Venue: Sir John Clancy Auditorium. Time: 8pm.

The Federal Government has announced a package of $17 million to support regional and Indigenous arts, and a sum of $10M to the charity Support Act to support people in the music industry. 

Aviva Endean (VIC), Hilary Kleinig (SA), Bree van Reyk (NSW), Kate Milligan (WA), and Frankie Dyson Reilly (QLD) have been announced as participants in the 2020 edition of the Summers Night Mentoring Project. 

Today, the AMC is proud to announce the names of the artists who will deliver the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address in 2020, as well as declaring open expressions of interest for 10 opportunities, also under the banner of the prestigious Address.

Australian Music Centre is commissioning 10 presentations in 2020 under the banner of the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address. 10 x $1000 bursaries will be available to the Australian music community to create online works that are realised in 2020. Distribution will be in partnership with the ABC and Monash University, in order that your work reaches as broad an audience as possible, and further embeds Australian music in teaching and learning. Deadline for EOIs is at 5pm AEST on Friday 8 May 2020.

Even though our physical office is closed, we still have plenty of Australian Art Music available for purchase in our online shop!

The ABC has launched a $5 million development fund to support independent Australian producers and safeguard local content and creativity across multiple genres, including drama, comedy, children's, factual, music and the arts. Out of the five production streams (see further down) of the Fresh Start Fund, of particular interest is the Australian Music Fund, which supports independent Australian artists and musicians across all ABC music networks, including by commissioning new works for ABC Classic and ABC Jazz.

To support independent artists and small to medium arts, screen and cultural organisations impacted by COVID-19, Create NSW is implementing a number of measures. This includes accommodation assistance, new support for creatives to engage with online platforms, and a suite of initiatives that provide employment and development opportunities, and audience engagement and skill-sharing for arts, screen and cultural organisations and individuals across the State. > More detail (Create NSW)

Victorian government has announced a $16.8 million survival package to provide immediate support to Victorian creative organisations and individuals to sustain employment, develop new works and provide opportunities for creative community participation.

Ten Australian composers are the recipients of the latest grants from APRA AMCOS and Australian Music Centre's Art Music Fund, taking the all-time funding total to more than $500,000 over five years. This year's $100,000 allocation will support a range of new projects as they come to life, including urban art installations, video and sound works and an a cappella collaboration. The 2020 Art Music Fund recipients are: Kristin Berardi, Leah Blankendaal, Olivia Davies, Aviva Endean, Madeleine Flynn & Tim Humphrey, Thomas Meadowcroft, Maria Moles, Jodi Rose and Jon Rose.

Sydney-based composer Ian Whitney has won the 2020-2021 Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship, valued at $10,000 for one year. Whitney will write two chamber music works over a 12-month period as part of the Australia Ensemble NSW's outreach program, with a public workshop organised in 2021. He will also receive mentoring sessions with a Composition staff member from the UNSW School of the Arts & Media, members of the Australia Ensemble UNSW, and an external composition mentor.

Authorities seized 400 grams of fentanyl during two investigations in Nassau County this week.

The FBI reports that hate crimes in Connecticut and on Long Island went down last year.

The number of shootings in New Haven has reached a seven-year high. That’s according to a crime report from the New Haven Police Department.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau says Connecticut ranks first in the country in insurance claims filed for metal theft.

Connecticut officials have announced a $50,000 reward for information to help solve the killing of an Air Force veteran. Governor Ned Lamont approved the maximum reward allowed by state law in the case of Dominic Marino. The 30-year-old veteran was found shot to death with his wrists and ankles bound with tape in his East Hartford home in 2018. Police say the suspect or suspects appeared to have forced their way into the home. Marino’s father said his son served in Guam, South Korea and Kuwait. The reward is for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers.

The leader of an MS-13 clique on Long Island pleaded guilty to murder and conspiracy charges this week. The gang member was charged with ordering the murder of a 15-year old, which was then carried out. He was also charged with planning the murder of an alleged fellow MS-13 gang member for being disloyal to the group. The defendant admitted that he reported to gang leadership in El Salvador and the United States. He is expected to be sentenced to 24 years to life in prison in 2020.

A federal judge has delayed the sentencing of former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife for their corruption convictions.

A federal jury has found former Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota guilty on all charges in the latest corruption trial that has brought down some of Long Island’s most powerful public officials. Spota’s ex-aide, Christopher McPartland, was also found guilty.

Three women were shot during an incident that took place Thursday morning in Westerly. State police have confirmed that one of the victims, age 47, was killed.

Police say a member of the school board in Connecticut's largest city posed as a police officer and attempted to kidnap a man at gunpoint.

Connecticut prosecutors have consolidated charges and offered a plea deal to three Stratford teenagers who are accused of arson in four communities last year.

The estranged husband of a New Canaan missing mother of five posted $6 million bail and was released today.

A former Stony Brook University professor has pleaded guilty to stealing over $200,000 of government cancer research money to pay personal bills.

Connecticut State Police will work with the city of Bridgeport to “de-escalate and prevent retaliation” after a shooting outside a local courthouse Monday. Police have made several arrests in the case.

The father of an 8-year-old Suffolk County boy who died last week has been charged with second-degree murder. His fiancée has also been charged. County Child Protective Services knew the boy suffered neglect in 2018.

A Florida man has been arrested for the harassment of the family of a Sandy Hook shooting victim. Police allege Wolfgang Halbig emailed hundreds of people the Social Security number of Leonard Pozner, whose 6-year-old son Noah died in the 2012 shooting. Halbig is a contributor to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones Infowars website. Halbig claims the shooting was a hoax. Halbig was charged with unlawful possession of personal identification and held on $5,000 bond.

Suffolk County will investigate how the Department of Social Services handled allegations of parental abuse in the case of an 8-year-old boy who died last week in his father’s custody.

Federal, state and local law enforcement officials in New York announced the dismantling of a gun trafficking ring on Long Island.

A Connecticut judge has dropped the murder and kidnapping case against the late Fotis Dulos. He died in January, two days after an apparent suicide attempt.

A panel of appeals court judges has ordered Suffolk County Police to release the 911 call that led authorities to discover 11 bodies near Gilgo Beach a decade ago.

All-round family fun in Bromsgrove.

Richard Lutz checks out how he wandered through another week.

Richard Lutz rummages through the vestiges of the last week

Richard Lutz reviews his past seven days.

Anniversary for Worcestershire networking group.

Richard Lutz goes to The Edge.

Sir Howard Elston, our sports editor, sits down with the beleaguered chief FIFA honcho as he faces a 90 day suspension over lurid totally false allegations that he is a cheating lying self-deluding thief.

Perilous state of city landmark recognised.

Public invited to attend event at threatened building.

Finance boost to threatened landmark.

Celebrations planned for local landmark.

Two Sandwell community swimming pools to close to help fund Commonwealth Games Aquatics Centre, reports Steve Beauchampe.

Tudor Grange date for visually impaired swimmers.

Top vet gains international honours as he seeks world title.

Young swimmers compete and learn at Tudor Grange.

Inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Duchess of Cornwall unveils stunning new Roald Dahl installation.

International sports legacy experts will convene at the University of Birmingham this week to discuss the rationale behind hosting global mega-events and their lasting impact.

Olympians Geraint Thomas and Steven Burke attended the Black Country University Technical College’s ‘Accelerate Live’ event last weekend, inspiring students to learn about science and engineering.