FILMCLUB, an after-school club founded in 2006, is to be rolled out across the UK. Following a successful pilot in 2007, the initiative which aims to bring the medium of film to pupils through a UK-wide network of after-schools clubs, will be extended to hundreds more schools, building to 7,000 over the next three years.
w: http://www.filmclub.org
Voluntary Arts Network has published a new briefing, providing guidance to voluntary arts groups wishing to be involved in the Cultural Olympiad. The four-year cultural celebration in London and across the UK will be launched over the weekend of 26–28 September.
w: http://www.voluntaryarts.org/2012
Liverpool’s recently re-fitted Bluecoat Arts Centre has been damaged by fire, which broke out in a kitchen. Around 30 firefighters from stations in the city centre, Low Hill and Toxteth spent more than three hours tackling the blaze.
Entries are invited for The Best of Manchester, an annual competition which spotlights the work of Manchester’s creative professionals. The closing date is 30 June, the winners will be announced on 7 August, and an exhibition of work by shortlisted entrants will open on 8 August at Urbis.
w: http://www.urbis.org.uk/bestofmanchester
Biffaward is inviting applications for funding from cultural facilities projects including museums, theatres and arts venues. Biffaward is a multi-million pound Landfill Communities Fund scheme which has awarded over £90m worth of funds since 1997.
w: http://www.biffaward.org
The European Commission has announced a programme of support for cultural exchange and co-operation between the EU and Mexico. It aims to promote cultural exchange with artists from EU Member states taking part in festivals and meetings in Mexico. Applications must be made by the organising Mexican nationality partner. The deadline for submissions is 1 June. Details are available in Spanish only.
w: http://www.delmex.ec.europa.eu/es/convocatorias/index.htm#cultura
The appeal made by the Centre for Performance Research in Aberystwyth against the removal of its core funding has been rejected. The independent appeals panel acknowledged that Arts Council Wales (ACW) recognises and values the quality of CPR’s work, but concluded that ACW’s own lack of funding was the reason for cutting the grant, and that the decision was arrived at fairly.