Cardiff-based theatre companies Sgript Cymru and the Sherman Theatre (pictured) have merged. The new organisation is operating under the interim name of Contemporary Theatre and New Writing Company (CTNWC) and is currently going through a re-branding which will launch the Autumn season in August. Work is continuing on proposals for a major redevelopment of the Sherman Theatre building.
w: http://www.shermantheatre.co.uk
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) has made its Drama Strategy Discussion Paper available for download and comment. The paper presents an overview of the work undertaken by Scottish Cultural Enterprise to help to develop a new drama strategy for Northern Ireland, on behalf of ACNI.
w: http://www.artscouncil-ni.org
Arts Council England (ACE) has launched a new website offering practical advice on pensions for arts professionals. ACE estimates that 70% of artists have not made adequate provision for their future and that 90% of people working in the arts are lacking essential financial information on pensions. As well as guidance sheets, case studies and links visitors will also be able to calculate how much they should be saving now in order to ensure their financial security in the future.
w: http://www.pensionsforartists.org.uk
MAiLOUT is looking for examples of community arts projects which have been threatened by the cut in Arts Council Englands Grants for the Arts programme. The information will be used to influence policy makers and also the media who, to date, have focussed on the impact of funding cuts on national arts organisations.
e: cathy@e-mailout.org
The 2007 winners of the Museum and Heritage Awards for Excellence include World Museum Liverpool in the category of Temporary or Touring Exhibition for its exhibition Eye for Colour. The exhibition revealed how colour is formed and how artists use colour in creativity, as well as exploring how animals and birds use colour as camouflage and in their mating behaviour.
A showcase of clips hosted by YouTube and a further twenty similar services from around the world is being created at showcase.culture.info, a portal focusing on performances, exhibitions and venues. The site aims to help prospective audiences by enabling them to see preview clips, but also to enable festivals, venues and touring companies to see the work of other arts organisations and seek potential bookings and project partners. Email for details of how to get invovled.
e: info@culture.info
Management skills alone are insufficient for arts professionals to succeed in their careers, according to the findings from a consultation by the School of Arts at City University, London. The need to be fully immersed in their subject area and the ability to understand the political, economic, social and creative context of their work are seen to be critical skills needed by workers within the arts sector. The findings of the consultation will inform postgraduate programmes at City.