Newsreel

The 2005 London Calling Arts? annual survey on Marketing in the Cultural & Tourism Sectors goes live on 13 September. Developed in collaboration with ArtsProfessional and Audiences London, and conducted by MORI, the survey will build on data collected last year on trends in marketing spend, audience development activity and the capacity of arts organisations to take advantage of innovations in marketing practice. It will also provide information about internal perceptions of the marketing function. To participate, contact MORI.
e: [email protected]

A new initiative to generate and sustain a low budget film industry in the UK is being supported with an investment of £6m over three years by the UK Film Council and FilmFour. The Low Budget Film Scheme will aim to help film-makers secure sales and distribution to enable the films to reach the market, by establishing relationships with distributors, sales agents and broadcasters.

Arts professionals in Scotland are being invited to contribute to a consultation on how statistics on culture and sport should be published by the Scottish Executive. The aim of the exercise is to publish a compendium of statistics on topics including attendance, participation, attitudes, excellence, volunteering, events, facilities, education, employment, economic benefits and financing of culture and sport. Contact Joe Jobling. t: 0131 244 4927

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has turned to eBay to raise money for education and outreach activity. The orchestra is auctioning a conducting masterclass with Sakari Oramo, Music Director of the CBSO followed by a meal with members of the Orchestra and its management, and a night?s accommodation at a 4-star hotel.

Artscape is looking for organisations to register with its online directory for arts in education. The directory of artists and organisations working in formal or community education is an increasingly popular tool for education programmers across the UK. w: http://www.artscape.org.uk

Tickets.com is launching a new ticketing and marketing system specifically for Europe. ProVenueOne will offer a system that can be used by both small and large venues. The first systems are expected to be available by the end of the year with more detailed versions being released in 2006. w: http://www.tickets.com

The Baring Foundation is planning to merge its two funding streams offering support to voluntary organisations. From 2006 its funding programme, Strengthening the Voluntary Sector, will only offer grants ranging from £20,000 to £100,000 focusing on organisational development. Applications for sums under £20,000 will not be considered after the end of this year.
w: http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk

A conference addressing the role of the voluntary arts in Europe is being hosted at the Wales Millennium Centre in November. Speakers include practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe, and the event aims to establish a European Network of Voluntary/Amateur Arts. w: http://www.voluntaryarts.org/europe/conference

A new annual prize, funded by NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and supported by BBC Radio 4 and Prospect magazine, aims to re-establish the importance of the British story. Valued at £15,000 for the winning author and £3,000 for the runner-up, the National Short Story Prize will be the largest award in the world for a single story.
w: http://www.theshortstory.org.uk

People with learning difficulties who paint and draw, and are resident in the South West region, are invited to enter for the third year of The Paddy Masefield Award, made to the artist who best uses visual art to change people?s attitudes towards disabled people. The success of the Award, worth £1,000 to the winner, relies on arts professionals spreading news to a constituency who mainly do not read, but many of whom paint. The closing date is 29 October and application forms are available from art + power.
t: 0117 908 9859