Creative Scotland has announced a further three groups to provide expert advice on the issues and opportunities facing Scotland’s creative community. They will focus on: performing arts, to look at developing the economic aspects of the performing arts; design services including digital design, advertising and architecture; and product design including designer fashion, textile design and crafts.
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk
This year’s Clothes Show Live will contain a dance show and a craft space for the first time. There will be dance shows taking place alongside the fashion and design elements of the event, as well as a ‘Sknitch’ craft zone for demonstrations of sewing, stitching, knitting, needlework and customising.
http://www.thedanceshow.co.uk; http://www.sknitch.com
London’s local authorities have published a report highlighting the importance of culture and sport to residents’ well-being, and calling for continued investment in times of economic difficulty. The report, ‘Playing Their Part’, argues that culture and sport are key to making London a world-class destination and points out that local government is the largest funder of culture and sport in London.
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
All About Audiences, the new audience development agency for the North West, is holding a series of events to meet the arts and cultural organisations that it supports. During February and March, it will hold meetings across Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire.
http://www.allaboutaudiences.com
Arts Council England (ACE) has announced its 152 new artistic assessors to report on the work of ACE’s regularly funded organisations. Artistic assessments will be shared with the organisations in question. The assessors include artists, arts managers, journalists and academics.
Ten arts organisations have been offered up to £30,000 each to develop new approaches to learning through ‘Glow’, a partnership between the Scottish Arts Council and Learning and Teaching Scotland. Glow is an intranet for Scottish schools, and aims to provide a platform for online collaboration and sharing.
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk
Music educators can use the new site from the National Association of Music Educators to network online. It also contains features, blogs and a ‘pinboard’ where anyone involved in music education can post messages and receive feedback.
The National Association of Youth Orchestras (NAYO), which has existed since 1965, has announced that it will close on 31 March. NAYO’s financial situation has been made more difficult by the recession and the substantial reduction in the funding available for charities. It also cites “the recent unexpected decision of a major public funding body to withdraw all ongoing funding” as a contributing factor.
Proposals are sought for creative projects around the theme of Routes and Trails, as part of the North West cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic Games. The projects will work across Lancashire and the Fylde Coast with people of all ages, and up to £10,000 is available for each successful idea. The deadline is 29 January.
http://sara.domville@lancashire.gov.uk
Birmingham Hippodrome has become the first theatre in the UK to be awarded the international standard for Environmental Management Systems, for its ongoing work to reduce wastage, recycle more and reduce its carbon footprint. It has increased recycling by 110% in the past 12 months, and made modifications to utilities reducing gas and electricity usage by 30% over the past five years. The theatre has reduced its annual energy bill by £17,500.
http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com
OOPS! In ‘Licence restored’, p3, AP209, we mistakenly said that the licence exemption applies only between 8pm and 11pm to avoid noise nuisance. The exemption actually applies between 8am and 11pm.