Monday, 10 September 2012
A musical scheme that eases the transfer between primary and secondary school has been praised by Ofsted. 'Musical Bridges: Transforming Transitions’ is an initiative set up by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to get Year 6 students involved in the musical activities of their prospective secondary school. The scheme’s successful work with schools in Cornwall will be featured in a report published this... read more
Monday, 10 September 2012
A new social media site for the cultural sector, World Cultures Connect, is aiming to promote British work internationally and to enable artists to form links with arts organisations across the world. The project is being led by Visiting Arts, who describe the project as an ‘intelligent’ arts directory combined with a professional online network. It will allow online communities working in... read more
Monday, 10 September 2012
Campaigning group Culture Counts has written to Scottish Local Authority leaders to express their feelings on the importance of the arts to communities, and to encourage a commitment to the arts from those leaders. Their letter specifically highlights the economic and social benefits of art programmes. The campaign is supported by many of the leading creative bodies in Scotland, including the... read more
Monday, 10 September 2012
New pension rules are to come into effect in October 2012 for larger organisations, with smaller organisations being required to comply in stages in subsequent years. The new rules require workers to be subscribed to a work based pension scheme and for employers to offer a 3% minimum contribution, but employees may opt out if they wish. The Pensions Regulator has published an online leaflet on... read more
Friday, 31 August 2012
Scotland is to launch a commemorative blue plaque scheme by celebrating significant Scottish figures from arts and culture, to tie in with their Year of Creative Scotland 2012. Historic Scotland is taking suggestions via its website on who should appear on the plaques, which will be mounted on former homes or other buildings that are synonymous with the person’s creative achievements. 12 plaques... read more
Friday, 31 August 2012
A new social media site for the cultural sector, World Cultures Connect, is aiming to promote British work internationally and to enable artists to form links with arts organisations across the world. The project is being led by Visiting Arts, who describe the project as an ‘intelligent’ arts directory combined with a professional online network. It will allow online communities working in... read more
Friday, 31 August 2012
Campaigning group Culture Counts has written to Scottish Local Authority leaders to express their feelings on the importance of the arts to communities, and to encourage a commitment to the arts from those leaders. Their letter specifically highlights the economic and social benefits of art programmes. The campaign is supported by many of the leading creative bodies in Scotland, including the... read more
Friday, 31 August 2012
New pension rules are to come into effect in October 2012 for larger organisations, with smaller organisations being required to comply in stages in subsequent years. The new rules require workers to be subscribed to a work based pension scheme and for employers to offer a 3% minimum contribution, but employees may opt out if they wish. The Pensions Regulator has published an online leaflet on... read more
Friday, 31 August 2012
A new guide to help charity managers and trustees detect and prevent fraud explains the correct procedures to follow if fraud occurs. It includes useful contacts and advice on how to prevent reputational damage to their organisation, and suggests what should be included in a charity’s anti-fraud policy. A collective of public and private sector groups working in charity management and fraud... read more
Sunday, 26 August 2012
The Cultural Learning Alliance is gathering opinions on plans to reform Drama education in primary schools. Current drafts of the new Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula have no specific mention of Drama being taught as a separate subject and it is thought that no statutory provision will be made for the subject. The Department for Education has asked Alliance to consult with its stakeholders on their... read more
Sunday, 26 August 2012
The Directory of Social Change has published the key findings of its latest survey of grant making trusts, including percentage of successful grant applications, average grant amounts and the percentage of grants given to first time applicants. The report finds that of those surveyed, just over 45% of applications were both eligible for funding and successful in having it granted. Most individual... read more
Monday, 23 July 2012
A new national audience development agency is being formed out of a merger between Manchester’s All About Audiences and Audiences London Plus. Opening for business in September, The Audience Agency will provide advice to cultural organisations on growing and engaging audiences. This is the latest merger in a string of restructures undergone by audience development agencies since they lost Arts... read more
Monday, 02 July 2012
A strategic guide to managing the energy use of a cultural building has been published by Julie’s Bicycle in partnership with The Theatres Trust. ‘Energising Culture’ is the first of two guides that aim to equip leaders with an understanding of energy demand and supply, and the implications for business models. Julie’s Bicycle said that rethinking the way cultural organisations use energy will “... read more
Monday, 11 June 2012
The process has begun for establishing a National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) in England, to offer talented young people the chance to develop the high-level performance skills needed for a professional career in dance, as recommended by the Henley Review of Cultural Education. Arts Council England (ACE) is inviting submissions to run the organisation, which will receive £400,000 a year in... read more
Monday, 21 May 2012
A report examining different approaches to measuring the economic contribution of arts and cultural organisations’ work has been published by Arts Council England (ACE). Written by BOP Consulting, it aims to offer guidance to organisations undertaking or commissioning economic studies. ACE said: “Understanding the economic contribution of the organisations we fund is both an important advocacy... read more