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A memo sent to local
correspondents, friends and acquaintances of The Budapest Observatory in September
2000
Dear Colleagues,
After all the remorses
we had, at last we close a month with good feelings. Finally we found time and
inspiration to work on our web site. A major function of this memo is therefore
to guide you to www.budobs.org.
Meeting of observatories
The Budapest
Observatory was present at the first world assembly of cultural observatories, organised
by Unesco with support from the cultural ministries of Canada and Sweden and
held in the Canadian pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hanover on 19-20
September. Or rather the 19th only, most unfortunately I had to leave
half time for another obligation. As usual, there was some uneasiness at the start
as the observers observed each other over the long table but gradually the group
collected impetus; as a follow-up, some multilateral infromation flow may start
and BO might volunteer to co-coordinate the monitoring of at least one issue in
the world.
Meeting of experts on culture and world trade
We had the chance to
observe this event, too. As we finally managed to launch this line of activity
(see below), the meeting promised to be highly topical for us. To a certain
extent it was. For more, see the new chapter of our site on "world trade" soon.
Theatres and local authorities
This was one of the central themes
of the conference held between theatre performances inTimisoara, with
participants from Romania and Hungary, including Zita from BO. We followed with
interest, because sooner or later we must include the issue of municipal
cultural administration into our portfolio.
Tax Incentives
As you may remember,
after a quick start we got bogged down in terminological problems. Lately we
received the text of the Romanian law on sponsorship which is clear in its
terms, though colleagues complain about its application and the wriggling going
on with the ministry of finances. We hope to have more information soon.
Please, let us know if
you know of direct references to sponsoring (possibly by this name) in your
national legislation!
Best Practices
A real good case
description arrived about the Vidin Philharmonics and we have decided to put on
those which still need editing, too.
Public Grants for Cultural Projects
Find names of
registered persons and organisations from East-Central Europe to the Ottawa meeting
of arm's length cultural agencies in December.
New chapters
New chapters have ben set up for the issues
of the place of cultural goods and services in the international trade
agreements ("world trade") and to the relationship with the European Union.
Although they are motly in the future tense, they may be appropriate to provoke
comments or questions from you at this stage, too.
New pages
The useful links and
the index of countries on our site are obligatory parts of a decent web site.
Now we have got them.
Hoping for a similarly
busy October.
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