The 2009 Ideas Festival launch was a great opportunity to catch up with one of Australia’s leading idealists, Phillip Adams, as well as see a new generation of ideas makers and doers in action. Read full story >

The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich took out the top honours in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism categories of the Queensland Tourism Awards last week. Read full story >

The first project finished under the new art+place Queensland Government public art program was unveiled on 5 November in Blackall. Read full story >

The 2009 allocation of more than $1.5 million in annual funding under Arts Queensland’s s2m (small to medium) program will be shared by 16 companies throughout the state, from the Gold Coast to Cairns. Read full story >

Funding of more than $2.26 million from the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) will contribute to arts and cultural activities across regional Queensland in 2008-09. Read full story >

Arts Queensland’s Creative Business Toolbox is back in a new web-based format, making it easily accessible for everyone. Read full story >

One of Australia’s most popular and inspiring cultural festivals will return to the Sunshine Coast hinterland in its 23rd year delivering a unique program to integrate arts of every kind. Read full story >

Brisbane music photographer Elleni Toumpas travelled to Los Angeles to go behind the scenes with performer Kate Miller-Heidke during the recording of her second studio album. Read full story >

Opera Queensland’s jam-packed 2009 season celebrates the masterpieces and hosts a number of world premiere productions. Read full story >

A stunning new art exhibition at QUT’s Art Museum blurs the boundaries of science and art, while another documents a cross-section of society through the eyes of an itinerant documentary photographer. Read full story >

One thousand artists, arts workers and arts volunteers gathered in Alice Springs from 3-5 October for the largest Regional Arts Australia conference in the event’s history, Art at the Heart. Read full story >

This summer the world’s hottest events are coming to Brisbane. Read full story >

Tanks Arts Centre is helping develop the careers of Indigenous musicians from Cairns, Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait Islands with an artist showcase and masterclass series. Read full story >

Cairns artists, arts workers and Indigenous elders joined Arts Minister Rod Welford to celebrate the announcement of a new printmaking centre to help the Far North’s talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists launch on to the world stage. Read full story >

A stunning showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from the Djumbunji Press, KickArts Fine Art Printmaking Studio features alongside unique cast sculptures at Artisan Gallery. Read full story >

This November, the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (JWCOCA) will host an exciting mixed-media Shopfront and a demanding performance from Brian Lucas and Phluxus Dance Collective. Read full story >

RADF is a vital resource available to regional Queenslanders. The program is a partnership between State Government, through Arts Queensland and Local Government and is administered at a local level. It provides opportunities to artists and other members of our community to engage in arts and cultural practices. Read full story >

A visit to QPAC is a Christmas ritual for many families and this year the Centre is hosting Christmas in Concert and a special exhibition that pays tribute to an Australian legend. Read full story >

It’s Queensland’s turn to take a trip through the vibrant history and culture of video games at the State Library of Queensland’s (SLQ) international sensation Game On. Read full story >

The first in a major new national triennial series of contemporary Australian art and an exhibition of short-listed artists for the Queensland Premier’s National New Media Art Award are drawing art lovers to Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). Read full story >

Queensland Museum is encouraging students to become backyard explorers by getting involved in a specially designed online habitat study of their local area. Read full story >

A summer edition of the popular Cultural Centre booklet is on its way – and these holidays it is bigger and better, including South Bank activities for the first time. Read full story >

Creative communities partnerships support opportunities for Australians to take part in meaningful arts and cultural activities in the places where they live, encouraging innovation and enhancing community wellbeing. Read full story >

http://www.abs.gov.au/
The Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview 2008 (Second Edition) was released on the ABS website this week. Another recent release is A profile of carers in Australia. This publication touches on culture, recreation and leisure topics in Chapter 3 - Use of time and Chapter 4 - Social Participation and Wellbeing.

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au
The Australia Council for the Arts has released a paper outlining the key points raised in the first round of consultations for its children in art protocols. The Australia Council is currently developing a set of protocols to address the depiction of children in artworks, exhibitions and publications that receive government funding. The discussion paper can be viewed online.

http://www.dca.wa.gov.au
Perth Creative Industries – An Analysis is the executive summary report for the Perth Creative Industries’ Mapping Project – a geographical analysis and qualitative analysis of the creative industries in Perth. You can view the report online.

http://www.cmc.gov.au
A communiqué detailing the outcomes of the Cultural Ministers Council meeting on 2 October 2008 is available online. Agenda included:

• Indigenous Contemporary Music Action Plan
• Indigenous Visual Arts
• Indigenous Visual Arts Commercial Code Of Conduct
• Contemporary Music Development
• Education And The Arts
• Arts And Disability  
• Cultural Ministers Council Strategy
• Crafting Regional Growth
• Collections Council Of Australia
  
  

http://www.culturaldata.gov.au
At the Cultural Ministers Council, the Ministers approved the release of the Statistics Working Group cultural tourism guide Crafting Regional Growth. The guide can be used by regional tourism managers to evaluate the impact of cultural tourism in local regions. The guide is presented in a workshop format and steps users and participants through the techniques for gathering information to assess the economic value, tourism impact and benefit of cultural tourism in a destination. It is available free of charge online.

http://www.apra.com.au
The 2009 APRA Professional Development Awards are now open. Eight young Australian songwriters and composers will win cash and prizes to the value of $16,000 as part of the 2009 APRA Professional Development Awards. Applications close 1 December and winners will be announced in March 2009. For more information visit: www.apra.com.au

http://www.artworkers.org/
Launched in 2007, the Wilson HTM National Art Prize is an acquisitive art award open to emerging Australian-based visual artists practicing in any media. Supported by Wilson HTM Investment Group and managed by cultural development agency Artworkers, the award was devised to acknowledge the difficulties faced by artists gaining national and international recognition for achievement and the difficulties they face attaining long-term financial stability.

We welcome feedback and contributions to Arts Update. Please contact the editor, Colleen Turner on (07) 3225 8841 or email artsupdate@arts.qld.gov.au