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Artists build cultural bridges
An ensemble of musicians separated by oceans and thousands of miles will perform together later this month for the first time, having composed music layer-by-layer with sound files exchanged over the Internet. Their goal: Show how the arts can bridge diverse cultures — even among people who have never met in person before coming together on stage. Musicians from Afghanistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Morocco will accompany American Jewish and Moroccan Muslim singers.

BacPac hopes to influence public funding for arts and culture
The Birmingham Arts and Culture Political Action Committee was officially launched last week when a letter from organizers Jim Sokol and Rae Trimmier was sent to members of the cultural community. The letter cites Americans for the Arts' economic impact study. BacPac is focused on a single cause: to direct public officials' attention to the importance of arts and culture. "Arts and cultural organizations need more of a political voice," said Sokol. "We don't get on the radar screen of a lot of elected officials. We are looking for a way to have a unified voice." After more substantial funding is established, BacPac will approach city and county officials with the message that arts and culture is a big business, and attracts more big business. BacPac will also encourage the city of Birmingham to continue support for the arts.

Holland, MI May Get Arts District
A new state law that encourages redevelopment of neighborhood commercial corridors could help the city create an arts and cultural district. The City Council got its first look Wednesday at the proposed corridor improvement authority, which could allow new tax revenues to be collected and could be in line for state grants and other assistance. If approved, Holland would be the second city in the state to adopt such an authority.

Sotheby's posts record results
Auction house Sotheby's yesterday posted record results after bumper sales in the first six months of this year. The auctioneer generated income of $132m (about £65m) in the first half, 92% higher than a year earlier and more than any full year in its history. Total sales over the six months reached $2.9bn, with 391 lots selling for more than $1m. Bill Ruprecht, Sotheby's president and chief executive, described the results as "historic by all standards".

Oregon arts funding up 20 percent with grants of $1.36 million to groups
Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced more than $1.36 million in funding for various Oregon cultural institutions and programs that represents nearly a 20 percent increase from last year and covers a broad cross-section of recipients. All of it comes courtesy of the Oregon Cultural Trust, a state-run trust for culture and the arts funded by tax credits, the sale of cultural license plates and the sale of surplus state assets.

Arts help D school turn it all around
The Davenport School of the Arts in Polk County was one of 13 schools around Florida selected as a model arts school. Davenport's students in kindergarten through eighth grade get a daily dose of music, dance, theater and visual arts. Davenport became an arts school in 1999, when it was ranked as a D school by the state. Davenport pulled its ranking all the way up to an A by the 2002-03 school year. Since then, it has consistently earned at least a B and currently has an A. The school is now highly in demand in the district.

Art programs taking off at airports
More and more airports around the nation are using art to boost tourism, polish the image of their host community and soothe passengers in what can be a stressful environment. "You've got a captive audience," said Greg Mamary, producer of special projects for the American Association of Airport Executives. "It's just become a very trendy thing."

Dump tiff blocks arts center funding
Lexington County’s town leaders revealed a plan to use a fee charged to deposit material in the landfill to help finance the $32 million arts center. A $2 per ton landfill fee would raise up to $500,000 annually for the center, according to Town Hall estimates. “It’s a creative way to fund it so it doesn’t put a burden on the average person,” said Phil Hamby, leader of an advisory panel promoting the center. Town leaders also are seeking private donations, while looking at a mix of taxes and fees for center audiences and setting aside revenue from future property tax growth downtown.

Stepping from music to political arena
Country music's Sammy Kershaw is running for lieutenant governor of his home state, Louisiana, an office that includes the title Commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "It's just promoting the state, and I feel like for the last almost 20 years, on the road every night, talking about Louisiana from the stage all around the country and parts of the world, I felt like the ambassador for Louisiana anyway, so why not make it official?" he says.

Plan to Build Orlando Arts Center Approved
Officials in Florida's Orange County have approved plans to build a $425 million performing arts center, part of a $1.1 billion public building project that also includes a new arena and significant renovations to the Florida Citrus Bowl. The undertaking is the largest of its kind in Central Florida's history. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and his planners want to turn the sprawling Centroplex into a Creative Village.