Blog’s been quiet of late– it never ceases to amaze me how busy the autumn term is! So much crossing the desk these days, I’m going to try and offer a weekly digest on Wednesdays of what’s been making the rounds…

• Big news of today – Arts Council England’s budget was slashed 30% in new budget figures announced today: biggest cuts will be to the ACE’s own overheads, but the chair indicates that up to 100 organisations may lose funding as a result.
• Wondering how other countries (India, Italy, France, US) stack up in terms of their culture budgets? Why, thank you, BBC.
• In today’s Irish Times, Chairwoman of the Irish Arts Council Pat Moylan writes an opinion piece defending the role of the arts in contemporary Irish society. Sounds familiar, but will we do like the French and actually increase our cultural spend?
• Bank of Ireland’s sale of its massive art collection proceeds apace. Robert Ballagh ain’t happy about it, that’s for sure.
• Mary Hickson’s been appointed CEO of the Cork Opera House.
• As Wexford Festival Opera gets underway, Michael Dervan has some harsh words for the state of Irish opera, referencing the closure of Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company, the as-yet-undetermined ‘national opera company’ supposedly going to take their place, and his perception of the ‘elitist’ reputation of opera persisting on the isle. Maybe we should all head to the pub…
• The 2010 Arthur Guinness Fund competition is announced– moola for social entrepreneurs in the arts is there for the applying…
• Think I would have snagged one too: access is restricted to Tate Modern’s ‘sunflower seed’ exhibition by Ai WeiWei amid health & safety concerns, and/or possibly the fact that people were stealing the art.
• Project Arts Centre is advertising its groovy scheme for Young Performing Arts Lovers (YPAL): free trip to France for a few passionate, vocal & committed under-30s? Apply soon, deadline is next week.