Latest news with #culturalengagement
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra acknowledged by Portsmouth
A city's authority has reflected on its near-100-year relationship with an orchestra ahead of two City Council acknowledged the contribution of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) both within and beyond Portsmouth Guildhall, including performances for local schoolchildren and accessible concerts for people with in 1893, the BSO shares a long-standing connection with Portsmouth, such as in 1959 when it was invited to perform at the reopening of the Guildhall by Queen Elizabeth Guildhall has remained a key venue for the orchestra, hosting regular concert seasons from the 1960s to the present day. BSO chief executive Dougie Scarfe addressed the council's cabinet decision meeting, and said the orchestra existed to "bring music into peoples lives" and to foster "cultural engagement, creativity, opportunity and well-being in our communities".He said the BSO brought world class musicians from the UK and across the world to Portsmouth each year with "probably the most accessible UK pricing for this quality of music". Scarfe highlighted the Sea Change concert, which gave 1,326 children the opportunity to experience the "awesome sounds of a symphony orchestra".He also noted the orchestra's investment in live streaming, which he said had helped address barriers to cultural access, pointing out that live stream audiences were about 50% more likely to identify as disabled compared to in-hall thanked the council for its continued support, which totals £22,500 this financial added that while the grant had "reduced in real terms by 65% since 2010 it remains vital to our work as your support helps us secure investment from Arts Council England and enables BSO to leverage significant funds through fundraising". Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said he planned to attend one of the two concerts in Guildhall Square in August and encouraged residents to buy BSO will perform a John Williams concert on 1 August, followed by an ABBA Symphonic Spectacular on 2 August. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LPTC Concludes the 4th Edition of the Literary Partner Initiative with a Grand Ceremony and Unveils a Smarter, Wider Vision for the 5th Edition
The Literary Partner Initiative celebrated its 4th edition with awards, exhibitions, and performances, showcasing its impact across 30 cities and 107,000 participants. The next edition introduces a restructured model with five cultural tracks to broaden engagement and deepen Saudi Arabia's literary and cultural reach. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2025) - The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission (LPTC) concluded the 4th edition of its Literary Partner Initiative with a closing ceremony on Friday, May 30, at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh. Photo Courtesy of LPTC The event, attended by senior officials including the CEO of the Commission and the General Manager of Literature at LPTC, brought together writers, intellectuals, and cultural leaders to honor the individuals and institutions that contributed to the initiative over the past year. Launched to promote a sustainable literary culture and encourage community participation across the Kingdom, the initiative has empowered local groups and institutions to help shape Saudi Arabia's literary identity. This year's ceremony recognized those who played a key role in this effort. Highlights of the evening included a documentary recounting the initiative's journey, an awards segment for standout contributors, and a musical performance celebrating the intersection of language, thought, and art. An interactive exhibition showcased the initiative's reach, featuring storytelling zones, data visualizations, public engagement installations, and regional maps of participating literary partners. "The Literary Partner Initiative is a powerful example of collaboration between the public, private, and civil sectors," said Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, CEO of the Commission. "It reflects our vision of making literature a living part of daily life. Today, we honor those who helped transform that vision into a tangible cultural force across the Kingdom." The 4th edition saw more than 5,100 literary and intellectual activities across 30 cities, reaching over 107,000 participants. What's Next: 5th Edition to Launch With New Framework The 5th edition, "New Tracks - Smarter Structure... Wider Reach," will introduce a redesigned model that expands beyond literary cafés to include a broader spectrum of cultural entities. The initiative will now operate across five distinct tracks: Literary Cafés Cultural Associations Cultural Clubs Publishing Houses Shared Spaces This revamped structure aims to improve specialization and expand reach to new audiences. Each track will have dedicated operational guidelines, performance metrics, and advisory support, coordinated through a centralized platform. With this transformation, the Literary Partner Initiative evolves from a unified program into a vibrant ecosystem created to encourage broader cultural engagement without requiring additional resources. About LPTC The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission is one of the cultural commissions under the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia. It works to develop the literary, publishing, and translation sectors, raise the quality of their content and outputs, support talents and professionals, and create opportunities for local and international collaborations. The Commission also aims to enhance the cultural presence of Saudi literature globally and make it accessible to all segments of society through diverse initiatives and programs. Contact Information: Contact Person's Name: Sultan AlBoiezOrganization / Company: Literature, Publishing & Translation CommissionCompany Website: Email Address: Salboiez@ Number: +966 53 324 3535 To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Book festival receives £300,000 to continue programme for schoolchildren
The Scottish Government has given a leading book festival £300,000 to continue its programme for schoolchildren. Edinburgh International Book Festival is set to host more than 60 in-person and remote events this year for youngsters, with the Government funding set to support the programme for the next three years. As well as funding support, the cash will also help with travel costs for attendees and provide free tickets to those unable to afford them. Business minister Richard Lochhead said: 'The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country's most significant cultural institutions. 'Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from free events and resources. 'This funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take part in one of the world's leading literary festivals.' Festival director Jenny Niven said the event's programme for a children is a 'cornerstone of what we do'. She added: ' Publishing for children and young people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading never better evidenced. 'The festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them. 'This aspect of what we do is vital, and we're delighted to have specific public funding support to develop this work further in the coming years. 'We've identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed to maintaining free access for as many children as possible. 'We're delighted that the Scottish Government's increased support for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work further in the coming years, and we look forward to widening our reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential of what we do.'
SBS Australia
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Melbourne's Filipino seniors to lead 127th Philippine Independence Day tribute to heroes old and new
Bayanihan in Melbourne Inc. is a group of mostly senior citizens dedicated to combating loneliness through social activities and cultural engagement. The event, themed "Greatness of the Past, Strength of the Present," will pay tribute to figures from Dr José Rizal to modern heroes, including nurses, legal advocates, and community changemakers—featuring Rizal's great-granddaughter, now living in Melbourne. Set to take place at St Peter's Eastern Hill Hall, Melbourne, the celebration will include cultural performances, games highlighting Philippine national symbols, and opportunities for social connection. SBS Filipino 29/05/2025 10:56 In an interview with SBS Filipino, Versie Tamblyn, president of Bayanihan in Melbourne, shared that her personal modern-day heroes are mothers. "Mothers sacrifice so much, especially here in Australia, where there's often little help with raising children, unlike in the Philippines, where you might have nannies, parents, and extended family for support. Mothers are often forgotten, even by their own children, yet they continue to love unconditionally. That's why, for me, mothers are true modern-day heroes.' 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Disused Sunderland church to become arts and learning centre
A historic church building could receive a new lease of life as an adult learning and arts City Council's planning department has approved the change of use of St Mary's Church in South Grade II listed structure, which sits on the corner of Wear Street and Church Street, dates to the 1800s and has been vacant for some time.A previous property listing for the site said the church had "formally closed for worship" and described it as a "redevelopment opportunity for a range of possible new uses". The applicant is a firm called Pecorino Properties, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A statement of intended use submitted to the council said the aim was to "use the building for adult education and arts-related activities", with a focus on "learning, participation and cultural engagement".The space would host arts exhibitions and a range of other creative initiatives alongside educational programmes involving maths and literacy.A council report said there would be no external changes made to the church as part of the any future building work to facilitate the new use "may require planning permission and/or building regulations approval", planning documents recent months, a company with the same name has also been progressing plans to repurpose another Grade II listed church in the city, St Mark's, off Hylton Road in the Millfield included plans to revive the space to attract not-for-profit organisations, local artists and small start-up businesses to occupy new units on site. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
