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A new independent agency to develop audiences and support organisations in the East Midlands is being planned by Culture East Midlands in collaboration with Arts Council England and other cultural partners. The East Midlands is the only English region without some form of audience development agency for the arts. Detailed planning is taking place to determine the services the agency will provide, and a summary of the consultation to date is on the website at
w: http://www.auem.org.uk

The sixth annual National Storytelling Week will take place from 28 January to 4 February this year, with the aim of involving a diverse array of ethnic traditions in the British Isles. Arts organisations are being invited to promote events as part of the celebration, and an information pack about the week includes advice on promoting storytelling events and using storytellers in schools. Contact Del Reid.
t: 020 8866 4232; e: [email protected]

Blackburn will be hosting the first European exhibition of work from the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, the only museum in the world to systematically collect and exhibit Asian modern and contemporary art. The collaboration, Parallel Realities: Asian Art Now (pictured) will include exhibitions at the Museum and Art Gallery, Blackburn Rovers Football Club and Blackburn Cathedral.
w: http://www.c21.tv

Clear Channel, the commercial arts and entertainment corporation operating theatres across the UK, has renamed itself as LIVE Nation.

A consultation exercise being undertaken by the Department for Education and Skills is advocating visits and experiences in non-classroom environments for children within school hours. Arts organisations and practitioners are being urged to make the case for arts, museums and gallery education by responding to the consultation paper by 30 January.
w: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/condetails.cfm?consultationid=1370

The UKs growing festival scene will be the focus of a one-day international conference organised by the Arts Management team of De Montfort University in Leicester on 3 March. The programme aims to enable delegates to network with leading practitioners from the festival sector, identify strategies for sustainable festival development and to develop an increased international perspective to the programming and management of UK festivals. For details contact Christopher Maughan or Clark Summers.
t: 0116 250 6189; 0116 250 6131; e: [email protected]; [email protected]

nalgao, the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers, has signed a joint memorandum of understanding with Arts Council England relating to partnership working across England. The document sets out the details of the partnership in the context of four key priority areas: the creative economy, healthy communities, vital neighbourhoods and engaging young people.

The Making Music Equal Opportunities Award is a kitemark being given to music clubs and societies who are able to satisfy nine criteria to show that they have taken reasonable steps to remove any unintentional barriers preventing people from taking part in music-making activities. Music groups planning activities for young people in 2006 can find advice and examples of best practice at
http://www.makingmusic.org.uk/html/467.shtml

The Charity Commission has issued a document detailing the implications to charities of the proposed Charities Bill. The document notes that the Bill has not yet been enacted but gives an overview of the proposals within it.
w: http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/spr/corcom1.asp#1

The Arts and Humanities Research Council has announced that, from April this year, eight of the UKs museums, galleries, libraries and archives will be eligible to apply for research funding, including the National Portrait Gallery, Tate and the National Maritime Museum. Until now, only staff working at the UKs Higher Educations Institutions (HEIs) have been eligible for such funding.