Human Rights - Sting has cancelled a concert in Kazakhstan's capital Astana over claims of human rights violations on oil workers in the Central Asian country. In a statement on his website, the singer axed Monday's planned show after Amnesty International told him of "the repression and crackdown" against them. The singer said the treatment was "unacceptable". Sting had been due to perform as part of city day celebrations as part of his Symphonicity world tour.
Arts Funding - Former Conservative minister Michael Portillo is to chair a scheme to help arts and heritage organisations build long-term funding. A new £55m Endowment Fund will award public grants to match funds raised from private donations. The fund is being set up with money from the Lottery and the Arts Council, as part of a wider government scheme to encourage philanthropy.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to boost private donations to the arts. He has invited organisations to bid for grants of up to £5m to support their own long-term endowment schemes, matching funds from private donors. Mr Portillo will chair an independent advisory panel which will review the bids.
Independent Awards - The Association of Independent Music (Aim) has announced a new awards ceremony for British indie artists. Aim says the show is in response to the lack of success for independent artists at mainstream awards such as the BRITs. Categories include breakthrough of the year and hardest working band or artist - awarded to who has played the most gigs during the year.
Hosted by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and 6 Music's Steve Lamacq, the awards will be held in London on 10 November. Artists including Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Example and Mercury Prize winners The xx are all signed to British independent labels. The xx were nominated in three categories at the Brits including best British album and best British band but did not win any of them. AIM was established in 1999 and represents over 800 members working within the UK's independent music industry. The US Independent Music Awards was set up more than 10 years ago.
(Jim Evans)
