Festival organisers are being invited to explore the economic potential of their events as well as the dichotomies between revenue generation and artistic integrity at the next Festival Futures seminar, which will take place at Rich Mix in London on 25 January. The free seminar, entitled Culture and Commerce: making the marriage work, is part of a series organised by City Universitys Celebrating Enterprise department. Contact Dr Nicola Frost by 19 January.
e: celeb-ent@city.ac.uk
A new piece of public art has been unveiled at Crown Point, overlooking Burnley, as a major landmark for the town and a symbol of its emergence and regeneration. The Singing Ringing Tree (pictured) is one of a series of Panopticons, funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Lancashire Economic Partnership, in a scheme to create a unique series of 21st century landmarks across East Lancashire. The Tree includes a musical element created by the wind whistling through its branches, constructed from galvanised steel pipes which are tuned to ensure that the tree sings in harmony.
Applications are now being invited for 2007/08 Fellowships on the Clore Leadership Programme, which is designed to help develop the knowledge, skills, networks and experience of potential leaders across a wide range of cultural activity. Each Fellow will have an individually tailored programme including a period of secondment and experience of managing a challenging project. The closing date for applications is 19 February.
w: http://www.cloreleadership.org
Seven new Rayne Fellowships for Choreographers, worth up to £15,000 each, have been announced to encourage and support artists to connect more strongly with society and to act as bridge builders. The awards aim to help address the growth of intolerance, incomprehension and insularity in society by utilising the strong communication skills of choreographers. A special call has been made for applications from choreographers working in the commercial sector and the ballet world. The closing date for applications is 16 February.
w: http://www.raynefoundation.org.uk
Live Literature Scotland, a national initiative which subsidises the cost of community visits by writers to all areas of Scotland, has increased the fees earned by writers for such visits from £100 to £150. This is the first time that the fees earned in Scotland have increased in four years, and brings them in line with literature funding schemes in England and Wales. More than 500 writers are available to conduct readings, and approximately 1,200 events take place each year.
In partnership with Shape, the Society of London Theatres and the Theatrical Management Association, The Independent Theatre Council is launching a Fast Track positive action scheme which seeks to address the under-representation of deaf and disabled people working in performing arts management and administration. Participants will be entitled to a training subsidy, travel allowance and mentoring and support throughout the 15-week scheme, which starts in March. Applications are sought from both performing arts organisations as well as deaf and disabled candidates. Contact Carol Sidney, Fast Track Co-ordinator.
w: http://www.itc-arts.org; t: 020 7089 6820
Passion and Performance, a new book providing advice and guidance to people working in the theatre and dance sector, contains research on the work and experiences of more than 70 successful producers and managers. It has been written by Madeline Hutchins, Sue Kay and Anouk Perinpanayagam, and published by All Ways Learning as the second in its Collected Wisdom in Arts Management series.
t: 01273 872655; e: info@allwayslearning.org.uk; w: http://www.allwayslearning.org.uk