The Terms of Reference for the third review of the Major Performing Arts Funding Model.
More details can be found in the communiqué issued after the meeting.
It is available at www.cmc.gov.au.
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ART AT THE HEART
The Regional Arts Australia conference, Art at the Heart, held 2-5 October has been hailed as a success with an attendance of over 1,000 of the country's artists, arts workers and arts volunteers claimed by the organisers.
Prominent among outcomes was a call for Federal arts funds to be restored to regional Australia.
The conference was opened by the Federal Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, who joined delegates for an arrival ceremony on the banks of the Todd River, hosted by local residents and members of the Central Arrernte community who played a pivotal role throughout the conference.
The President of Regional Arts Australia, Suzie Haslehurst said "Not only was this our biggest national conference ever, it was also the biggest conference ever held in Alice Springs,"
"One of the strongest calls from the conference was for the Regional Arts Fund to be reinstated following cuts in the last Federal budget."
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ART AND ABOUT
Photographer Ross Honeysett has won the 2008 Sydney Life photographic competition walking away with the $10,000 first prize.
Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the winner and presented the prize at the free public launch of Art & About in Taylor Square, Darlinghurst on October 9.
A record 830 images were submitted to Sydney Life competition this year, which is part of Sydney's biggest public arts festival, Art & About. The winning photograph, titled "Project X - 3", was of a man striding across the Harbour Bridge with a wild look in his eyes. Photographer Honeysett said "'Project X - 3' is an expression of the impact a big city has on its inhabitants".
Elsewhere in Sydney giant Tetris shapes, from the 80s computer game, can be found wedged between buildings. It is another laneway artwork by local Sydney artists. Gutters have been transformed into canvasses, banners adorn forgotten lanes and elaborate balloons have been installed in Angel Place to intrigue visitors and inspire people's imagination.
Other events include the Night Noodle Markets open each weekday night from October 13-24 in Hyde Park. Art & About runs until October 26 and for more information visit www.artandabout.com.au.
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OPERA AUSTRALIA
Controversy continues to dog Opera Australia with the publication of a letter in the Fairfax press from Australian conductor, Richard Divall.
Divall's letter strongly protests against what he calls "the climate of nepotism and artistic favouritism that reigns within Opera Australia". He claims the company is artistically and administratively out of control and calls for immediate government intervention into its entire activities.
Divall's letter is in response to a letter from Opera Australia's Music director, Richard Hickox in defence of the Opera's treatment of Australian bass Bruce Martin published in The Age on October 6. Earlier this year mezzo-soprano Fiona Janes was critical of employment policies of the opera company, in a letter to the board of Opera Australia.
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DEADLY AWARDS
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the blind musician from Arnhem Land has scooped the pool at the Deadly Awards. He performed at the 14th annual awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House last week, at which he was named artist of the year.
He also won single of the year for 'History (I Was Born Blind)' and album of the year for 'History'.
The country artist Adam James was named as the most promising new talent in music, and the band of the year award went to the Black Arm Band. Jodie Cockatoo-Creed and Andrew Farris won the song of the year for 'Never Let You Go'.
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MUSICIANS PROTEST UNAUTHORISED USE OF SONGS FOR US ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
Yet another band, the Foo Fighters, is complaining about US presidential candidate, John McCain's unauthorised use of their song to promote his campaign.
Other artists to have complained about McCain's use of their music include John Mellencamp, Heart, and Jackson Browne.
On the other side of the political slate, soul legend Sam Moore also has asked the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to stop using the song 'Soul Man'.
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