SO MUCH FOR 'IMPROVEMENT'!...

The DCMS are hailing the return of the popular Museum improvement funding scheme that it runs with the philanthropic knifermo to give money to the nation's museums and galleries. The scheme allows organisations to bid for money to renovate or improve its displays, but unfortunately it will return with a much smaller pot of money than in previous years.

LIFTING THE VEIL ON CHARITABLE GIVING...

Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq:BLKB) has announced that NOZA Philanthropy Data (NOZA) will now be available directly to Canadian subscribers via www.NOZAsearch.ca. NOZA is the world's largest searchable database of charitable donations with more than 60 million American and Canadian gift records. This service will help fundraisers identify prospects for charitable giving and understand who major donors are giving to and how much they are investing. It will also enable fundraisers to better understand donors' interests and ensure that they are asking for a targeted gift amount.

THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE…

John Godfrey from Artful Fundraising has been spending time in India in the early part of this year and in his latest newsletter, he reflects on philanthropy in the second most populous and fastest growing economy in the world. The Asia-Pacific Wealth Report 2010 says that there were 127,000 Indians with more than $1 million in investible assets in 2009, and they were collectively worth $477 billion. Forbe's latest list of the super rich shows that India has a record 69 billionaires. The 100 richest Indians are worth $300 billion compared to $314 billion held by the top 400 Chinese. Contact John at john.godfrey@artfulfundraising.com

A GREAT VALENTINES DAY GIFT!...

For the proposed federal budget for fiscal 2012, released Monday, almost all of the USA's agencies and museums that receive government dollars saw their funds slashed considerably. The budget sent to Capitol Hill by the administration is a starting point for discussions about the merits of government funding for the arts and humanities, as well as the value of initiatives the agencies fund. With some vocal members of the Republican-controlled House targeting the arts as excessive spending, the outcome of the budget requests is unclear.

THE ONGOING DEBATE!...

The Select Committee on Arts and Heritage Funding recently met to take their last piece of oral evidence from Arts Council England. Alan Davey and Dame Liz Forgan were invited to answer a range of questions relating to the work of Arts Council England. A number of these were relevant to the cultural learning sector and to children and young people. This was followed by a debate in the House of Lords on the same subject. You can read the full transcripts here and here

SHARING BEST PRACTICE…

The European cultural sector is faced with unprecedented financial challenges. As a result, imagination, collaboration and sharing of best practice is critical. To provide a platform for these conversations, UK based cultural consultancy, NR+P, are delighted to be organising an Arts Funding Symposium on 9 March in Amsterdam, generously hosted by Clifford Chance LLP. This will provide a unique opportunity to hear first hand, the lessons and experiences of senior professionals from both the UK and the Netherlands.

AND ABOUT TIME TOO...

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, signed an agreement on 11 February to launch a US$12 million project to boost the information and communication technology capacity of West African universities, notably by creating a regional virtual library network. The project is part of a wide-ranging cooperation plan initiated in 2006 by UNESCO and the UEMOA. It aims to develop the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support an ongoing reform of higher education in the UEMOA member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Togo).

A NEW PROVINCIAL STRATEGY, BUT NO NEW FUNDING...

The Nova Scotia government is bringing back an independent body to decide funding for artists in the province. The new group, called Arts Nova Scotia, was announced Monday as part of the province's new strategy for arts and culture. Joella Foulds, chair of the Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council, welcomes the move, even though it doesn't come with new funding.

UK FUNDING UPDATES:

Liverpool, who could argue against the transformative effect of it being European capital of culture in 2008?, is expected to cut is arts funding by £1.8m, or 20%, in response to the reduction in government subvention. Cuts will be made to landmark organisations such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse. Liverpool Philharmonic is facing a cut of £284,000 from £1.42m. Add that on to its arts council cut of 6.9% and, according to the orchestra, it's "a reduction in revenue of £450,000 in 2011/12, with further cuts likely from other local authorities."

Manchester City Council is to consider cuts to its arts budget of £326,000 when it meets on 9 March, almost three times what was previously budgeted.

Ikon Eastside, Ikon's exhibition space in Digbeth, Birmingham, is to close in April because of cuts in public funding.

The Digbeth gallery has been in operation at various sites for five years, hosting work by internationally recognised artists such as Andy Warhol, Damián Ortega, Józef Robakowski and Siobhan Davies Dance. Ikon will continue to organise site-specific events in the area.

North Yorkshire County Council has agreed a budget that will cut arts spending from £145,000 to £30,000 as tries to find £69m reductions in 2011-12. Particularly affected will be the area's theatres, including the Stephen Joseph in Scarborough.

MOBILE AROUND THE MED…

The Roberto Cimetta Fund is launching its Mobility Funding Programme for 2011. This programme includes a general fund and specific funding lines for directional artistic and cultural mobility in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Artists and cultural professionals living and working in the Euro-Mediterranean region can apply. Priority is given to mobility from the South and East of this region. The General Fund is open to all requests for travel grants that respect the eligibility criteria of RCF, whatever the destination of travel, the artistic discipline or the direction of mobility. Funding on the specific funding lines is detailed on the Cimetta Fund website. Please note they have a NEW joint mobility fund with Guimaraes, European Capital of Culture 2012. This specific funding lin e supports artistic mobility to and from Guimaraes, Portugal. Priority is given to applications in music, performing arts, cinema, contemporary art, design and architecture preferably within a "residency" model.

OUT OF THE BUNKER…

Bunker (Slovenia) has launched an open call for the production of artistic works. Send in your application before 28 February and get your project supported in fields such as production, promotion or finance.

THANKS TO A GENEROUS VIOLINIST...

A new scholarship to fund the study of Italian language, history and culture has been launched by violinist Nicola Benedetti. The Scottish classical music star, who has Italian roots, is patron of a scheme to provide scholarship opportunities for postgraduate students in Italian studies at the University of Edinburgh. The scholarship is aimed at students who might not normally be able to afford the courses. It will pay for masters, PhD programmes and postdoctoral fellowships in Italian studies, including research in Italian visual arts, music, literature, history and philosophy.

THE OLDIES HAVE MUCH TO GIVE…

As 2011 is the European Year of Volunteering, the EU Grundtvig programme looks forward to receiving inspiring Senior Volunteering Project applications: the deadline is 31 March 2011.

LIKE JAZZ?...

The 18th Izmir European Jazz Festival organized by Izmir Foundation of Culture, Arts and Education will be held between the dates 2-16 March 2011. During the Festival, one exhibition, five seminars and 8 concerts will take place. Concert tickets will be offered for sale starting from February 18th.

TAKE YOUR PICK...

The choices are said to be 'awesome' among the more than one hundred separate events celebrating the visual, literary and performing arts at the second annual Palustris Festival to be held 24-27 March 2011. Coordinated by the Arts Council of Moore County and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen, the schedule for the four days of the Festival really does seem to have something for everyone's taste. All festival information is found at http://www.homeofgolf.com/

TALK ABOUT IT IN TRONDHEIM…

Get to know more on "Contemporary Literature and Media Culture" at the Across Media conference taking place in Trondheim, Norway from 5-7 May. The deadline for registration is 28 February.

PUTTING TOGETHER THE FINAL TOUCHES ...

The 10th Swedish Theatre Biennial in Gävle will run from 11-15 May 2011, and final preparations are now underway. From the beginning of March it will be possible to register for performances, seminars, workshops and meetings. You can register at www.teaterbiennalen.se where you will find presentations and information about the program, the accommodations, travel possibilities and facts about the host town Gävle. For information and help with registration, please email info@teaterunionen.se

NOTHING TO DO IN MAY?

A post-graduate course in Economics and Management of Cultural Organizations and Heritage (EcoCult) is being organized by the University of Ferrara (Italy) in collaboration with the European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centers (ENCATC). The course will start on 16 May 2011 and will be held entirely in English; it is designed for international post-graduate students or professionals coming from all around the world who work in cultural institutions or are interested in improving their preparation to enhance their career. During the course many aspects of cultural management will be addressed under an international perspective and with a special focus on practice and on the importance of cooperation for cultural organizations. For more information contact ecocult@unife.it.

GLOBAL SECURITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT...

The fourth International Conference on African Culture and Development (ICACD) will be held from 24-27 July in Accra, Ghana. 'Culture and Global Security' will be the core theme of the conference, and submissions on issues around this topic, and around a number of sub-theme topics, are now being accepted. For a list of sub-themes click here.

ANOTHER KIND OF DERBY…

The University of Kentucky will host the 37th annual Social Theory, Politics and the Arts Conference from 13-15 October 2011 in Lexington , and will cover cultural policy, arts management, art making and the future of the arts. You can find the formal Call for Proposals on the conference website, along with paper and panel proposal forms. The deadline for proposals in April 22, 2011. A selection of papers from the conference will be selected for inclusion in the peer-reviewed publication, The Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society. Additionally, there will also be an award for the best student presentation at the conference. For more information, contact info@stpaconference.com or rachel.shane@uky.edu.