Weekly email 16th April 2009

Here is this week’s news:

Arts and Heritage

Planning for budget cuts at ACE

As reported last week, ACE are scenario planning for budget cuts of up to 3% in the next financial year. Arts leaders have criticised this, and Ed commented:

‘We have warned persistently that the government likes to try to trumpet its support for the arts, but these potential cuts are real and damaging. Any organisation that sees its funding reduced will wonder why the DCMS can still find £2.5 million for its free theatre gimmick, which was thought up overnight, and £1.5 million for a world creative summit that people think is an expensive folly.’ More HERE Potential ACE cuts spell disaster, warn arts leaders and, as the Guardian point out, what the Government gives to the arts with one hand, it likes to take away with another, HERE http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/apr/12/funding-arts-council-cuts-theatre

Opera to be broadcast in 3D

In a world-first, the Opera of Rennes, in northern France will broadcast their production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in 3D, as well as on TV, radio and large open air screens on 2^nd June. ‘The idea is to leave the Opera House, to push the boundaries’ said director Alain Surrans, more HERE http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hMqkX-SnWMI11qREX0zA72247eaQ

Tate art made available on itunes

The Tate have made hundreds of video and audio downloads available for free on iTunes, including interviews with conemporary artists Jeff Koons and Louise Bourgeois, teaching resources, and multimedia guides for the latest Tate exhibitions. We think this is a great idea, and in some ways is a new contribution to public service broadcasting, more HERE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7998191.stm

Libraries

After Andy Burnham’s remarkable U-turn on the Wirral, predictably some commentators are now calling for him to intervene in Swindon. We think Swindon is a completely different situation…Ed quote

More HERE http://www.thebookseller.com/news/82425-burnham-urged-to-intervene-in-swindon.html

New figures from Westminster Council show that the recession continues to stimulate demand for libraries with increasing visitor numbers, new members, demand for computers and demand for books on CV writing, letter writing, punctuation and grammar. More HERE http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7988077.stm

This is the sort of thing we are doing about promoting our libraries, as well as spending £3.5m on improvements and holding fees and charges – chasing Audrey for links

Architecture

The Swiss architect Peter Zumthor is the recipient of the 2009 Pritzker Prize, the highest recognition in architecture. The citation from the nine-member Pritzker jury says ‘He has conceived his method of practice almost as carefully as each of his projects. He develops buildings of great integrity – untouched by fad of fashion. Declining a majority of the commissions that come his way, he only accepts a project if he feels a deep affinity for its programme, and from the moment of commitment, his devotion is complete, overseeing the project’s realization to the very last detail’. Just like Ed’s commitment to his job, really. More HERE http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/arts/design/13pritzker.html?_r=1 and HERE http://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/2009/index.html

Shops into Art Galleries

Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary announced a £3 million fund to tackle the recession in the high street, making the money available to local councils to come up with ‘creative’ ways to reuse shops left empty as a result of business closure or bankruptcy. More HERE  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5148520/Empty-shops-should-be-converted-to-art-galleries-to-keep-high-streets-alive-during-downturn.html

Creative Industries

Music

One in ten albums bought in the US in 2008 were record by British artists, increasing the UK share of the North American market to 10% n the US and 15% in Canada. Success of established artists such as Led Zepplin and Colplay, has been mirrored by new artists such as Estelle, Leona Lewis and MIA. More HERE http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/british%20musicians%20booming%20in%20us%20with%2010%20market%20share_1100573

Film

Production business in Vancouver, ‘North Hollywood’ is up $205 million year on year, as production in LA declines. The extension of British Columbia’s TV and film tax credits and the decline in the Canadian dollar’s value, combined with strong infrastructure are thought to be key factors contributing to the boom. More HERE http://www.thewrap.com/article/2382

Australian investment in Superfast Broadband

The Australian Government will be the majority shareholder of this company and will make an initial investment, but anticipate significant private sector investment. The Government intends to sell down its interest in the company within five years after the network is built and fully operational more HERE http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2009/media_release_0903.cfm

BBC Needs to share Licence Fee say Lords

The House of Lords Communications committee warns that the BBC would be left “in an increasingly dominant position”, as commercially-funded public service broadcasters face severe financial problems more HERE

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5120109/BBC-needs-to-share-licence-fee-with-other-broadcasters-say-Lords.html

plus DCMS report on worldwide

In Parliament

Written Parliamentary Questions

EDMs

Where we’ve been and who we’ve seen

Ed Vaizey

Shadow Arts Minister

Jeremy Hunt

Shadow Culture Secretary