A resource aimed at helping cultural websites stand out from the crowd has been launched by Culture Online. ProjectsETC includes case studies, practical guidance and comment pieces specifically targeted at professionals working on interactive projects. Subjects covered include the truth behind web statistics, search engine optimisation and how to make websites accessible.
w: http://www.projectsetc.org
An independent study has found that Nottingham Playhouse generates a total economic impact on the local economy of £13m per annum, and the average attender spends an additional £7.08 outside the theatre itself with every visit. The Playhouse attracts over 100,000 visitors each year, with a further 250,000 people seeing its touring productions or the work of its Theatre-in-Education company, Roundabout.
A new contemporary visual arts guide for Scotland has been launched to provide details of Scotlands galleries and their exhibitions. Commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) in association with the National Galleries of Scotland, the guide also gives information about galleries taking part in SACs interest-free loan scheme, Own Art.
w: http://www.artupdate.com/scotland
The Theatrical Management Association has recognised Mark Skipper, Chief Executive of Northern Ballet Theatre, as Manager of the Year at its 2007 Management Award presentations. The award for Achievement in Presenting Theatre went to Guildfords Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and the Most Welcoming Theatre award went to the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme (pictured). The Grand Opera House, Belfast was recognised for Achievement in Marketing, and Nottingham Playhouse received the Eclipse Award for its contribution to cultural diversity.
A national Music Mentoring Programme aiming to help tackle antisocial behaviour and raise the aspirations of young people will be led by music charity Youth Music. £666,000 has been allocated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for a two-year programme to get young people involved in making music and provide them with one-to-one and group mentoring and tuition sessions with peers, musicians and the music industry.
Full details of the European Unions Culture2007 funding programme have been published, with the deadline for project funding applications being 28 February 2007. Project proposals can focus on a single cultural sector or be cross-sectoral, but they must be developed and implemented by at least three partner organisations from three different EU countries or the new candidate countries, including Croatia and Turkey.
w: http://www.culture2007.info/#2007
Mission Models Money (MMM), the national action research programme examining the sustainability of the arts sector, is encouraging arts managers to help evaluate the effectiveness of a new diagnostic tool for analysing the ways in which their organisations generate funds. The tool encourages managers to assess the payback for the time, money and effort spent on generating different income streams.
w: http://www.missionmodelsmoney.org.uk
The links between culture and learning are explored in The Cultural Learning Curve, a new publication by Culture South East and the South East England Development Agency. The publication features a series of reports from across the South East on how creativity is helping to develop peoples skills and a passion for learning, and considers how cultural agencies can work at community level to develop learning opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
w: http://www.culturesoutheast.org.uk