Cross artform

A number of cultural buildings in Kyiv were damaged by Russian shelling on Monday (10 October).

Russia launched more than 80 missiles in what is thought to be the largest attack on the Ukrainian capital since the invasion started in February, killing at least 11 people.

Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said impacted cultural sites include Khanenko Art Museum, Kyiv Art Gallery, Taras Shevchenko Museum, the National Natural Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Museum of the History of the City of Kyiv. 

Writing on Facebook, Tkachenko said immediate ground efforts were made “to minimise the negative consequences of the damage” and urgent “negotiations with international partners” were held.

Ukraine’s cultural heritage has been targeted since the start of Russia’s invasion, in an apparent attempt to erase the country’s cultural identity. Over 50 cultural sites have been damaged, more than 40 museums have been looted, and arts buildings have been attacked nationwide.

Tkachenko’s website reports he is now calling for a meeting between culture ministers of G7 countries to “strengthen sanctions against Russia and the strengthening of support for Ukraine”.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has opened a funding programme that aims to give arts organisations the skills to create digital art.

The Organisations Digital Evolution Awards offers grants of up to £10,000 for those making digital art for the first time, or working with digital or immersive technology they have not previously used.

The scheme will support a range of digital activity including: app development, virtual or augmented reality works, 3D rendering and printing, and the translation of digital data into artworks.

Collaborative applications from organisations working together in cross-discipline projects are encouraged. Funded by the National Lottery, the total fund is worth £40,000.

Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “This programme reflects the Arts Council’s commitment to encouraging innovative practices that cross artform boundaries and build digital capabilities within the Northern Ireland arts sector.”   

The scheme has opened to online applications and closes at midday on Monday 14 November.

An official probe into the value for money provided by the £120m Unboxed festival will be conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO).

In a letter published today the Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO, Gareth Davies, said he expects to produce a report on the costs and benefits, management and planning of the project by the end of the year.

The move follows a critical report on the government-funded festival by the DCMS Select Committee which concluded that the investment was "an irresponsible use of public money" given the government’s own admission that it does not know what it is for.

It was reported last month that visitor numbers for four of the 10 events of the festival have been 238,000, compared with a "stretch target" of 66 million.

Chair of the DCMS Select Committee Julian Knight said: “That such an exorbitant amount of public cash has been spent on a so-called celebration of creativity that has barely failed to register in the public consciousness raises serious red flags about how the project has been managed from conception through to delivery. 

"The NAO’s investigation will bring welcome and thorough scrutiny and help get to the bottom of how so much tax-payer money could be frittered away for so little return.”

DCMS has said that it "[does] not agree with the select committee's views", adding that more than four million people have engaged in Unboxed programming so far, with numbers set to rise further.