time in front of the Culture Committee of the Congress of Deputies to shell out the outlines of the cultural policy portfolio. more >
Arts workers need more training and investment, says government
The creative industries suffer from an “under-investment in human capital”, have too few training opportunities and unfair access to jobs, according to a new report backed by the government. more >
Art is Culture – Opening Night
Last year was the Year of Big Art! We hosted 13 shows – over 800 works -which, in the absence of a National Gallery of Art, provided unprecedented access for artists to display and sell their work, and an invaluable art resource for teachers and for students doing their SBAs as well as local and visiting persons interested in Grenadian art. more >
Australian cultural policy: a model for the UK
This country deserves a coherent, government-wide policy for culture, says John Holden, it's time once again to learn from the Australians. more >
Advice to Fundraisers: Go West (and East and South)
Michael Kaiser Blog: Several weeks ago I read in a British publication an article about the reasons corporations support arts organizations. The central message of the piece was that corporations support the arts because they benefit from the reflected glory of the arts organization. When the corporation is visibly linked to an organization that is known to produce important art, the corporate brand benefits. more >
Three different directors of the Secretariat of Culture in 31 months
The officer who has been conducting the culture program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the most likely candidate as the new Secretary of Culture after her predecessor was sworn as Deputy Ministry of Education. more >
Colombia recognises the art of circus
Giving more visibility to the world of the circus is one of the objectives of the Ministry of Culture for this year. more >
More than 160 million Chilean pesos to culture and art projects
Regional Arts Development Fund allocated more than 160 million Chilean pesos to fund 32 culture and art projects in 2012. more >
Protests Stepped Up in Defence of Culture Ministry
Culture workers stepped up their protests against the folding of the culture portfolio into a much bigger ministry under the incoming government on the eve of Culture Day, with calls for a boycott of the official ceremony at which the top national prizes for artistic achievement will be handed out tonight. more >
Magdalena Granadino is the new Secretary of Culture
Madgalena Gradadino is the new Secretary of Culture, formerly in charge of the Culture Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. more >
The circus is alive and well in Colombia
A study by the Ministry of Culture has revealed the rich variety of Colombia's booming circus industry, reported newspaper El Tiemp Wednedsay. more >
Minister hails institute
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has hailed the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for its programmes, saying they promote the country’s rich cultural heritage. more >
Convocatoria Programa de Desarrollo Cultural para la Sociedad Civil
Esta convocatoria invita a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil a presentar proyectos en temas culturales que promuevan la preservación y recuperación de tradiciones y el desarrollo de manifestaciones artísticas que beneficie el desarrollo individual y comunal, y su sostenibilidad. more >
Call for Proposals Cultural Development Program for Civil Society
This call invites civil society organizations to submit cultural projects to promote the restoration and preservation of cultural heritage, the recovery of traditions and artistic development that benefit individual and communal development, and sustainability. more >
Art and culture for children and young people
Minister of Culture is committed to promoting access to art and culture for children and young people. more >
Ministry of Culture and UNHCR sign an agreement
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry of Culture have signed a cooperation agreement of joint actions with EU funding. more >
Hungary’s government tightens grip on arts
Right-wing leadership stands accused of controlling the cultural sector for political ends. more >
Ministry of Culture donates 15.000 books
The Ministry of Culture donates 15.000 books to the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. more >
Ministries of Culture and Education sign cooperation agreement with the Symphony Association
The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education signed a cooperation agreement with the Cultural Association of Youth and Childrens' Orchestras of Peru. more >
New dawn for the NAC
NAC appoints new CEO and CFO in support of corporate governance and fulfilling the mandate of the NAC. more >
Prize winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to speak at Commonwealth Lecture
Multiple prize winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will speak on the 2012 Commonwealth theme ‘Connecting Cultures’ at the Commonwealth Lecture on 15 March. more >
From Yoko Ono to Leonard Cohen – the old masters finding new inspiration
Artists who attained fame and glory in the culturally revolutionary decades of 60s and 70s still making waves later in life. more >
Independence ‘will kill the arts’ says singer
One of Scotland’s top opera singers has said she will move out of the country if it goes independent, claiming that it would be “death for the arts in Scotland”. more >
Support the Arts At Nama
This Saturday sees the presentation of the 11th edition of the Annual "Nama Awards". Art is a precious thing that provides the means to admit the beautiful and marvellous into our lives, society and into the fabric of our nation. more >
International exchange programme to benefit Pacific museums
Solomon Islander Eddie Wale has been selected to take part in an international staff exchange programme between museums in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. more >
EC Culture Minister keen for budget boost
From glee club to Time Team: cultural education plan revealed as professionals debate state of the arts
A new national plan for cultural education in schools – covering everything from archaeology to dance to the visual arts – is to be drawn up by the government, a national arts conference was told on Tuesday. more >
Obama's 2013 budget calls for 5% increase for arts and culture
President Obama’s proposed 2013 budget, released Monday, calls for a 5% increase in spending for three cultural grantmaking agencies and three Washington, D.C., arts institutions. more >
No culture, no future, author says
If arts groups want to flourish they’ve got to innovate. That’s the message from Simon Brault, vice-chair of the Canada Council of the Arts and CEO of the National Theatre School. more >
Finnish gaming sector wins Internationalization Award
Turnover of the Finnish gaming sector increased by 65% to EUR 165 million in 2011.
Finland’s fast-growing gaming cluster has been presented with the Internationalization Award of the President of the Republic.
more >
Statement on the next EU Culture Programme ‘Creative Europe’
Culture Action Europe, in the framework of the ‘we are more – act for culture in Europe’ campaign welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for Creative Europe but calls for an improved recognition of the social dimension of arts and culture and the importance of risk taking and experimentation. more >
China to boost cultural reforms, innovation
China will accelerate innovation in its cultural sector by deepening reforms for government-affiliated institutions and improving the way in which the sector is managed, according to a cultural development blueprint released Wednesday. more >
Musicians demand clear rules on taking instruments on planes
British musicians are calling for a consistent policy on carrying instruments on planes across airlines, after a similar bill was passed in the US. more >
Slovenia Closes Down its Ministry of Culture Department
The new conservative Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Janša, has gotten rid of its country’s Ministry of Culture and merged the responsibilities of the former department with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport. more >
The urgent need for dialogue between culture and European politics
As the crisis bites on cultural budgets, artists and political leaders must work towards greater integration of culture in future EU policies and budgetary orientations, argues a high-level group of European artists gathered under the umbrella of the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels (Bozar). more >
15 Eastern Partnership Culture projects are about to take off
The Eastern Partnership Culture Programme is pleased to announce the launch of 15 regional projects in the culture sector of the Eastern Partnership countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, with the total value of Euro 8.2 million financed by the European Union. more >
Culture to be pillar industry
China will build a modern cultural industry system featuring innovative content and strong competitiveness, according to a national cultural development blueprint published on Wednesday. more >
Broad-Based Bali Forum Established to Fight for Central Government Funding for the High Cost of Sustaining Bali’s Culture
The chairman of FPBH, Anak Agung Sudiana, said the group was formed to fight for the rights of the Balinese by lobbying the Central Government in Jakarta for funding to develop and sustain Bali’s culture. more >
France To Launch Organization To Preserve Local Music
French Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterrand has announced the launch of CNM, the French National Center for Music, designed to support local French creativity and diversity in terms of record and concert production. more >
The Tasks That Await the Language Academy
Last month the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture, which has been in the statues since 1981, was put in place with the main objective of preservation and development of Kinyarwanda (national) language and culture. more >
HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz visits Al Musmak Palace
Last Saturday, 18th February, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Defense and Chairman of King Abdul Aziz Dara, visited Al Musmak Historic Palace. more >
Minister of Culture appoints new head for the Freedom Centre for Creativity
Minister of Culture Shaker Abdel Hamid issued a decree to restructure the Freedom Centre for Creativity in Alexandria under the presidency of Mostafa Abdel Moti, the former head of the Egyptian Academy in Rome. more >
Team Culture 2012 - The Danish Minister for Culture launches a search for new European opportunities
”What can art and culture do in a time of crisis?” That is the assignment given by the Danish Minister for Culture, Mr Uffe Elbæk, to 12 European cultural notabilities when they meet in Copenhagen on February 27-28. more >
157 million pesos to cultural infrastructure in 2011
In 2011, the National Council for Culture and the Arts (Conaculta) invested 157 million pesos in cultural infrastructures across the country and foresees an investment of 103 million pesos in 2012. more >
Seminar on cultural policies: why to invest in culture?
On 20 February 2012, the State School Alberto Lleras Camargo and the Faculty of Public Aministration, Art Department and CEPER Centro for Journalism organised a seminar on why to invest in culture. more >
E2.5 million for Arts and Culture
The Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture has been allocated E2.5 million subvention for the 2012/13 financial year. This is contained in the estimates were released by Minister of Finance Majozi Sithole during the budget speech last Thursday. more >
Composers raise voices on copyright laws
As many as 40 composers and members of the Ha Noi Musicians' Association signed a letter petitioning management agencies for tighter regulation on copyright payments and permission for live performances at a recent meeting. more >
Culture stirs the art of 4.7 million souls hooked on a hobby
More than a quarter of people (27 per cent or 4.7 million people) living in Australia over the age of 15 are involved in some sort of cultural activity, which was defined as a creative hobby such as drama, cabaret, craft, singing, playing a musical instrument or dancing. more >
Business Strategies for the Creative Economy
Creative individuals and their entrepreneurial ventures are characterized by enormous profit potential as well as huge market and execution risk. Smart governments know that encouraging innovation is where their future lies because the creative economy's contribution is growing and already represents 11 percent of the economy in a small country like Denmark. more >
Digital access to arts bid launched
A new £3.5 million project has been launched to bring the arts digitally into the hands and homes of ordinary people for the first time. more >
Most Internet users venerate free access to culture
75% of Spanish Internet users are tired of having to pay for access to cultural content because they feel they already pay enough in taxes. more >
Ministry of Culture will continue to support popular culture in 2012
The Minister of Culture, José Rafael Lantigua, has announced that the Ministry of Culture will continue to support traditional and religious culture around the country. more >
'The Future of Culture' seeks solution to 'identity confusion'
The head of parliament's cultural committee, MP Mohamed El-Sawy opened a three-hour discussion on the cultural development in Egypt on El Sawy Culturewheel's nine-year anniversary. more >
Kickstarter On Track To Distribute More Funding Than The National Endowment For The Arts
In an exclusive interview with TPM, one of the web startup's co-founders, Yancey Strickler, said the company expects to distribute $150 million to its users' projects by the end of the 2012 fiscal year, edging out the NEA's $146 million budget. more >
Europe's artists can make sense of the chaos and create hope
The next generation of artists has both a great responsibility and a major opportunity – they should accept it and be courageous. more >
Foundation honours annual cultural winners
The 18th Annual National Arts & Culture Awards Gala was hosted by The Cayman National Cultural Foundation. more >
A third of Mexicans has not set foot in a museum
According to the Survey of Consumer Habits, 2010, 37.6. of Mexicans have never visited a museum. more >
Ministry of Culture signs an agreement with four entities
The Ministry of Culture has signed a cooperation agreement with UNHCR, the Latin American Faculty of Social Ciencies - FLACSO, the Guloya Theatre and the Centre of Image. more >
Corporate arts philanthropy drops 7% in a year
Donations by businesses to arts organisations are at a lower level than in 2004/05, but individual gifts are up, figures reveal. more >
Government to open K-arts, ballet and musical academies
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will form a 12 billion-won ($10.7 million) fund to support original South Korean musicals and establish a K-Arts Academy to help create new sources of cultural products. more >
Schoolchildren should study the arts until age 16, says report
Ministers should consider making pupils study the arts up to the age of 16 amid concerns that cultural education in England is still "patchy", a government-commissioned report has said. more >
Days of Bulgarian culture to be held in European Commission
Bulgarian music will be played in the central building of the European Commission on 1 March and the guests of the institution will taste Bulgarian cuisine and wine and will have the rare opportunity to see masterpieces of Bulgarian art, announced the Representation of the European Commission in Sofia more >
Graham Sheffield unveils new arts focus for British Council
Graham Sheffield, the new director of arts at the British Council, has said that he will make the culture sector central to the organisation’s mission once more. more >
March 2012
Cities facing tough economic times turn to ... the arts?
"It's necessary to invest in our cultural organizations in tough economic times," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a recent opening of a new nonprofit theater. more >
Cultural protection has no borders
China is working to safeguard not only its own intangible cultural heritage but also that of the Asia-Pacific region. more >
Ministry of Culture moves to double added value of industry
China's Ministry of Culture released on Tuesday a cultural development plan that includes a goal of doubling the added value of the culture industry by 2015. more >
FONCA celebrates 23 years of fostering the arts
The National Func for Culture and the Arts (FONCA) celebrated 23 years of existence and promises to keep fostering artistic creation through economic support to high quality art. more >
Investing in the arts – Malta Arts Fund awards latest group of artists
The latest round of beneficiaries were awarded at a press conference addressed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Environment, the Hon Mario de Marco, and Mr Adrian Mamo the Chairman of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. more >
Illegal download of cultural goods means loss of 16 million pesos
The Coalition for the Legal Access to Culture A.C. (CALC) informed that only in 2011 the illegal download in Mexico of cultural goods meant economic loss from 16 to 22 million pesos. more >
About the role of cultural diplomacy in the foreign policy
Cultural and humanitarian diplomacy is multifaceted including cultural policy, information and advocacy. more >
China sets 11 cultural industry targets for 2015
The Ministry of Culture On Feb. 28, 2012 released a cultural development plan which highlighted 11 main industries earmarked to break through during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015). more >
“Décalogue pour l’Europe de la Culture” signed by 22 EU Ministers of Culture
On 9 February, the French Minister for Culture, Frederic Mitterrand, published a statement defending the role of culture in Europe. 22 EU Ministers of Culture and the EU Commissioner for culture have signed the statement. more >
Investing in Culture in a Time of Crisis
One recent morning, the mail brought word of a new opera production in Marseille, and a black-and-white print from 1963 of Parisian youth by the Seine (greetings from the mayor’s office). From Perpignan came news of its cultural offerings in 2012. more >
Senior artist wants to open a new copyright center
People’s Artist Tran Binh, director of the Central Song and Dance Theatre, has asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s permission to open a copyright protection center, the second of its kind in Vietnam. more >
Saudi-Sweden to be honored at book fair
A high-powered Swedish delegation will arrive in Riyadh to take part in the Riyadh International Book fair that will have Sweden as the honored country this year. more >
Minister of Culture says Jamaica must Harness Technology for Development
Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, said that the globalisation of information and culture, largely driven by the information and communications technology (ICT) revolution, provides Jamaica with the opportunity to harness technology for the development of the country. more >
Seychelles government moves to have a Minister of Tourism and Culture
President James Michel of the Seychelles has announced plans to appoint a Minister of Tourism & Culture in his plans to restructure the government. more >
Art bodies target social investment
A group of art organisations have come together to encourage new investment in the sector by asking social investors to take part in a pilot scheme. more >
Colonial Arts, Culture Laws Must Go
Following 32 years of Zimbabwe's independence, it is disheartening to note that many Government and quasi-Government institutions, especially cultural ones, are still using outdated Rhodesian colonial policies and Acts of Parliament, especially those pertaining to the arts and humanities are still being adhered to today. more >
Creative sector: An untapped revenue earner
The creative sector in Barbados has been considered the untapped revenue earner. It is no secret the traditional sectors have been facing challenges in Barbados. more >
Bahrain, sea of culture
Last week I attended part of the “Second Forum of Festivals in the Arab Countries” held in Manama. As elegant as always, Culture Minister Sheikha Mai Al-Khalifa gave a warm welcome address. She did not have to say much, Bahrain is recovering and moving on full speed. The purpose of the forum, which brought together art protagonists, festival organizers and enterprises — is to discuss and explore new ways to improve and advance the standard of festivals in the Arab countries. more >
Presentan programa Cultura para Todos
El ministro Ricardo Ehrlich, el Director General de Secretaría, Pablo Álvarez, y el Director Nacional de Cultura, Hugo Achugar, darán a conocer los lineamientos y objetivos para este año. more >
A panel line on beauty and truth
Bureaucrats, advisers and a secretive reference group are tinkering away at the federal government's National Cultural Policy in the lead-up to the budget session of parliament. more >
Cuba Has New Culture Minister
Cuba’s Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto was “liberated” from the post he has held for 15 years on Tuesday but no reasons were given. more >
The program Cultura para Todos was presented
The Minister, Ricardho Ehrlich, the Secretaria’s General Director, Pablo Álvarez, and the National Director for Culture, Hugo Achugar, will announce this year’s guidelines and objectives. more >
Raúl Castro promotes the Minister of Culture to become his advisor
Cuba’s President, Raúl Castro, removed the Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto from his post, and appointed him as advisor because of his 'experience' and 'positive results' obtained during the 15 years he has been in charge of the ministry, said an official note on Tuesday. more >
Raúl Castro promueve al ministro de cultura como asesor suyo
Se trata de Abel Prieto, un intelectual respetado en la isla sobre todo por su defensa de “espacios” para lo “alternativo” e incluso para artistas críticos del gobierno comunista. more >
ACO chief Richard Tognetti backs return on cash
Funding to arts organisations should be partly conditional on them running educational programs, conducting regional tours and using digital networks to reach new audiences, says the Australian Chamber Orchestra's Richard Tognetti. more >
Culture Ireland
The American economist John Kenneth Galbraith once noted that “all races have produced notable economists, with the exception of the Irish who doubtless can protest their devotion to the arts”. more >
UNESCO mounts culture week
Culture and Development Week featuring a series of events including policy dialogues, roundtable discussions, book launches and film nights will be held for the first time in Viet Nam, the UN culture agency UNESCO has announced. more >
Review of Private Sector Support for the Arts 2011
The review aimed to identify any barriers or impediments that may exist in Australia with respect to private sector support for the arts. The findings of the review will assist in the development of policy options with respect to enhancing the private sector’s contribution to the arts. more >
Arterial Network celebrates its fifth anniversary
Arterial Network, a Pan African network of artists, cultural activists, creative enterprises and others engaged in the African creative sector, celebrates its fifth anniversary since its founding conference on Goree Island, Senegal in March 2007. more >
Spanish foreign minister: I don’t know what to do with UNAOC
The Spanish foreign minister has said he does not know what to do with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), which was founded after Spain proposed it in 2005 to forge intercultural dialogue and cooperation. more >
Push to make arts funding more attractive
A federal government report into arts financing wants to make it more enticing for the private sector to hand over cash. more >
Register or regret: artists alerted to new ownership law
Artists risk losing work they have consigned to commercial galleries if the galleries go bust, thanks to a new federal government law that few in the art world know about. more >
Round table "Rescuing Latin American cultural heritage"
In the framework of the celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, the Andalusian Institute of Cultural Heritage (IAPH) is organising a round table meeting taking place on 19th March 2012 in Málaga, Spain. more >
Deputies: Narrow urban-rural cultural gap
NPC deputies urged the government to narrow the gap between urban and rural cultural development and encourage more cultural workers to get engaged in China's countryside. more >
Deputies study how to boost cultural influence
China should encourage its companies to help promote its rich culture worldwide, lawmakers and political advisers said. more >
Develop entrepreneurship culture, Sichinga tells youths
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Robert Sichinga has urged youths to develop their entrepreneurship skills rather than relying on formal employment to contribute to economic development. more >
Dubai arts and culture industry set for growth
Recognising the importance of the arts and culture industry as a means to boost the UAE's economy, Dubai Arts and Culture Authority (Dubai Culture) underscored the growth potential in the industry at the annual Careers UAE 2012.more >
2012 Cultural Policy Research Award: Call for applications now open!
The European Cultural Foundation (ECF), the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the leading European Network on Cultural management and cultural policy education, ENCATC, have launched the call for applications for the 2012 Cultural Policy Research Award. The winner of the CPR Award 2012, worth 10.000 Euro, will be publicly announced on the 12th September in London during the official opening of the ENCATC Jubilee Conference“Networked Culture. more >
Greek Archaeologists Plead for Help to Protect Heritage Amid Austerity
Greek archaeologists appealed to Europeans to help defend the nation’s cultural heritage and history amid cuts in the budget to maintain sites that include those around the 2,500 year-old Acropolis in Athens. more >
Kingdom launches campaign against copyright violations
The Ministry of Culture and Information launches the second phase of the Intellectual Property Rights National Awareness Campaign. more >
Vijay Krishnarayan appointed Director of the Commonwealth Foundation
Vijay Krishnarayan, heralding from Trinidad and Tobago and current Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, has been appointed Director of the intergovernmental organisation. more >
Singapore, Qatar to boost bilateral cooperation in ICT, cultuer
Singapore and Qater are expected to sign memorandums of understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of information and communciation technology (ICT) as well as culture. more >
Muara Jambi Named National Cultural Conservation Area
The Education and Culture Minister’s deputy in charge of culture, Wiendu Nuryati, said she would accelerate the process to establish Muara Jambi as a national cultural conservation site.
more >
Cultural Olympiad 2012 reaches the critical masses
The Olympics cultural programme is reaching the point of no return, with its brochure being finalised. Organiser Ruth Mackenzie is sure of success. more >
The president presents the National Plan of Cultural Equality
'Art is the representative of the fight for fundamental freedoms', says the president while presenting the National Plan of Cultural Inclusion in Diversity. more >
New strategy for the European Capitals of Culture after 2019
The European Commission is currently working on a new framework for the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) programme after 2019. more >
Culture is a key factor in sustaining peace and development
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, on Monday called on it members of the commonwealth, donors and the civil society, to trigger a paradigm shift, by incorporating culture in their development agenda.
more >
Uzbekistan and Italy Develop Cultural Cooperation
The program involves development of bilateral relations in areas such as education, culture and art, archeology and the protection of cultural heritage, archives and libraries, publishing, radio and television, youth exchanges, sports and tourism. more >
Edinburgh to host biennial arts summit
Iraq's artists lament decline in cultural life
Although Iraq is safer than in the darkest days of sectarian violence, many of its artists, filmmakers, musicians and performers say they are being stifled by religious conservatism and, with the government focused on reconstruction and security, missing the state support they once enjoyed. more >
South Korea opens first cultural center in Mexico
South Korea opened its first Korean Cultural Center in Mexico Tuesday, hoping it will serve as a bridge between the two different cultures. more >
Germany Defends VAT Rules For Art
Germany’s State Minister for Culture Bernd Neumann has recently underlined his grave concerns regarding the European Commission’s request that Germany apply the full rate of value-added tax (VAT) to the supply of works of art and collectors’ items. more >
Choreographer Julio Bocca reclaims more support for culture
The Argentinean dancer and director of the National Ballet of Uruguay suggested creating schools that combine formal education with art. more >
Greek Culture Crumbles Under Budget Cuts
The budget at Greece’s Ministry of Culture has been slashed by 35%, with 2,000 job losses in the department. more >
Culture and young people in Latin American development
The annual meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank deals with the positive impact of culture in the socio-economic development of young people in Latin America. more >
Arab video games have a socio-cultural mission
The Middle East has one of the fastest growing communities of online gamers in the world, and demographics mean this is likely to remain true for many years. more >
Seychelles sees changes at the Department of Culture as new Minister St.Ange takes office
The new Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Alain St.Ange, took office on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 and on the same day he met with the Culture Department Management so as to familiarize himself with his new entourage.
more >
Culture Minister Kanceska-Milevska to open modern jewellery exhibition
National seminar on copyrights held
A national seminar on Copyright and Related Rights was organised yesterday by Commerce and Industry Ministry, represented by Directorate-General for Commerce/Intellectual Property Department, in co-ordination with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in the presence of Mudrik bin Kadhim al Mousawai, Director-General of Commerce. more >
Federal Heritage minister hints at good budget news for the arts
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore is hinting at some “good news” for the Canada Council for the Arts in next week’s federal budget – despite the budgetary belt-tightening that is expected to deal with an estimated $31-billion deficit. more >
On a quest for leadership's best
Maybe the planets are in alignment or Shiva is doing his cosmic dance over the nation's main cultural organisations. During the past three years there has been a steady turnover of artistic and executive leaders, across all art forms. The group of people running arts companies today -- from theatres to state art galleries -- is very different from that of the previous decade. more >
Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture settles in after Council of Ministers reshuffle
The recent reshuffle in the Council of Ministers of the Seychelles has brought about a new Ministry of Tourism and Culture. This was seen as a departure from the past where the Vice President and President, respectively, who had held for many years the portfolio for tourism, that industry that is recognized as being the pillar of the Seychelles economy. more >
Fondo Internacional para la Diversidad Cultural: Tercera convocatoria para solicitudes de financiamiento
El 14 de marzo de 2012 el Fondo Internacional para la Diversidad Cultural (FIDC) lanzó su tercera convocatoria de solicitudes de financiamiento para programas/proyectos y solicitudes de asistencia preparatoria que tienen por objeto propiciar la creación de un sector cultural dinámico a nivel nacional y/o local, principalmente a través de actividades que faciliten la introducción de nuevas políticas e industrias culturales, o que refuercen aquellas ya existentes. more >
International Fund for Cultural Diversity: Third Call for Funding Requests
On 14 March 2012 the IFCD launched its third call for funding requests for programmes/projects and preparatory assistance requests that aim to foster the emergence of a dynamic cultural sector at the national and/or local level, primarily through activities facilitating the introduction of new cultural policies and cultural industries, or strengthening existing ones. more >
Fonds international pour la diversité culturelle : Troisième appel à demandes de financement
Le 14 mars 2012, le troisième appel à demandes de financement du FIDC a été lancé pour des programmes et des projets ou de l’assistance préparatoire visant à favoriser l'émergence d'un secteur culturel dynamique au niveau national et/ou local, principalement à travers des activités facilitant l'introduction de nouvelles politiques ou industries culturelles, ou le renforcement de celles existantes. more >
Filmmaker John Akomfrah receives European Cultural Foundation honour
Culture policy group presents proposals to parliamentary committee
A delegation from the National Culture Policy Group (NCPG) presented a summary of Egyptian cultural policy to parliament's committee on culture, tourism and media at the invitation of committee head Mohamed Abdel-Moneim El-Sawy. more >
Minister of Culture invites all sector to fight against racism
The Minister of Culture, Luis Peirano Falconi made an appeal to all sector to combat racism and discrimination, to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. more >
Rekindling the Creative Principle
The Creative Industries: Nigeria’s Untapped Wealth, another edition of the BOBTV African Film and TV Programmes expo opened on March 13 at the Ladi Kwali Convention Centre in Abuja with a call for swift development of the realm. more >
Culture can use the dark tools of economics
Cultural organisations should not rely on the goodwill of policymakers but must make their case for funding in economic terms, British economist Hasan Bakhshi has told a gathering of arts professionals in Sydney. more >
Project to strengthen the creative industries in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia launched in Tbilisi
An EU-funded project was launched this week in Tbilisi under the Eastern Partnership Culture programme, dedicated to ‘Strengthening Creative Industries in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia: Heritage Crafts - Common Platform for Development’. The project is targeted at institutional development in the field of creative industries and in particular heritage crafts in the three countries. more >
Welsh arts cuts ‘catastrophic’, Hijinx tells MPs
An inquiry into participation in the arts has been launched by the National Assembly for Wales in response to concerns that budget cuts are having a negative impact on access to culture. more >
Sport and culture: contracts signed for two more cross-border projects in Russia and Latvia
Two grant contracts have been signed for new cross-border projects funded by the European Union under the Estonia-Latvia-Russia CBC Programme, dealing respectively with sports as a means of tackling social exclusion, and cooperation in theatre and music. more >
In Europe, Where Art Is Life, Ax Falls on Public Financing
European governments are cutting their support for culture, and American arts lovers are starting to feel the results. more >
Anger as Arts Council chief is forced to quit by ministers
The British arts world was reeling yesterday after the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, moved to replace the popular Dame Liz Forgan as the chair of Arts Council England (ACE). more >
Two new funds for the creative sector:
The digital media group Ascension has announced the launch of two new funds for the UK Technology, digital media and creative industries. The funds will open on 6th April this year. more >
Caribbean Export Announces Expression of Interest London 2012 Soul Fusion Concert
Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), under the 10th European Development Fund will be coordinating a Caribbean Soul Fusion Concert during the London 2012 Olympics, on August 10th, 2012. more >
Ecuador adds culture to the border security policy with Colombia
The Ecuadorian Government will take up this year a project to support a culture of peace in the border with Colombia, as part of the integral security policy in the area, were the words of Erika Sylva, Minister of Culture. more >
Armenian Human Rights Defender evaluates the activities of Ministry of Culture
Armenian Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan presented the evaluation of the activities of the RA Ministry of Culture of 2011. more >
Arts advocates make case for federal funding
A year ago, the threat of a government shutdown was raising the prospect of a major slash in government arts funding. This year, as arts advocates lobby for another round of funding, they face a different hurdle: the upcoming election. more >
Ecuador suma la cultura a la política de seguridad en frontera con Colombia
El Gobierno ecuatoriano emprenderá este año un proyecto de fomento a la cultura de paz en la frontera con Colombia, como parte de la política de seguridad integral en la zona, informó hoy la ministra de Cultura, Erika Sylva. more >
24th Meeting of the Council of Pacific Arts, Honiara
Culture in Harmony with Nature is the theme of the biggest cultural event in the Pacific for 2012: the Festival of Pacific Arts, which will be held in Solomon Islands from 1–14 July. This week the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture is meeting in Honiara to update members on the preparations by the Solomon Island Government to host the Festival. more >
Cambodia's art of survival
The country's rich artistic culture was destroyed in the 70s by the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. Today, despite terrible poverty, a revival is taking place – and it is gaining international recognition. more >
Big hitters dominate Arts Council capital funding awards
The gulf between the haves and have-nots of British arts institutions has been graphically illustrated after Arts Council England (ACE) unveiled the 26 successful applicants to its capital funding plan. more >
National museums, Canada Council spared cuts
The Canada Council for the Arts, an organization that provides both operating funding and special grants to arts groups, saw its funding maintained. more >
Heritage experts offer technical assistance to the provinces of Northern Argentina
Last November, Maria Mercè Costa, architect specialized in Cultural heritage, and Antoni Caballé, archeologist, both experts from the Catalan Ministry of Culture, visited during two weeks the provinces in the north of Argentina to offer seminars to experts, conferences open to the general public and field work visits. Apart from the work meetings, this technical assistance mission also included a public part in which both experts discussed the Catalan model. more >
Cultural Villages: Defining Moments Or Problematic Perspectives?
In a recent media article, the Mayor of Cape Town’s spokesperson stated that the City intends to establish a Khoisan village in Hout Bay’s Hangberg fishing village, as a way of building an inclusive city. more >
Drastic Cuts to Cultural Programs will Hurt Canadian Audiences and Economy
The Writers Guild of Canada is deeply concerned about the substantial cuts to culture outlined in the Federal budget, in particular the cumulative effect of cuts to the audiovisual sector, including CBC, Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board. more >
Talented Musicians Implored to Campaign Against Maternal Deaths
Speaking to the 'Daily News on Saturday' in an exclusive interview recently the Tandabui Health Access Tanzania (THAT)/Afya Radio CEO Joseph Kavit challenged artists during the seminar to address crucial issues on health especially maternal deaths. The one-day seminar was organized by THAT/ Afya Radio to enlighten the artists on crucial issues relating to maternal health. more >
David Lister: Don't bother appointing a new boss at the Arts Council – just abolish this quango
The Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has decided not to reappoint Dame Liz Forgan as chair of the Arts Council. There is inevitably speculation as to whom he will appoint to succeed her. more >
April 2012
Brazilian ambassador hails CPLP cultural cooperation
The Brazilian ambassador to Angola, Ana Carvalho Monday in Luanda, considered as positive the cultural exchange between the countries of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP). more >
Blog: Ten Years Later: A Puzzling Picture of Arts Education in America
On April 2, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a study glamorously entitled Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools 1999-2000 and 2009-10. more >
Ministers to seek accord
A meeting of most arts ministers in Melbourne last Friday, chaired by Victorian Premier and Arts Minister Ted Baillieu, resolved to develop the "arts accord" over the next year, and for it to be recognised in the national cultural policy of federal Arts Minister Crean. more >
Action being taken in Culture
STEPHEN Lashley, Minister of Family, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports has said that Barbadians no longer see themselves as consumers rather than being creators and producers. “Happily, this tide is changing,” the Minister said at a Cultural Industries symposium. more >
El presupuesto para las artes escénicas desciende un 24 por ciento
Las artes escénicas sufren un recorte presupuestario del 24,27 %, lo que afectará especialmente a la música sinfónica y la danza, ha explicado a Efe el portavoz de la Junta Directiva de la Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE), Sabino Méndez. more >
'Ministry of Culture Egyptian Ultras' call for mass protest against minister
A group of Ministry of Culture employees calling themselves "Ministry of Culture Egyptian Ultras" released a statement on Tuesday calling on all employees of all cultural sectors to join a massive demonstration by the minister's office on Sunday, 11 April. more >
Cultural policy will receive 937.40 million, 15.1% less than in 2011
Cultural policy will receive this year 937.40 million euros from the State Budget, 15.1% less than in 2011, most notably a 33% reduction in film and 24% reduction for the performing arts and music. more >
La política cultural recibirá 937,40 millones, un 15,1 % menos que en 2011
La política cultural recibirá este año 937,40 millones de euros de los Presupuestos Generales del Estado, un 15,1% menos que en 2011, de los que destaca la reducción del 33 % en cine y del 24 % para las artes escénicas y la música. more >
The budget for the performing arts falls by 24 percent
The performing arts suffer a budget cut of 24.27%, affecting especially symphonic music and dance, explained a spokesman of the Board of Directors of the Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE), Sabino Mendez. more >
Bahrain culture chief: Critics 'not real men'
Bahrain's culture minister is facing demands for her dismissal after calling conservative lawmakers "not real men" for opposing an annual arts festival under way in Manana. more >
Senegal musician Youssou N'dour given ministerial post
Senegalese musician Youssou N'dour has been appointed tourism and culture minister in the cabinet of new President Macky Sall. more >
Groux propone cero impuestos para libros
Ayer se inauguró en Calacoto la primera Feria del Libro Infantil y Juvenil. Durante el acto de apertura, el ministro de Culturas, Pablo Groux, anunció que su despacho trabaja en un proyecto de ley que pretende eliminar el impuesto a los libros. more >
Groux Proposes Zero Taxes for Books
Yesterday, in Calacoto, the first Children and Youth Book Fair of Bolivia was inaugurated. During the opening ceremony, the Minister of Cultures, Pablo Groux, announced that his office is working on a bill that intends to exempt books from taxes. more >
How Canadian should the Canadian Opera Company be?
Wanted: an opera lover with a keen interest in new music, deep pockets and a big Canadian heart. Assignment: donate $1-million to help the Canadian Opera Company live up to its name by producing a new Canadian opera. more >
Ministries of Russian and the Dominican Republic sign an agreement
The Ministries of Culture of Russia and the Dominican Republic sign a collaboration agreement. more >
UNESCO experts meet with Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture
Two experts from UNESCO, Ms. Avril Joffe and Mr. Lloyd Stanbury, have completed a three-week mission in Seychelles as part of the UNESCO Technical Assistance Mission for the promotion and development of the Creative Industries, which forms part of the requirement of the UNESCO Convention on the Promotion and Protection of Cultural Diversity and Expressions, ratified by the government of Seychelles in 2005. more >
Rafa Nadal colabora en la financiación del Auditorio de Manacor
El Protocolo de colaboración firmado hoy en el Auditorio de Manacor entre el Govern Balear, el Instituto Público del Teatro Municipal de Manacor y la empresa del tenista manacorí, Rafa Nadal, permitirá equipar el Auditorio de Manacor, con la caja escénica y otros elementos necesarios para su funcionamiento. more >
Rafa Nadal assists in the financing the Manacor Auditorium
A Protocol of cooperation was signed today in the Auditorium of Manacor between the Balearic Government, the Public Institute of Municipal Theatre of manacor and the company of Mallorcan tennis player, Rafa Nadal. The agreement with equip the Auditorium of Manacor with stage scenary and other elements necessary for its operations. more >
Arts Sector Trusts and Foundations Survey & Symposium
Diversification of income from private investment sources is a key issue for the Arts, and in Northern Ireland there are particular opportunities for growth in accessing income from Charitable Trusts and Foundations. more >
Italy's museum czar: Culture can save the economy
One of Italy's top culture officials has pushed private investment in the country's museums and galleries and the seemingly insatiable Chinese and Indian appetites for art and archaeology as the way to pull the country out of its recession.
more >
Plan to scrap ministries chaotic, wrongly targeted
Jan Machacek: Amid the recent coalition crisis, the Civic Democrats (ODS), TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV) started to plan the abolition of the ministries of local development, of culture and of the environment as part of the state's money-saving efforts. more >
U.S. Visa Rules Deprive Stages of Performers
According to Homeland Security Department records, requests for the standard foreign performer’s visa declined by almost 25 percent between 2006 and 2010, the most recent fiscal year for which statistics are available. more >
The problem with Malawian art
Apart from the absence of an arts policy to direct activities in the industry, Malawi also needs more curators to develop the arts industry. more >
Zimsec worst transparent institution - Misa survey
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) is the most open and transparent public body while the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) emerged the worst, according to a 2011 survey report undertaken by Misa-Zimbabwe. more >
NZ slow to invest in creativity
New Zealand needs to follow the lead of many Asian countries and invest in creativity, says the director of a global design and creative conference. more >
Kickerstarter: Future of art funding
Even the most ambitious and optimistic creative individual will tell you that one of the biggest obstacles to seeing a project come to fruition is the money, or lack thereof. Grant funding is limited, some governments have cut back on arts and cultural spending and many people simply just don't have the dollars themselves to make a project become a reality. more >
Asia pushed into wings by cultural policy
Australia's first national cultural policy in 16 years shows little promise of engaging Asian arts, despite the region's culturally rich treasure chest on our doorstep, arts curators warn. more >
The rise of the Gulf art scene
Big money has turned the Gulf into a showcase for contemporary art. But will censorship stop the scene in its tracks? more >
Jakarta advised to develop creative industries
Chair of the Jakarta branch of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (Asita), Herna P.
Danuningrat, said on the sidelines of a regional meeting on Wednesday that the association wholeheartedly supported the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s program to develop the country’s creative industries.
more >
Ministro de Cultura participó en reunión de altas autoridades de cultura de Sudamérica
El ministro de Cultura, Luis Peirano, sostuvo en el Seminario Cultura y Sostenibilidad. Rumbo a Río+20, la importancia de que las voces de los diversos grupos culturales sean escuchadas y subrayó la necesidad de generar mecanismos de participación para aquellos que se encuentren tradicionalmente excluidos; sostuvo en ese sentido que la aprobación de la Ley de Consulta Previa y su Reglamento constituyen un importante paso adelante.more >
Minister of Culture participated in South American High culture authorities meeting
The Minister of Culture, Luis Peirano, while taking part at the Seminar Culture and Sustainability: Heading Towards Rio+20, held that it is important to hear the voices of different cultural groups and highlighted the need to create participation mechanisms for those who have been traditionally excluded. The Ley de Consulta Previa (Prior Consultation Law) and its regulations are an important step in this direction.more >
Creative industry capable of contributing N1trn to national economy
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) says Nigeria’s creative industry is capable of contributing more than N1 trillion annually to the nation’s economy. more >
Alec Baldwin, Ben Folds to press Congress for arts funding, along with advocates from states
Alec Baldwin and musician Ben Folds are in Washington to press for increased funding for the arts amid cuts in recent years as Congress and the White House have searched for ways to reduce spending. more >
Korea to turn hallyu into industry
Culture Ministry plans to create fair business environment for artists, large concert hall and support content developers
more >
Minister Mashatile signs agreement with Spain
Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile and Ambassador Benavides Orgaz of Spain today signed a Programme of Co-operation (POC) to strengthen bilateral relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Spain in the fields of arts and culture for the years 2012 to 2015. more >
Draft law gives foreign libraries thumbs up
Foreign individuals and organisations would have the right to establish libraries in the country, under the draft law on libraries, discussed at the 7th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday, April 16. more >
Italian museum burns artworks in protest at cuts
A museum in Italy has started burning its artworks in protest at budget cuts which it says have left cultural institutions out of pocket. more >
Hollywood In China? Country's New Foreign Film Quotas Make The Industry Optimistic
There's a new breach in China's great cultural wall and Hollywood is cautiously moving in. more >
Sierra Leone Cultural Festival Day
Sierra Leone Ministry of Tourism & Culture inaugurated a day to celebrate Sierra Leone's diverse cultural heritage. His Excellency Vice-President Alhaji S Sumana launched the program at the National Stadium in Freetown. more >
Call to close every other museum raises storm in Germany
A call by a group of academics and cultural commentators to close every second state-subsidised cultural institution—in particular art museums and theatres—in response to the economic downturn has provoked a robust response from German artists, filmmakers and writers. more >
Arts shows suffer from lack of marketing, says BBC commissioner
BBC arts commissioner Jan Younghusband has blamed the Corporation’s lack of marketing for a perceived shortage of cultural programmes on its channels. more >
13th Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Co-operation Meeting held
At the meeting, the three places signed a memorandum of intention on Cantonese opera, pledging further co-operation on the conservation, continuation and development of the artistic genre. more >
Minister asks to end the cultural bureaucracy
Minister Cruz-Coke calls for ending cultural bureaucracy. more >
Japan’s Cultural Diplomacy Future
The problem is that Japan lacks self-awareness not only of its role as a global player, but also of its potential – not least in terms of cultural diplomacy. more >
Culture as a factor for stable development
A regional conference on “Cultural policy: Policy for Culture: Culture as a Factor for Stable Development” was held in Yerevan today within the framework of the events dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing and the proclamation of Yerevan as World Book Capital 2012. more >
INBA festeja a Dickens en Bellas Artes
Cabinas de lectura, árboles poéticos y librobicis, un librobús, una sala de lectura, la creación de un cuento colectivo y hasta un ring literario es la oferta de actividades que se llevan a cabo en la explanada del Palacio de Bellas Artes como parte del Día Mundial del Libro.more >
More readers and cultural policies of inclusion
The international day of the book and reading celebratesthe day withmore readersand cultural policiesaimed atinclusion.more >
INBA celebrates Dickens at Bellas Artes
Reading booths, poetic trees and “book bicycles”, a “book bus”, a reading room, the creation of a collective story and even a literary ring make part of the activities that take place at the open area in front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes as part of the celebration of the World Book Day.more >
Actors, artists aim to turn around failing schools
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington and Forest Whitaker are adopting some of the nation's worst-performing schools and pledged Monday to help the Obama administration turn them around by integrating arts education. more >
Creative Encounters - Second Edition (2012-2013)
Following the success of its previous year programme, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and partners have launched the second edition of the Creative Encounters 2012-2013 programme: Creative Encounters – Cultural Partnerships between Asia and Europe. more >
Iceland Established as Creative Muse to Global Design
A new international design project is set to cement Iceland's position as the new creative centre of the world. more >
Actores y artistas adoptan escuelas de mal desempeño en EE UU
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington y Forest Whitaker adoptarán algunas de las escuelas con peores resultados de Estados Unidos y se comprometieron el lunes a ayudar al gobierno de Barack Obama a hacerlas girar 180 grados mediante la integración de programas de educación artística. more >
Call for proposals; Creative Encounters
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and partners are supporting new artistic and networking collaborations in the framework of the Creative Encounters: Cultural Partnerships between Asia and Europe 2012-2013 programme. Art and cultural organisations are invited to submit proposals by 30 June 2012 for the second edition. more >
CCA President’s Blog – All together now!
After months of silence, we finally know where we stand: the federal government has confirmed officially it will put an end to 46 years of funding to the Canadian Conference of the Arts by March 31, 2013. more >
Panama will have a Ministry of Culture
The National Assembly has approved the General Project 416 for Culture that includes the creation of a Ministry of Culture in Panama. more >
Ministry of Culture donates new books to 800 libraries
The Ministryof Popular Powerfor Cultureprepares aplanofsupplying books tothenearly 800public librariesin the country. more >
In 2013 Mary Ann DeVlieg will be stepping aside from her position as Secretary General
As announced at IETM’s Plenary Meeting in Copenhagen on 30th April, after over 18 years in post, in 2013 Mary Ann DeVlieg will be stepping aside from her position as Secretary General and moving to a newly created post within the organisation focusing on public advocacy and policy issues. more >
Art Is Long; Copyrights Can Even Be Longer
Artists’ copyright is frequently misunderstood. Even if a painting (or drawing or photograph) has been sold to a collector or a museum, in general, the artist or his heirs retain control of the original image for 70 years after the artist’s death. more >
Arts Endowment Trims Support for PBS Shows
The National Endowment for the Arts made sweeping cuts in its support of established PBS shows in the 2012 Arts in Media grants, which were announced Wednesday morning. more >
Engage young talent to spur creative industries
It is essential for Malaysia to develop its creative industries to build more global brands, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday. more >
Jeremy Hunt launches 'once in a lifetime' London 2012 Festival
It will include a bouncy-castle Stonehenge, a retrospective of British women's comedy, extreme sports choreography, a world record improv attempt and, organisers of the London 2012 Festival sincerely hope, the loudest national ringing of bells that has ever been heard anywhere. more >
More than 100 organisations present demands to Nordic Ministers for Culture
On the occasion of the Nordic Council of Culture Ministers meeting in Oslo (26 April), more than 100 organisations have signed a joint statement presenting their demands on the next EU Culture Programme Creative Europe. more >
The Olympics is about sport not art, so culture needs to drop out of the race
A question arises looking at the full programme for the London 2012 festival, and that question is: why? What's all it for? And how does it connect in any interesting way with the Olympics, or use that sporting even to further art? more >
Jeremy Hunt faces fresh pressure over BSkyB affair
Efforts to shield the culture secretary Jeremy Hunt from investigations into his potential breaches of the ministerial code have come under fresh pressure after Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chair of the public administration select committee (PASC) called on David Cameron to refer Hunt's case to the independent adviser on the ministerial code, Sir Alex Allan. more >
World Intellectual Property Day: Patent and copyright laws key to preserving traditions
Globalisation may be stripping away the traditional identity of South Asia including Pakistan but all is not lost. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation writer and historian Ahmed Saleem suggested patenting and copyright laws as ways to preserve national identity at a panel discussion on World Intellectual Property Day at Lok Virsa on Thursday. more >
Independent UN expert calls on Russia to ensure better protection of cultural rights
The United Nations' special rapporteur on cultural rights has called on Russia to better protect the diversity of its citizens and their ability to participate in cultural life. more >
Culture Ministry Calls for Reflection On Dance
The Ministry of Culture has stressed the need of the artists to promote a deep reflection on the state of dance in Angola. more >
Igwe Achebe Renews Call On National Cultural Policy
Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, last week in Lagos reiterated the urgent need to review the much delayed National Policy on Arts and Culture in order to enhance the development of the industry. more >
Is art essential to daily life? Join the debate at National Gallery
Here’s a provocative, persistent and perfunctory question that was posted on the internet: “Should government, in times when fiscal restraint is essential, make arts funding a priority? Shouldn’t health-care or education or jobs (sic) creation come first?” more >
Governors Look to Arts, Culture and Design to Boost Economic Growth
With concerns over job creation and business growth holding a prominent—and persistent—position on policy agendas today, governors are increasingly finding innovative ways to support economic growth, according to a new report out today from the National Governors Association (NGA). more >
Malawian artists meet to evaluate their strategic plans
About 30 artists drawn from seven rights holder associations are meeting in Liwonde to critically assess how they have been implementing their strategic plans developed in 2010. more >
Recession hitting 'cultural creatives' especially hard
While the recession seems to loosening its grip on the U.S. economy, but one group isn't seeing it. The cultural creatives, small businesspeople like photographers, architects and graphic designers have seen their ranks thinned by 20 to 30 percent and are still waiting for the bounce back. more >
Turkish Prime Minister’s Bid to Privatize Theaters Stirs Uproar
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan promised yesterday to propose the privatization of state-funded theaters following a row over the administration of Istanbul’s playhouses, sparking fury from opponents who say the move could severely weaken the art. more >
Creative Industries Key Contributor to Economic Growth
State Minister for Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, has underscored the value of the creative industries to national growth and development. more >
May 2012
How to Fund the Arts in America
What can we do to stabilize funding for the arts? Can we learn from other countries’ examples? While arts funding is drying up in parts of Europe because of austerity measures, it’s flourishing in Brazil because of a tax on Brazilian companies. more >
Federal Government Money Is The Best Way To Fund The Arts
Crala Escola says in her blog that funding the arts in America should be a national priority. Bolstering national commitment to the arts will renew America's competitive edge, and have a far-reaching influence on strategic issues of domestic and international security. more >
How to Fund the Arts in America
What can we do to stabilize funding for the arts? Can we learn from other countries’ examples? While arts funding is drying up in parts of Europe because of austerity measures, it’s flourishing in Brazil because of a tax on Brazilian companies. more >
Conaculta launches portal to disseminate the arts
With the objective of promoting Mexico’s culture and arts, Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (Conaculta) offers to Internet users the new site “Cultura MX”. more >
Culture ministers from South Korea, China and Japan to meet in Shanghai
South Korean Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik will attend a culture ministers' conference with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts in Shanghai, China, from Friday through Sunday, ministry officials said Wednesday. more >
Conaculta lanza portal para difundir las artes
Con la intención de promover el quehacer artístico y cultural del país, el Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (Conaculta) puso a disposición de todos los usuarios de Internet el nuevo sitio "Cultura MX", el cual ya puede ser consultado desde este día. more >
Half of Britons think Jeremy Hunt should resign
Nearly half of the population believe embattled Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt should resign, a poll has indicated. more >
Minister Mashatile’s 2012-2013 Budget Vote Speech
I am humbled by the opportunity to present the 2012/2013 Budget Vote for the Department of Arts and Culture. We present our budget two days after the people of our country joined the rest of the world in celebrating Worker’s Day. more >
Culture, arts squeezed from budget with no spare change
The Gillard government's long-awaited national cultural policy has been postponed because of a lack of funds, a casualty of the tight fiscal environment before the budget. more >
Apoio à internacionalização das artes
Estão abertas a partir de hoje, dia 3 de maio de 2012, as candidaturas para a atribuição de apoios à internacionalização das artes. Esta nova linha de apoio promovida pela Direção-Geral das Artes insere-se no quadro de uma estratégia de incentivo à inovação e ao empreendedorismo do setor cultural. more >
New Orleans Hosts 2012 World Cultural Economic Forum
Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu welcomed nearly 50 delegations representing cities and countries from around the U.S. and the world to New Orleans for the 2012 World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) this week. more >
Internationalization Fund for the Arts
Direção-Geral das Artes announces a new open call on 3 May 2012 for projects that intend to internationalize the arts. This new funding line promoted makes part of a general strategy that aims at promoting innovation and enterpreneurship in the cultural sector. more >
The business of arts and culture
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile meet business leaders at The New Age Business briefing to discuss government arts and culture projects and identify areas where business can invest. more >
Government asked to support the music and creative industry
Mr Yaw Oxmond, a member of the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry (GHAPI), on Tuesday called on Government to help the music and creative industry to secure long-term funding, to enhance the works of the music industry in Ghana. more >
Project to document intangible culture
In 2010, the government had ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) designed to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, such as folklore, oral traditions, social rituals and the performing arts. more >
Korea, China, Japan to push cultural exchange
The Culture Ministers of Korea, China and Japan agreed to expand cultural cooperation and promote exchanges between the three countries at a trilateral meeting held in Shanghai on Saturday, officials said. more >
Culture is the most penalized institution for denying access to information
Institute for Access to Public Information has sentenced 31 institutions for denying information. Culture is the most penalized one. more >
Cultura, la que más niega información
Instituto de Acceso a la Información Pública ha sancionado a 31 instituciones por negar información.
more >
Cultural rights proposed for new charter
The prominent Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) has presented a draft proposal on culture policies and related issues of discrimination to Parliament’s Constitutional Reconciliation Commission, as part of ongoing efforts to frame a new constitution. more >
What Does the Election of Socialist François Hollande Bode for Art and Culture in France?
During his campaign, Hollande emphasized the importance of culture, suggesting several initiatives on topics as varied as arts education and illegal downloads. Here's a look at what is likely to change in the cultural landscape — and what will likely stay the same — over the next five years. more >
Island’s culture benefits from 400th anniversary celebration funds
The Cultural Legacy Fund has received a major financial boost from the Bermuda 2009 Charitable Trust. more >
Theatre critic resigns from Egyptian ministry of culture committee
Theatre critic Hatem Hafez resigns from the Supreme Council of Culture, saying the culture ministry operates on a 'policy of confusion' and accuses it of trying to restore the Mubarak regime more >
Creative Industry demands GHc10 million seed fund
The Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry (GAPI) is demanding a seed capital of GH¢10,000,000 from the Government to be set aside as copyright investment fund to support the growth and the development of the creative industry. more >
CPLP Celebrates Portuguese Day
The ambassadors of CPLP Countries in Zimbabwe, namely (Angola, Brazil, Portugal and Mozambique), celebrated on Monday in Harare the Day of Portuguese Language and Lusophone Culture, an initiative of Angolan embassy in that country. more >
Old age scheme for artists in offing
The Information Communications and Culture Ministry is preparing a paper on the setting up of an old age scheme for artists to meet their special needs arising from disability or old age. more >
Panel for more funds to Culture Ministry
The culture sector has not been accorded the priority it deserves, the Parliamentary Standing Committee has said in its report on the demand for grants by the Ministry of Culture. more >
Greek Festival: a victim of the crisis
One month before raising its curtain this summer, the Greek Festival has yet to divulge its final program regarding events taking place in Athens. The same goes for the venues that will host the event’s local and foreign theater and dance performances. more >
Crowdfunding Platforms Raised Almost $1.5B in ‘11, Up 72% Y-O-Y
Crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) raised $1.47 billion in 2011, up 72% from $854 million in 2010, and almost tripling the $530 million raised in 2009, finds massolution in a May 2012 report. more >
UNAC Calls for Creation of Cultural Industry
The National Association of Artists and Composers (UNAC) called on the concerned organ to create instruments that encourage the emergence of a cultural industry. more >
Vishakha Desai to Step Down as President and CEO of Asia Society
Vishakha N. Desai announced her plans to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Society after eight years of transformative global growth for the organization dedicated to connecting the peoples of Asia and the United States. more >
Civil society voices reached the EU Council of Culture Ministers
Campaign message in support of future EU Culture Programme ‘Creative Europe’ communicated on the occasion of Culture Ministers meeting in Brussels 10 May 2012. more >
Labour says government may have broken law in handling of BSkyB bid
Labour's former deputy leader of the Commons, Chris Bryant, has joined growing calls for an investigation into whether culture secretary Jeremy Hunt broke the ministerial code during his handling of the £8bn BSkyB bid. more >
China's China to further promote cultural reform: minister
Minister of Culture Cai Wu said that China will promote reform and development in its cultural sector and build a comprehensive public cultural service system. more >
Leonard Cohen donates $50K from Glenn Gould Prize
Singer-songwriter gives cash to Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Korean ministry to examine entertainment agencies
In light of the sexual assault scandals revolving around trainees in the entertainment business, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had announced that it will be establishing a new act to prevent exploitation of trainees. more >
Creative Scotland arts funding shake-up sparks concerns
Arts organisations have voiced concerns about their future after a funding shake-up at Creative Scotland. more >
Support Children's Day Today
Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna is encouraging all Jamaicans to participate and support the country’s first ever National Children’s Day, which will be celebrated on Friday, May 18. more >
The National Institute for the Performing Arts was inaugurated
The Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas (National Institute for the Performing Arts, INAE) was inaugurated on 17 May. The Institute will not function as a venue open to the public, but as a laboratory for artistic experimentation. more >
Instituto Nacional de Artes Escénicas fue inaugurado
El 17 de mayos desde las 15 horas tuvo lugar la inauguración oficial de la sede del Instituto Nacional de Artes Escénicas, en Zabala 1480, Ciudad Vieja. El lugar no dará funciones al público, sino que será un laboratorio para la experimentación escénica. more >
West England arts groups win grants of £2.4m
Arts organisations in the west of England have been awarded almost £2.4m of funding by Arts Council England. more >
Equal cultural rights for disabled
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has called for more efforts to ensure the basic cultural rights of the country's disabled people. more >
Caribbean writers praised at inaugural literary event
Literary giants of the Caribbean recently gathered for the Writers Ink- BIM Literary Festival Breakfast as part of the celebrations of the inaugural event. more >
Ho Chi Minh, State Awards applaud arts
The Council of State Awards and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented the Ho Chi Minh and State awards for literature and the arts and named the winners of the People's Artist title in Ha Noi. more >
Arts council says who should get cash as 25% culture budget cuts bite
A number of top Dutch orchestras, theatre groups and dance troupes will get no government subsidies over the next four years, the arts council confirmed on Monday. more >
2012: Tenth Anniversary of the World Day for Cultural Diversity
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. more >
UNAC urges more arts in schools
The National Association of Artists and Composers (UNAC) has proposed the Ministry of Education to introduce more subjects related to arts and the concept of specialised school into the school curricula at all levels. more >
Australia Council recognises artistic merits of death metal
Ouroboros is a Sydney band that has all the hallmarks of death metal: an arcane name, lots of long hair, deafeningly loud music, and a singer with a baritone like Beelzebub. more >
Jeremy Hunt investigated over donations register
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to be investigated over claims he failed to register donations from media firms more >
Forum to encourage diversity, cultural exchanges
With the goal of promoting cultural diversity and cross-cultural exchanges, the 2nd Nishan Forum on World Civilizations opened on May 21 in Qufu, a city in Shandong province and the hometown of Confucius. more >
Deputies prepare a General Law of Culture in Mexico
The Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies announced the start of a series of debates on the analysis of the legal framework for culture in Mexico. The series will help, with the participation of civil society, lawmakers to find arguments to form the General Law of Culture. The development of the law is based on Article 4 of the Constitution of Mexico, which establishes the right of access to culture. more >
Diputados preparan Ley General de Cultura en México
La Comisión de Cultura de la Cámara de Diputados anunció el inicio de los Foros de Análisis sobre el Marco Jurídico de la Cultura en México, en los que, con la participación ciudadana, los legisladores encontrarán los argumentos para conformar este año la Ley General de Cultura. Esta convocatoria se fundamente en el Artículo 4º de la Constitución Política de México, que establece el derecho al acceso a la cultura. more >
Promoting Culture Through Art
Located in Kacyiru, Gasabo District, a few meters from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, is Ishyo Arts Centre. Ishyo also does advocacy for the arts which involves supporting the government to develop cultural policies which are relevant for the artists and for the cultural environment, support artists in developing applications forms to assist them to participate in festivals abroad where they can market their work. more >
Vladimir Medinsky Named Russian Minister of Culture
With the announcement of the new cabinet on Tuesday, it became known that Vladimir Medinsky was appointed Minister of Culture. The new minister is 41 years old and previously served as a State Duma deputy. He is also a member of the Russkiy Mir Foundation management board. more >
Simon Crean, reshaping the nation's cultural landscape
AS far as we know, Simon Crean doesn't play an instrument, write fiction or act - apart from on the political stage, that is. But he has been named the nation's No1 cultural leader - ahead of an artist, administrator or philanthropist - for one reason: the National Cultural Policy. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >