National Arts Agency News

National Arts Agency News in 2007

Show Latest National Arts Agency News.

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News from national government agencies that support the arts. Subscribe to our newsletter, ACORNS. To feature your national agency’s news please email us.

January 2007

Australia Council Looks to Help Dancers

Together with the Australian Sports Commission, the Australia Council for the Arts has launched a unique program designed to provide professional development services for Australia’s dance artists and choreographers. more >

Northern Ireland Council Funds Fellowship

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is looking to develop the next generation of theatre leaders. more >

Edinburgh To Get Bookish

The Scottish Arts Council will distribute 25,000 free copies of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure novel, Kidnapped, throughout Edinburgh next month, in a unique project to get the city reading. more >

An Instrument for Every Child

Germany’s Federal Cultural Foundation (FCF) is getting set to provide “an Instrument for Every Child”. more >

Arts Council Ireland Looking for Consultants

Ireland’s Arts Council is looking to employ part time consultants across a range of art policy areas for terms of up to three years. more >

Australia Council Base Funding Renewed

The Australia Council has had its triennial base funding renewed by the federal government. more >

New Secretary-General for French Culture Ministry

Christine Bihan-Graf has been appointed Secretary-General to France’s Ministry for Culture and Communication, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. more >

NEA Presents Accessibility Leadership Award

The National Endowment for the Arts has presented Maine Arts Commission with the 2006 National Accessibility Leadership Award. more >

French Ministry Hosts Research Symposium

Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, France’s Minister for Culture and Communication, has opened the European and International Symposium for Research at the Pompidou Centre. more >

New Scottish Board Appointed

Scotland’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Patricia Ferguson has appointed the new joint board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, which will help oversee the agencies’ transition into the new body, Creative Scotland. more >

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Created

The Botswana National Sports Council received, with excitement, the news of the establishment of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. more >

Arts Council Ireland Welcomes National Development Plan

The Irish government’s National Development Plan – a long-term, large-scale scheme infrastructure spending, which includes a planned investment of €1.13 billion in culture – has been officially welcomed by the Arts Council. more >

Arts Council England Looks to Youth

Arts Council England has formed a new national youth council to help develop youth and participatory theatre practices in England. more >

Australia Council Hosts Writing Workshops

The Australia Council will host a series of seminars and workshops over the course of 2007 designed to help develop Australian writing and narratives for digital media. more >

Australia Council Welcomes New Arts Minister

The Australia Council for the Arts has welcomed the new Arts Minister, Senator George Brandis SC, to the post. more >

Arts Council Funding Plans for Organisations

Ireland’s Arts Council will fund 313 organisations in 2007 through its revenue funding funding programme, the Council’s main grants programme for arts organisations. more >

Youth Music Initiative Hitting Targets

Three years after it was launched, Scotland’s £37.5 million Youth Music Initiative has seen every school pupil in the nation be offered a year's free music tuition before they reach primary six, according to a new report published by the Scottish Arts Council. more >

Canada Council to increase funding for artistic projects

The Canada Council is increasing funding to arts organizations undertaking artistic production projects for the second consecutive year. more >

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February 2007

Special Committee on Arts and Education Issues Call for Public Submissions

Looking for ways to “best align its strategies for the promotion and encouragement of the arts with the priorities of the formal education system”, Arts Council Ireland’s Special Committee on Arts and Education has issued a call for public submissions. more >

Northern Ireland’s Arts Council releases five-year plan.

Northern Ireland’s Arts Council has released a five-year plan. more >

New Residency Programme for Young Aspiring Artists

Singapore's National Arts Council (NAC) has launched a new Artist-in-Residency program. more >

Public Value Inquiry Into Second Stage

The Arts Council of England wants to know what people think. more >

Arts and community groups learn more about NEA grant process

The National Endowment for the Arts’s outreach to California arts organizations continues to bear fruit. more >

Art Bank, The Book

A new book celebrating the Canada Council’s world famous art rental scheme, Art Bank, has been unveiled. more >

Creative New Zealand Chair to take opera post

The Chair of Creative New Zealand will depart the national arts body to take the lead at a new opera company. more >

NEA Announces Recipients of International Literature Awards

The National Endowment for the Arts has given $10,000 NEA International Literature Awards to three nonprofit literary presses that will translate and publish works from Spain and Greece and then promote them to American readers. more >

NEA Announces Recipients of International Literature Awards

The National Endowment for the Arts has given $10,000 NEA International Literature Awards to three nonprofit literary presses that will translate and publish works from Spain and Greece and then promote them to American readers. more >

Avoiding ageism in arts funding

We're always hearing about funding for youth arts schemes, but what about making the arts accessible to older people? A scheme in the East Midlands is doing just that. more >

Avoiding ageism in arts funding

We're always hearing about funding for youth arts schemes, but what about making the arts accessible to older people? A scheme in the East Midlands is doing just that. more >

Australia Council Mentoring Program On Again

Young Australian artists looking to set fire to their career have until 6 April to apply for the Australia Council’s annual national mentoring program for 18-26 year-olds. more >

Australia Council Mentoring Program On Again

Young Australian artists looking to set fire to their career have until 6 April to apply for the Australia Council's annual national mentoring program for 18-26 year-olds. more >

Changes in leadership at the Scottish Arts Council

CEO Graham Berry is leaving the Scottish Arts Council to follow his heart. more >

Creative Wales Awards winners announced

Nineteen professional artists from across the arts disciplines have received Creative Wales Awards from The Arts Council of Wales. more >

New arts award brings Irish and Northern Irish artists together

An innovative joint venture by the Arts Councils of Ireland and Northern Ireland is offering a new curators award to Irish artists. more >

Architecture blueprint unveiled

Building on the success of the National Programme, the Scottish Executive has announced its plans for the future of Scottish architecture and design. more >

Canada Council Celebrates Birthday with New Website

The Canada Council for the Arts is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the launch of a new web site. more >

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March 2007

NEA Announces Challenge America Fast-Track Grants

The National Endowment for the Arts is to distribute 136 “fast track” grants of $10,000 each. more >

Scottish Arts Council encourages theatre touring

Scotland is getting serious about touring theatre, with the release of a new strategy that is designed to make theatre accessible to as many people as possible. more >

Arts Council England responds to the Government’s announcement on Olympic funding

Arts Council England has released its response to the announcement that funds will be diverted from England’s cultural sector in aid of the 2012 Olympics. more >

More SCOPE to life after dance

A world-first Australia Council program will assist Australian dancers to better plan and manage their professional careers. more >

Arts Council Presents Case for Funding

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has presented the case for further arts funding to a group of parliamentarians. more >

Arts Council England put art in your pocket

Arts Council England will distribute free artist-designed travel wallets to people in Yorkshire, as part of its Art in Your Hand project, to make art available on everyday objects. more >

Northern Ireland seeks cultural assistance

Northern Ireland has revealed that it’s not only feeling the pinch in arts funding, but it has sought expert opinion in planning for the future of the performing arts. more >

Gioia Testifies to Remarkable Progress

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia has presented President George W. Bush’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget request of $128.4 million to the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. more >

Government announces funding for Pro Helvetia

The Swiss government will allocate CHF135 million to Pro Helvetia for the period of 2008-2011, CHF8.8 million less than the amount Pro Helvetia had applied for. more >

Australia Council Says MMM

The Australia Council’s Maker to Manufacturer to Market (MMM) initiative is entering its third year. more >

NEA Announces New Grants Program

The National Endowment for the Arts has established a new grants program designed to help music and dance companies perform at significant international festivals. more >

Seychelles Heritage Foundation Appoints Directors

The newly formed Seychelles Heritage Foundation has appointed its inaugural Board of Directors. more >

Arts Council Ireland Looks to Youth

The Arts Council Ireland will this year distribute an extra €185,000 across sixteen organisations working in the area of young people, children and the arts. more >

Northern Ireland campaigns for arts funding at the House of Commons

The funding battle in Northern Ireland is heating up as the Arts Council presented the case for increased funding, and less funding disparity between NI and other UK locations to the Performing Arts Alliance Group at the House of Commons. more >

What are people 'twittering' about?

Twitter, a way to broadcast short text messages to large groups of people, is growing about 20 percent a week and in only seven months is already up to 60,000 users. More than a million messages, known as "twitters" to those in the know, have been sent out. more >

Australia Council Releases Report on Arts and Education

The Australia Council’s new partnership with the Queensland University of Technology's ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) has borne its first fruit. more >

Youth Music Initiative Gets Seal of Approval

The Scottish Arts Council’s Youth Music Initiative has been declared a resounding success. more >

New appointments to lead the Arts Council in dance and visual arts

In news from Arts Council England this week, two leading figures from dance and visual arts have been appointed. more >

Study Finds Welsh More Cultured and Culturally Aware

A new study from the Arts Council of Wales confirms that the arts are playing an increasingly central role in Wales, both from a social and an economic perspective. more >

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April 2007

Arts Council of Wales appoints Dai Smith

Dai Smith has been formally appointed Chair of the Arts Council of Wales - a position he has been acting in since last year. more >

nationwide film series on The Future of Labour

For its project, WORK IN PROGRESS, the Friends of the German Cinemathéque recently created a pool of films from 25 film programmes based on the theme "The Future of Labour". more >

McDonough Rues Funding Shortfall

The Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has described the organisation’s reduced funding from the National Lottery as “extremely worrying”. more >

New market development director to join Australia Council

The Australia Council for the Arts has recruited a Canadian, Ms Sandra Bender, to the new position of Director, Market Development. more >

NEA Celebrates Poetry of Northern Ireland

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Goia has joined Northern Ireland poets Ciaran Carson, Michael Longley, Medbh McGuckian, and Paul Muldoon for a poetry reading at National Geographic's Washington, DC headquarters. more >

Canada Council Appoint New Head of Media Arts

The Canada Council has appointed Youssef El Jaï to head up its Media Arts Section, from May 14. more >

ACW Publishes Its Disability Equality Scheme

Arts Council Wales has published its "Disability Equality Scheme", a follow-up to "Moving Beyond", its widely acclaimed 2005 arts and disability strategy for Wales. more >

NEA Funds Russian Translation

The National Endowment for the Arts is embarking on another ambitious translation project. more >

Three Appointments at Arts Council England

Arts Council England has appointed three new directors to its literature, theatre and arts strategy teams. more >

Canada Council Announces Supplementary Operating Funds Initiative

The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the results of the Supplementary Operating Funds Initiative, a one-time-only program created as a result of the federal government’s $50 million funding boost over the next two fiscal years. more >

Proposal for Finland’s Cultural Exports Promotion Programme

The Working Group for the Development of Cultural Exports has drawn up the Programme for Cultural Export Promotion 2007-2011. more >

Young artists embark on epic career development opportunities

The Australia Council is getting set to provide five young and emerging producers with professional development opportunities in dance or new media art. more >

Sainsbury's and Arts Council bags

Arts Council England has teamed up with supermarket chain Sainsbury's to produce reusable shopping bags featuring specially commissioned work by artists Michael Craig-Martin, Anya Gallaccio and Paul Morrison. more >

NEA Big Read Gets Even Bigger

The National Endowment for the Arts will expand the national Big Read program next year, adding nine new books to the Big Read library and introducing the program to Russia. more >

Canada Council to Sponsor Aboriginal Curator

The Canada Council has teamed up with the National Gallery to provide an exciting professional development opportunity for a mid-career Aboriginal curator. more >

Creative New Zealand Launches Online Funding Guide

Creative New Zealand has teamed up with National Services Te Paerangi Te Papa, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, and the Funding Information Service to launch an online funding guide for the cultural sector. more >

Arts Council Ireland Broadens Touring Experiment

The Arts Council Ireland has broadened the scope of The Touring Experiment, bringing more organisations into its action research project designed to inform and shape future touring policy. more >

NEA Volunteer Service Award

National Endowment for the Arts Chairmain Dana Gioia has presented Phoenix Art Museum volunteer Valerie Rosenthal with the President's Volunteer Service Award. more >

Arts Council Ireland Look to Traditional Arts

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The Arts Council - An Chomhairle Ealaíon have launched a joint Traditional Arts funding programme. more >

Exploring Opportunities for a Single Ticketing Hub for Wales

The Arts Council of Wales is funding a feasibility study to look at ticketing possibilities across Wales. more >

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May 2007

2006 Balance Sheet

At its annual media conference on 19 April, the Swiss Arts Council presented its figures for the past year and looked at the key aspects of its future activities. more >

The Arts Council's mission statement

What exactly does Pro Helvetia do? And how does it do it? The Swiss Arts Council has produced a new document which sets forth its role and responsibilities. more >

FILIPINO HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2007

By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 439, which declares May each year as National Heritage Month, the Philippines holds nationwide, month-long celebrations centered on its heritage. more >

Insight into Asian Aucklanders’ attitudes towards the arts

Creative New Zealand has commissioned a research study into the attitudes of Auckland's Asian communities towards the arts in New Zealand. more >

Canada Council seeks input on future directions

The Canada Council will consult widely over the next two months, as it develops its strategic plan for 2008-2011, and has invited interested individuals and organizations to provide their input through its web site. more >

Arts and Culture Policy Workshop

The Department of Arts and Culture held a workshop at the Sandton Convention Centre earlier this month as part of the policy review process. more >

Australia Council hails big wins for the arts in Budget

The CEO of the Australia Council, Kathy Keele, has hailed some “very positive outcomes for the arts” in the annual Federal Budget. more >

Arts Council Meets with Culture Minister

Northern Ireland’s Culture Arts and Leisure Minister, Edwin Poots, has promised to make the case for the arts during the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review Process, after meeting with Arts Council officials. more >

Theatre Funding Consultations Continue

The Australia Council for the Arts has released a follow-up to its 2006 discussion paper on theatre funding, ‘Make it New’. more >

Building Bridges to the Arts, Culture and Community

Multicultural audience development expert, Donna Walker-Kuhne, will visit Australia in June to present a series of lectures and workshops. more >

Survey shows Arts Participation High

Over 75% of English adults participated in at least one form of cultural activity over the past year, a new Arts Council England report has revealed. more >

Arts Council Northern Ireland Reinforces Art-Health Link

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, has congratulated local charity, Arts Care, for showcasing the benefits of arts activities on health. more >

NEA Launches Education Leaders Institute

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has launched a new program designed to increase the commitment of school leaders, state legislators, and policy makers to arts education. more >

Australia Council affirms commitment to reconciliation

Australia Council CEO Kathy Keele has affirmed the Council’s commitment to the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan by 30 December 2007. more >

Canada Council Extends Partnerships

The Canada Council for the Arts has announced a number of new arts funding partnerships with funders at other levels of government. more >

Scottish Arts Council announces major new sponsorship deal for book awards

The Scottish Arts Council’s Book Awards have a new major sponsor, private property investment and development business, Sundial Properties. more >

Arts Council Ireland launches Arts Debate 2007

The Arts Council of Ireland has published the first of a series of pamphlets designed to encourage public debate on the value of the arts. more >

Seville to Host INCP

Seville will host the tenth annual cultural ministers meeting of the International Network of Cultural Policy (INCP) this September. more >

Arts Council England Thanks Public

Arts Council England has thanked the public for its enthusiastic participation in the arts debate, the Council’s first-ever public value inquiry. more >

Australia Council Announces Online Residency

The Australia Council for the Arts is to fund a collaborative artist residency in the 3D online virtual world of Second Life. more >

KUR - Programme

The Federal Cultural Foundation and the Cultural Foundation of the German Länder will collaborate on a new programme to restore and preserve Germany's mobile cultural assets. more >

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June 2007

French Ministry for Culture and Communication Revises Publications

The department of statistics of the French Ministry for Culture and Communications has revised its publications in order to improve the regularity of its published works. This revision has resulted in the disappearance of a number of publications. more >

Signing of Agreements Signals New Phase

Singapore’s National Arts Council (NAC) and the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to encourage artistic development, collaboration and exchange. more >

Arts Council England proposes changes to improve standards of service

Arts Council England has announced proposals to improve its support services, following an internal review. more >

Scottish Arts Council announce major new dance bursaries

The Scottish Arts Council has announced two major new bursaries for Scotland’s dance artists. Anna Krzystek has been awarded the inaugural Choreographic Fellowship while Ross Cooper will take part in the first New York Residency. more >

Canada Council Awards Molson Prizes

Composer, conductor and music educator Alex Pauk and University of Waterloo philosophy professor Paul Thagard are the winners of this year’s Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes. more >

Ministry invites comments on draft cultural policy

Pakistan's Ministry of Culture has invited views and comments from arts professionals and members of the public on its draft cultural policy. more >

Arts Council urges new Government to invest €100 million

The Arts Council is to ask the incoming Government to provide €100 million funding for the arts in 2008 as part of their new Programme for Government, a €20 million increase on funding for 2007. more >

Expressions of interest for arts and health demonstration project

The Australia Council for the Arts is seeking expressions of interest from artists, arts organisations and health organisations to develop an arts and health demonstration project. more >

New Chair for Creative New Zealand

Creative New Zealand has welcomed Alastair Carruthers as its new Chair. more >

Arts Council Of Wales Annual Conference

The new Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language, Carwyn Jones AM will make his first official address to the arts sector at The Arts Council of Wales’s annual conference next week. more >

Re-imaging Communities Technical Support

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has appointed Groundwork Northern Ireland to deliver technical assistance for its Re-imaging Communities Programme. more >

Australia Council forms National Indigenous Arts Reference Group

The Australia Council for the Arts has formed a National Indigenous Arts Reference Group to provide cultural insight and expert advice for the development and implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts programs. more >

50 for 50 website launched

The Canada Council’s 50 for 50 Arts Challenge has gone high tech. more >

New fund is music to business ears

The Scottish Music Futures Fund was launched in Inverness earlier this month. more >

New Inquiry into Creative Partnerships and the Curriculum

Parliament's Education and Skills Select Committee is to hold an inquiry into partnership activity and creativity in education. more >

Museum Attendance Booming

New figures show more people than ever enjoying England's national museums thanks to free admission more >

Making the Most of the Arts in Early Years

A new project supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has highlighted the importance of creativity in the education of young people. more >

NEA National Heritage Fellowship Program Celebrates Anniversary

The NEA will mark the silver anniversary of its National Heritage Fellowship program will a photo exhibit, a publication and companion DVD, and a concert on the National Mall. more >

Work Foundation Report

As part of the Creative Economy Programme, the Department for Culture Media and Sport commissioned Will Hutton and the Work Foundation to produce an economic analysis of the Creative Economy in the UK. more >

Pro Helvetia bill presented by Federal Council

On 8 June, the Swiss Federal Council presented the revised bills for a new Arts and Culture Promotion Act and a revised Pro Helvetia Act. more >

Arts Council Announces decisions on Regularly Funded Organisations

The Arts Council recently announced its decisions under its new programme for Regularly Funded Organisations (RFO) for 2008. more >

Urban Institute to Investigate Public Funding Mechanisms for Museums

In a new cooperative agreement with the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Urban Institute will study the mechanisms of public support for museums in the United States and possible alternative funding methods. more >

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July 2007

Arts Council announces participants in the Touring Experiment

The Arts Council is pleased to announce the third group of organisations to participate in the Touring Experiment. more >

Scottish Executive pledges £500,000 to promote Scottish bands

Half a million pounds is to be spent on creating business paths for Scotland’s prescient bands, enabling emerging talent to tell the same tale of success as artists such as KT Tunstall, Runrig and Franz Ferdinand. more >

Live Music Forum says new licensing laws affect small-scale music events

Feargal Sharkey, 80's pop icon and chairman of the Live Music Forum, the Government needs to do more to help grass roots musicians and particularly small venues. more >

Australia Council for the Arts to co-host virtual artists' forum

The Australia Council for the Arts, in partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), will host its first ever artist forum in Second Life. more >

DCMS publishes its report on how to engage wider audiences

DCMS has published Culture on Demand: Ways to engage a broader audience, which provides an assessment of the available literature, evidence, case studies and a detailed breakdown of the identified demand drivers and appropriate tactics to respond to those drivers. more >

Local communities receive funding boost

The Deputy First Minister has announced that the first £500,000 has been allocated to 34 community based projects across Northern Ireland as part of the £3.3 million Re-imaging Communities Programme. more >

Review of Government support for the arts has been announced

Sir Brian McMaster is to lead a review of how the Government supports excellence in the arts. more >

National Register of Tartan to protect Scotland's

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather today committed to creating a National Register of Tartan to "protect, promote and preserve one of Scotland's most iconic and valuable assets". more >

Arts Council announces public consultation on draft strategy

The Arts Council of Wales has published for public consultation a draft strategy on Arts in Health and Well-being. more >

Take it away initiative brings music to the people

Take it away is a new Arts Council initiative designed to help more people get involved in learning and playing music. more >

Take it away

An Arts Council initiative designed to help more people get involved in learning and playing music. more >

National Arts Council reveals

The NAC has emerged from its rather troubled past and - while it will take time and no nonsense implementation - believes it has the capacity, support and determination to build an institution that truly serves the needs of the arts sector and the community. more >

Creative Places Awards 2007 recognises master carver

Whangarei master carver, teacher and mentor Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka was recognised today when Creative New Zealand presented him the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award 2007. more >

Publishing seminar examines digital future

Over 100 publishing representatives attended the Australia Council's Publishing the Story of the Future seminar. more >

Wales Arts International Appoints A New Director

Eluned Haf has been announced as the new Director of Wales Arts International, the unique partnership between The Arts Council of Wales and British Council Wales. more >

Canada Council welcomes extension of budget increase

The Canada Council for the Arts has described as “wonderful news” the federal government’s announcement that a $30 million funding increase for 2007-08 will now be ongoing. more >

Young musicians to get more practice spaces

The Culture and Young People’s Secretaries have asked Feargal Sharkey to set up a rehearsal studio network to encourage young musicians. more >

Book promotion spreads the word on reading

Australia’s largest promotion of books and reading, Books Alive 2007, will encourage more Australians to discover the joys of reading over the coming month. more >

NAC HOSTING 4TH WORLD SUMMIT ON ARTS AND CULTURE

This year, the NAC and its partners won the bid to host the next World Summit on Arts and Culture in South Africa. more >

Ministerio de Cultura desarrolla un novedoso proceso curatorial para Salones Regionales de Artistas

En las últimas ediciones del Salón Nacional de Artistas, la Dirección de Artes se ha esforzado por construir una propuesta diferente y fresca para su convocatoria. more >

Young people take centre stage in new circus report

A picture of how popular taking part in circus activities is with young people in England has emerged in a new report commissioned by Arts Council England. more >

Arts Partners in Creative Development

Eight organizations will share $1 million in the first round of funding from Arts Partners in Creative Development. more >

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August 2007

New opportunities for budding Audience Development professionals

The Scottish Arts Council, in partnership with Scotland’s two audience development agencies has launched Scotland’s first Audience Development Internship Programme. more >

Australian Literature in Education Roundtable

The Australia Council hosted a roundtable on the study of Australian literature in schools and universities. more >

Australia Council introduces 'The Story of the Future'

The Story of the Future is a strategic initiative that aims to develop Australian writing and narratives for digital media. more >

Ministry of Culture supports development while sustaining national identity

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development today unveiled details of its 2008-2010 strategic framework. more >

Arts Council urges Government to invest additional €20 million in the arts in 2008

The Arts Council is asking the Government for an additional €20 million in 2008, to bring its funding to €100 million for the first time and enable the Arts Council to focus on the development of a number of key areas identified in consultation with arts organisations around the country. more >

MULTIMEDIA - Lion Pig Lion

30 Sec TVC for the production of Lion Pig Lion showing at the State Theatre Company, South Australia. Produced by Fusion. more >

Ireland needs to invest in weather-independent experiences says Arts Council Chair

The Chair of the Arts Council or Ireland has called for investment in major arts and cultural renewal projects. more >

Individual artist programme evaluation

The Arts Council has just released an evaluation of its the Support for Individual Artist Programme. more >

Actual and Perceived Barriers to Publicly Funded Arts

A 2005 research report has just been published online by the Arts Council. more >

Multicultural Arts Symposium

The Australia Council has hosted a one-day symposium on multicultural arts. more >

New Minister to solve difficulties from grassroots

Newly-appointed Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Anh Tuan on the challenges ahead from the unification of culture, sports and tourism into one department. more >

Venezuela in Scotland launches today

Young people in Scotland will benefit from an innovative music programme developed in Venezuela. more >

Arts Council welcomes Meryl Streep to drive regeneration in Belfast

The Arts Council welcomed Meryl Streep to Belfast to endorse a new purpose-built performing arts venue for social, economic and cultural re-generation. more >

Progress Europe report

Pro Helvetia has provided support for a new publication on culture and cultural policies in Europe. more >

Animating Democracy Post-Convention Resource Website

Americans for the Arts has posted resources from its 2007 Animating Democracy event on its website. more >

El Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia cumplió diez años

El mes de agosto es un mes de celebración para el sector cultural colombiano, pues se cumplieron diez años de creación de la cartera pública de cultura. more >

Colombia's Ministry of Culture celebrates its 10th Anniversary

The month of August is one of celebration for Colombia's cultural sector given that its Ministry celebrates the ten year anniversary of its creation. more >

UNESCO seeks Arts Education Observatories

UNESCO is searching for candidates in the Asia-Pacific region to become arts education Observatories. more >

New project to identify value of cultural industries

Two ministries have joined forces on a study that will examine how humanities research can contribute to policy to further develop New Zealand's cultural industries. more >

NEA and XM Radio Launch The Big Read

The Big Read brings communities together to read and discuss a single book in order to restore reading to the center of American public culture. more >

A debate on folk culture and cultural promotion

Pro Helvetia is launching FolkDEBATEculture, a series of five debates on folk culture and cultural promotion. more >

Petition for 'Youth and music' referendum

Pro Helvetia is supporting a petition by the Swiss Music Council for a federal referendum on youth and Music', the goal of which is to ensure that musical education is anchored in the Swiss Constitution. more >

Artisans study the importance of packaging

The Authentically Bahamian Department is holding workshops for artists on professional packaging of craft items and has plans to lauch an authenticity website. more >

Sky’s the limit for the Book of the Year

The Scottish Arts Council, in partnership with BAA Edinburgh and publisher Faber & Faber, is today (Friday) sending 1000 international passengers home with a work of art from Scotland. more >

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September 2007

Se lanza convocatoria nacional para presentar candidaturas para el Premio Binacional Chileno Argentino de las Artes y la Cultura

El Premio Binacional Chileno Argentino de las Artes y la Cultura distingue la trayectoria de un creador, intérprete o institución del mundo artístico cultural chileno o argentino. more >

Inaugural award for excellence in Italian culture

The Minister for Culture has initiated a Prize for Excellence in Italian Culture and awarded the first prize to Luciano Pavarotti. more >

Creating our future strategic plan consultation

An update on the Canada Council Canada Council for the Arts' consulation as it develops its 2008-2011 Strategic Plan. more >

Study of voluntary arts activity

The DCMS has announced plans for a new study that will produce a national picture of amateur arts activity in England. more >

The Binational Chilean and Argentinean Prize for Arts and Culture is calling for nominations

The Binational Chilean and Argentinean Prize for Arts and Culture acknowledges the professional career of an artist, performer or institution of the artistic and cultural Chilean or Argentinean milieu. more >

New Vice-Minister for Culture

Yu Youjun has been appointed Vice Minister of Culture and Communist Party of China (CPC) chief in the ministry of culture, taking over from Sun Jiazheng. more >

Senior official stresses importance of meeting cultural needs of public

A senior Chinese official has called for more efforts to develop public cultural services to satisfy people with different needs. more >

Turning the spotlight on ticket pricing

A new collection of essays commissioned by Arts Council England exposes and debunks some of the myths and legends surrounding ticket pricing and the cost of entry into arts events. more >

En Argentina se resuelve reclamo histórico de grandes agrupaciones artísticas nacionales

El convenio acordado reconoce las especificidades propias de la profesión artística, a través de un régimen laboral acorde con las mismas y un reconocimiento económico que a lo largo de la carrera se traduce en un incremento salarial de hasta el 65%. more >

Debt to be paid to Argentinian artists of national major performing arts organizations

A new agreement establishes better working conditions for artists given the (up to) 65% increase in their salary. more >

Cultural ministers to meet in Seville

Spain's Minister of Culture will host the INCP Network’s 10th Annual Ministerial Meeting in Seville on 20-22 September. more >

Art at the Heart

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland's annual conference 2007 will explore the theme of socially and politically engaged art. more >

Research team selected for participatory arts networking study

The Arts Council of Ireland has selected a research team and project steering group to carry out research into Participatory Arts networking in Ireland. more >

The influence of French culture: a priority

In this interview, Christine Albanel outlines her priorities for French cultural policy. more >

New program provides platform for green design

One hundred small environmental design companies will have the opportunity to build their business through the Australian Design Platform. more >

Café Artistique

Café Artistique is an initiative supported by the Arts Council of Wales to stimulate arts discussion and critical debate in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. more >

Arts Council announces new senior management appointments

The Arts Council has announced three new appointments to its senior management team, strengthening the support and advice the senior executive can give the Council and the arts sector. more >

Boosting local cultures way to confront cultural globalization

Strengthening indigenous cultures and cultural diversity is a major way to confront cultural globalization, Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi said when he arrived in Spain for the 10th annual meeting of INCP culture ministers. more >

La Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación de Argentina Presentará Públicamente su Recién Reactivado Sistema Nacional de Información Cultural

En el marco del Segundo Seminario sobre Sistemas de Información Cultural, la Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación invita a la jornada de entrada libre Comunicación, Cultura y Economía. Contraseñas para la integración latinoamericana. more >

El Programa Itinerancias por Colombia 2007 del Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia Avanza

La Dirección de Artes del Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, en asocio con la Red Nacional de Festivales de Teatro Colombiano, inicia el tercer circuito de Itinerancias por Colombia 2007. more >

The Program "Itinerancias por Colombia 2007" of the Colombian Ministry of Culture Progresses

The Arts Unit of the Ministry of Culture, in association with the National Network of Colombian Theatre Festivals, begins the third tour of Itinerancias por Colombia 2007. more >

Launch of the Argentinean National Information System for Culture

Within the frame of the Second Seminar on Cultural Information Systems, the Argentinean National Secretariat for Culture invites you to a free conference. more >

New Chief Executive of Arts Council England appointed

Sir Christopher Frayling, Chair of Arts Council England, today announced the appointment of Alan Davey as the new Chief Executive of Arts Council England. more >

Minister Wallin to attend the 8th Finnish-Russian Cultural Forum

The 8th Finnish-Russian Cultural Forum has the theme "Virtual communication - internet, culture, youth". more >

Pensions for Artists Website Launched

Pensions for Artists is a new website funded by the Arts Council, providing artists with up-to-date information about pensions and savings. more >

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October 2007

National Arts Council of South Africa Annual Report

While the report reflects the work of the National Arts Council (NAC) from April 2006 to March 2007 (the year under review) it is important to state upfront that the Council was only inaugurated in September 2007, six months into the year under review. more >

Creative Nation - Scottish Arts Council launches Cultural Summit

Scotland’s largest gathering of artists, arts organisations and delegates from the widest cultural sector will converge on Edinburgh next February. more >

Speech by Edmund Cheng, Chairman, National Arts Council

We did a round-up of the arts in 2006, and I am pleased to report that Singapore’s arts scene saw an unprecedented level of arts activity. more >

Canada Council plan sets directions for the future

The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s national arts funding agency, has released its new strategic plan, a statement of values and directions which will guide the Council’s activities over the next three to five years. more >

Smaller arts companies benefit from big funding boost

More than 113 small to medium performing arts companies will benefit from an extra $4.8 million in Australian Government Budget funding. more >

Arts Council Statement regarding Anna Lo’s motion for the arts