You can now visit the Open Culture website at http://www.culture.org.uk as launched by Phil Redmond on 28th November 2007 and, from January 2008, at http://open.culture.org.uk (this is the official address by which the site will be advertised).

The Open Culture website provides an un-moderated space for users to engage with culture, create culture and spark cultural debates!

It is also home to Cultural Clearing which aims to match cultural ideas with benefactors and/or sponsors outside the usual arts grant structures. Through Cultural Clearing businesses are encouraged to engage with culture by stimulating sponsorship, partnership and investment with creative projects in need of support. Currently there are a number of such projects listed under the ‘Ideas’ section for which we are seeking a potential match.

All of the Open Culture Projects will be featured and users can create their own cultural content including videos, words, pictures and sounds and give others the chance to comment. There’s also a handy DIY culture section giving advice on things like recording your own music, taking better photographs and making your own films.

If you would like to help promote the Open Culture project, and create even greater interest in Cultural Clearing then please add the hyperlinked Open Culture badge and text to your email signature, or simply pass this email onto others.

Support Liverpool’s Open Culture …

Liverpool Chamber members receive free access to a comprehensive legal expenses insurance package. This offers cover of up to £65,000 per annum on a range of legal expense issues.

Chamber HR is a recent addition to the existing Legal Expenses scheme. Provided by Composite Legal Expenses, Chamber HR enables you to keep pace and more importantly ensure compliance with the ever increasing stream of employment legislation.

Here are a few recent examples of how Chamber Legal has helped our member businesses:

• A member with the assistance of the helpline conducted a selection process for necessary redundancies. Seventeen employees were dismissed by reason of redundancy. One former employee submitted a claim through the Employment Tribunal and claimed losses of £40,000. Chamber Legal Expenses is operating for the member to settle the claim and legal costs are currently reserved at £15,000 which if the business was not a member of a Chamber of Commerce they would have had to pay themselves.

• A Chamber member received notification of a full tax investigation and notified the helpline immediately. Following acceptance of the claim our tax specialists have been liaising with HMRC in relation to their analytical review and responding thereafter to the queries raised by HMRC. Costs incurred to date exceed £2,000 with enquiries ongoing.

For more information contact The Chamber Legal Advice Line - 0870 220 8515.

New Heys School, currently pioneering the Young Chamber programme, have a vacancy for a Business & Enterprise Co-ordinator.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the post holder will continue and capitalise on the current Business and Enterprise specialism, outlined in the school’s development plan.

This means they will work with colleagues from across the school to ensure work related learning and enterprise are features of teaching and learning within all departments.

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Malmaison are offering LiveOne20 cardholders a fantastic £299 off their New Years Eve Stay at their fabulous hotel on Princes Dock!

Malmaison are having a New Year’s Eve Gala Celebration and exclusive to LiveOne20 are offering cardholders who purchase a pair of tickets at £130 each, a stay over for the night for just £50 B&B (room based on two people sharing)

Standrad room rate is £349 - Save £299 !!

Book early as limited space is available!

Telephone: 0151 229 5000
Email: Liverpool@malmaison.com

This is an ideal opportunity for local businesses or individuals to sponsor and support a new major art prize. Starting in 2008, it will be one of the Capital of Culture’s more tangible legacies.

A new competition of contemporary art open to professional artists based in the Merseyside area which aims to celebrate outstanding talents that Liverpool has produced. We want the Liverpool Art Prize to be a major annual event in the local arts calendar. This project’s contribution to 2008 is to highlight and celebrate outstanding art by local artists and this will continue to be an annual award post-2008.

Held in conjunction with artinliverpool.com, Novas (gallery space), Alexander MacGregor (Catalogue Sponsor), Tate Liverpool (event collaboration). We have judges, a curator, and an excellent short-list of 6 artists, gallery space and website in place. The exhibition runs Feb 29 to April 10 then moves to Novas London gallery. See the Sponsorship page on the website.

Needs:

Significant cash prize, smaller People’s Choice prize plus funds or In-Kind support for PR, Equipment and Refreshments.

Contact:

Ian & Minako Jackson - ArtinLiverpool.com
info@artinliverpool.com
www.liverpoolartprize.com

Merseytravel have now published a leaflet with more details of the various transport arrangements over the holiday period.

This can be viewed as a PDF  on their website.

Also printed versions will be available at Merseytravel offices and travel centres, so please don’t just print off copies - think of the environment and all that, old bean!