The UK Workforce Hub and Institute of Fundraising are currently revising the Fundraising National Occupational Standards and are seeking feedback from anyone working within this field. Since the standards were originally drafted in 2003, the profession has seen several changes, including the introduction of the new Fundraising Standards Board, new Codes of Fundraising Practice and a new Charities Act.
w: http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/fnosconsultation
Creative industries in the Eastern region can benefit from new funds from the European Social Fund, which have enabled the extension of the Creative Industries Business Improvement Partnership until February 2008. The programme offers training needs analysis and bursaries for training, as well as the opportunity for individuals to be trained as mentors. In the first two years of the project more than 80 businesses received one-to-one support and 22 mentors have been trained.
w: http://www.cibip.com
More than 60 celebrities have submitted paintings to be auctioned for Paint4Poverty, a project organised by Prime Arts in partnership with the charity Robin Hood Ministries. Celebrities who have donated work include Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, TV presenter Phillip Schofield, guitarist with the Stone Roses John Squire, actress Kate Winslet and musician Jamie Cullen (submission pictured). Online bidding is currently available, with the auction taking place in October. Money raised will be used by Robin Hood Ministries to alleviate poverty in Romania, East Africa and India.
w: http://www.paint4poverty.com
A website containing practical advice on controlling noise at work in the music and entertainment sectors has been launched by the Music and Entertainment Sector Working Group, developed with support from the Health and Safety Executive. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 cover all workplaces where live music is played, or where recorded music is played in a restaurant, bar, public house, disco or nightclub, or alongside live music or a live dramatic or dance performance. Feedback on the site is currently being sought.
w: http://www.soundadviceconsultation.info
Shape Tickets, an accessible booking service which enables deaf and disabled people to attend Londons art, culture and entertainment events, is looking for Volunteer Access Assistants across London. Assistants must have a full driving licence and access to a car to collect Shape Ticket members from their homes, enjoy the event with them and then take them home afterwards. Volunteers will receive disability awareness training, free tickets to all events and expenses.
w: http://www.shapearts.org.uk/shapetickets
The Theatrical Management Association (TMA) has re-named the TMA Award for the Presentation of Touring Theatre as The Renee Stepham Award for Touring, in honour of the late Renee Stepham, who died in April. A legend in theatrical circles, Stepham was regarded as the most influential theatre booking agent of her generation. The TMA commented that the Renee Stepham Award, will celebrate the work of individual theatres that demonstrate the highest professional standards in programme and audience development and collaboration with touring companies and producers, as well as touring producers themselves.
A collection of essays commissioned by Arts Council England aims to provide a fresh perspective on the art of setting ticket prices. Call it a tenner comprises essays written by leading names in the arts, alongside recent case studies highlighting ways in which organisations can square the circle of developing audiences and maximising income.
w: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publications
The EU Culture Programme has announced its calls for the 2008 funding round, with a three-strand programme. The first strand covers cross-country co-operation projects, translation projects, and cultural diversity projects involving Asia; the second covers operating costs for European cultural networks, including festivals and ambassadors; and the third covers evidence-based research, enabling institutions with experience of evaluation or impact assessment to develop comparative data and analysis on cultural co-operation at European level. An information day will be held on 14 September in Brussels.
w: http://www.culturefund.eu/
Culture Northwest has launched the Northwest Culture Observatory Online. The first cultural observatory of its kind in the region, the project works across the breadth of cultural domains, including sports, the arts, heritage, tourism, museums, libraries and archives and creative industries, and is said to give unlimited access region-wide cultural research, data and intelligence.
w: http://www.northwestcultureobservatory.co.uk
As part of the Milton Keynes 40th Anniversary Celebrations, the Open University is presenting an art walk, showing work by Milton Keynes artists such as, Paul Anand, Tom Calnan, Jean Carabine, Karen Cham, Edna Eguchi Read, Anthony Hayes, Graham Mills, Ian Reynolds, Jessica Rost and Ruth Salter alongside other works from the University collection. Members of the public are invited to view the works on the art walk on Mondays to Fridays until 28 September.
w: http://www.open.ac.uk/awg
The Government Funding website, which provides information on central sources of money for the voluntary sector, has made a number of updates, reflecting the new Department for Children, Schools and Families taking over from the Department for Education and Skills. Details have also been added about funding programmes from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
w: http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk
The Department of Cultural Policy and Management, City University and the Department of Drama, MA Arts Management and Cultural Policy, Goldsmiths College, University of London, are hosting the second annual research student symposium, and are inviting abstracts from research students working in the field. Accepted participants will be invited to give a short presentation on an aspect of their research, and to have their papers published in City Universitys e-journal, Cultural Policy, Criticism and Management. 300-word abstracts should be sent to Sara Selwood.
e: s.selwood@city.ac.uk;
w: http://www.city.ac.uk/cpm/ejournal/ejournal_june2007.htmll
Does the arts sector need arts councils?
Thanks to everyone who took part in our latest online poll.
For this weeks poll, go to http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk