The Art Fund and Arts Council England have joined forces as lead partners in Channel 4's Big Art Project, said to be one of the most ambitious UK national art commissioning programmes ever undertaken. Working with local communities across the UK, the project will commission public artworks by a group of internationally-acclaimed artists and rising stars, amongst them multi-media specialist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa. Other funding bodies include Creative Partnerships, The Northern Way, and Arts & Business. The project is being filmed for a TV series, due to be screened in 2008.
w: http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/b/bigart/
Dance UK is urging its members and supporters to write to their local MPs, highlighting both the benefits of dance in education, and how their work in dance meets the Governments targets for young people. The move comes in the wake of the Governments recent announcement of £100m additional funding for sport in schools. As dance sits under physical education in the National Curriculum, this is seen as a crucial opportunity for the sector to lobby for increased funding.
w: http://www.danceuk.org
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland welcomed Meryl Streep to Belfast to endorse the new £16.5m Old Museum Arts Centre. Pictured (left to right) Margaret McKee, Chairperson, Old Museum Arts Centre, Meryl Streep, and Rosemary Kelly, Chairman, Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The new arts centre is set to open in 2011 and will contain two theatres, exhibition space, dance and rehearsal studios and public access areas.
The PRS Foundation for New Music is providing new funding to inspire and stimulate the creation of an imaginative and original piece of new British music. The New Music Award aims to recognise those who are pushing the boundaries of new music, taking risks and producing exceptional work. The winner will receive £50,000 of support towards the creation of a new piece of work. The competition is open to both groups and individuals working in any musical genre and the deadline for entries is 2 November.
w: http://www.prsfoundation.co.uk
The Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield has re-opened following a six-month closure for refurbishment funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Wolfson Foundation. The new Gallery now has equipment which will help to improve environmental conditions, new wall cladding, and has been re-painted and re-hung throughout. Visitors will be able to see works spanning from the 16th to the 21st century, alongside a changing display of works by Sheffield-born artists.
Theatre Royal Newcastle has opened its new wing following a year-long development costing £7.2m. The Theatre now has a new Box Office, Learning Space and improved access for disabled patrons. As part of the development, the Friends of the Theatre Royal commissioned artist and stage designer, Phil Daniels, to paint the safety curtain. The painting commemorates the famous actors who have performed on the Theatre Royal stage and was unveiled by actor Richard Briers.