• Share on Facebook
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share by email
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share by email

A new network comprising UK-based individuals and organisations who are committed to engaging with the performing arts from Africa and the African Diaspora, has been launched by UK Arts International. The Africa Consortium aims to help promote intercultural knowledge and understanding, and develop collaborations which contribute to an ongoing intercultural dialogue. Membership is open to all UK theatres, companies and individuals with an interest in engaging with cutting edge work from Africa and the Diaspora.
t: 01905 26424; e: janryan@ukarts.com; michelle@ukarts.com; w: http://www.ukarts.com

The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is extending its support for audience development with a grant of £450,000 over three years to Mousetrap Theatre Projects. The money will be used to expand a programme of subsidised access for young people under the age of 19 and to encourage theatregoing among 1922 year-olds. SOLT chose to build on a resource that already exists rather than to invest in a programme of its own, to minimise the amount spent on administration.

Entries are being invited for The Saltire Societys biennial Arts and Crafts in Architecture Award, to be held in 2007 for works completed between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2007. The Award is held to promote artists and craftspeople working in conjunction with architects in Scotland. Among previous winners were The Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital Artwork Projects (pictured) where 14 artists including, sculptors, photographers, textile artists and furniture designers created site-specific artwork across four floors of the hospital.

An investigation into the work of the Heritage Lottery Fund by the National Audit Office has concluded that the Fund has been successful in supporting projects which are helping to preserve the heritage of the United Kingdom and make it more accessible, but it should do more to reduce the burden on applicants, promote swifter delivery of projects and provide better support to those who need it. From 2009, the Funds money will be cut by a third each year, largely as a consequence of Lottery funding of the Olympic Games (see p1).
w: http://www.nao.org.uk

A series of leadership development days will take place in May and June as part of Powerbrokers, a wider initiative aimed at addressing the absence of managers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds employed in the arts and cultural sector. The sessions, delivered as part of the £12m two-year Treasury-funded Cultural Leadership Programme, will be facilitated by leadership development company, People Create, and hosted by Ernst & Young.
w: http://www.culturalleadership.org.uk

Will Tony Blairs support for the arts improve the prospects for the sectors funding in the Comprehensive Spending Review?

Thanks to everyone who took part in our latest online poll.
For this weeks poll, go to http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk