A free, online, step-by-step Business Survival Toolkit has been designed to help people in the creative industries survive and prosper during difficult times. The toolkit is a partnership project between Creative & Cultural Skills, Cultural Leadership Programme, Crafts Council, Design Council and Heritage Lottery Fund.

www.business-survival-toolkit.co.uk

The winning artwork for the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards have been announced. The prize, which is for the best work inspired by the Fourth Plinth sculpture programme in Trafalgar Square, received submissions from more than 500 schoolchildren from across the capital. In first place was Dinesh Kalamegam from Langdon School in Newham, for his work ‘Eco London’. Second prize went to Niamh Long and Danniella Davidson from Heathbrook Primary School in Lambeth for their statue, ‘Boudicca’, and Maia Decamillo-Philips from Sydenham High School in Lewisham won third prize.

www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth/content/schools-awards-winners

Five new artists have been elected as members of Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland. John Arden, Joseph O’Connor, John Tuomey, Corban Walker and Daphne Wright join the Aosdána, which was established by the Irish Arts Council in 1981 to honour artists whose work has made “an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland and to encourage and assist members in devoting their energies fully to their art”. Membership of the organisation, which is by peer nomination and election, is limited to 250 living artists, who have produced a distinguished body of work. Members must have been born in Ireland or have been resident here for five years. Members who reside in Ireland may be eligible to receive an annuity for five years – to enable them to concentrate on their art full time.

www.artscouncil.ie

A £25m regional academy specialising in creative, digital and performing arts is set to open in Birmingham in September, sponsored by the Ormiston Trust and Birmingham City University. In partnership with Maverick TV and the BRIT School, the Birmingham Ormiston Academy will offer courses in music, broadcasting, musical theatre, performing arts, web design and gaming. It will select the best students from across the region through ‘aptitude workshops’, and open in 2011 for sixth form years, followed by 14–16 year-olds in 2012.