A new MORI survey exploring key marketing issues and business trends that will affect arts marketers over the coming year has been announced by the marketing services agency London Calling Arts, in partnership with ArtsProfessional and audience development agency Audiences London. Any marketers wishing to see particular issues raised in the survey should contact London Calling Arts no later than 12 August. A copy of the 2004 Arts Marketing Survey Report is at w: http://www.londoncalling.com/resources; e: john@londoncalling.com
Visually impaired, blind and sighted artists in all media are being invited to submit work that can be explored through touch and the other senses, to the 2006 ?Sense & Sensuality? competition. The winner of the 2005 First Prize was ?Head? (pictured), a work by Scottish mother and daughter artists, Liz Munro and Nuala Watt. It explored and expressed Nuala?s own visual impairment, through digital photography and printed ?flocking?, and was accompanied by a poem called ?Birdsong?, written by her. 100 of the latest entries will be chosen for display at London?s Bankside Gallery in the autumn of 2006. t: 020 7245 9977; w: http://www.blindart.net
The Arts Award for young people, run by Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall examinations, has become the first youth arts leadership scheme with a qualification to be accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The scheme will give young people the chance to gain a qualification that recognises arts development and arts leadership outside formal education. Working with professional artists and arts organisations, young people will plan and run their own arts projects, setting themselves challenges through which they develop their creative, leadership and social skills. Teachers, youth workers and arts workers will be trained as young people?s Arts Award advisers, supported by regional training agencies.
Liverpool?s Neptune Theatre, which closed last month when it was found to be failing to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and health and safety legislation, is to receive an £800,000 boost from Liverpool City Council for redecoration, rewiring, toilet improvements and asbestos removal. The work will enable the 400-seat community venue to play a central role in the programme of events during the city?s celebrations for European Capital of Culture 2008.
The Museums Libraries and Archives Council has suggested that it should take on a role as a strategic funding body responsible for the museum sector. The proposal was one of several included in its response to government proposals on the future of England?s museums. Other recommendations include the creation of a national object loan scheme, improved tax breaks for donations, and a more coordinated approach to storage and collections management. w: http://www.mla.gov.uk
An arts projects fund worth £180,000 has been set aside to enable artists and arts organisations to undertake projects in Bristol which celebrate the life, work and legacy of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The deadline for applications is 26 August. w: http://www.brunel200.com
Applications are open for the next round of Culture 2000 arts funding. e28m is available, and grants of between e50,000 and e150,000 will be made for one-year projects. Priorities this year include an emphasis on young and socially disadvantaged people, cultural diversity, promotion of the common cultural heritage of Europe, and demonstration of the role of culture in socio-economic development. Negotiations about Culture 2007 are still underway, although the new scheme is expected to have an increased budget of over e400m during its six-year life. w: http://www.euclid.info
The Arts and Humanities Research Council?s (AHRC) Fellowships in the Creative and Performing Arts scheme is being re-launched to enable practising artists in the UK to undertake university-based research. The scheme will pay a Fellow?s salary costs of between £25,000 and £40,000 pro rata, enabling them to work in a Higher Education Institution for up to 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time. Successful applicants will also be eligible to apply for other AHRC funding for specific research projects during their Fellowship. The closing date for applications is 29 September. Contact Jane Parsons. e: j.parsons@ahrc.ac.uk; w: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/apply/research.asp
National Lottery Day is to become an annual event celebrating and promoting the impact of Lottery funding. National Lottery Day 2005 will be on 5 November, with a focus on Lottery-supported projects which have benefited children and young people. With the Arts Council?s Lottery licence due for renewal in 2008, arts organisations that have benefited from Lottery funding are being encouraged to get involved in promotional initiatives on the day.
The Scottish Arts Council?s Own Art scheme, which offers interest free loans of £100 to £2,000, has seen more than 140 people purchase new works of contemporary art and craft worth £84,000 at nine Scottish art galleries since its launch in December 2004. An additional 22 galleries across Scotland have now been selected to participate in the initiative.
As part of National Enterprise Week, PALATINE, the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Dance, Drama and Music, is holding a free conference on 16 November, to address issues around links between higher education and the creative industries, promoting enterprise in the creative sector and teaching cultural entrepreneurship. w: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/palatine/pace/conference.htm
Former Tory shadow culture secretary John Whittingdale has been elected as Chairman of the House of Commons Culture Select Committee. He replaces Gerald Kaufman, who had served the maximum of two parliamentary terms as Chairman. Tim Yeo, the Conservative Shadow Environment Secretary is also on the committee, along with one other Tory, one Liberal Democrat, one Plaid Cymru MP and six Labour MPs.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has launched a national survey of participation in all the activities covered by the Ministry. The continuous national survey, involving nearly 30,000 interviews, will release quarterly updates on what encourages and puts people off participating in sport, culture and leisure activities. w: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/research/takingpart_survey.htm