Culture news

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney today announced the donation of $10 million by Sydney business leaders and philanthropists David Coe and Simon Mordant and their families, to kick start the campaign to expand the relatively petite contemporary art space.
The funds will see the existing car park in West Circular Quay converted into a new educational wing and improved gallery space, plus long required renovations to the existing building interiors.
MCA Director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor said, "This level of philanthropy for contemporary visual arts is unprecedented and we hope that it will attract further support to make our enlarged vision for contemporary art in Australia a reality."

What do New Young Pony Club, The Chemical Brothers and Klaxons have in common (apart from the English-ness)? Well, over the last year all of them were inspired to write a track about artworks at Tate Modern in London. Warhol, Rothko and Duchamp were among the artists that got the muso's creative juices flowing. And now the ground-breaking twelve month project is looking for one final addition- 'Your Tate Track'. Tate Modern is asking 16- 24 year olds to create music inspired by art from the current Tate Collection. The winner will be announced mid-September and the winning track installed in the gallery on a listening post next to the work which inspired it and streamed on Tate's website. You'll also fly to London, receive feedback and meet many of the other acts. Paaa-retty sweet. Voting closes August 31st.

Got lost in an amazing self-publishing fair in London today called Publish and Be Damned. where book, magazine and zine makers from all over the UK and Europe gathered in a lovely old converted school yard in East London to share their self-published treats.
Kids were lolling around on the grass outside in the brief patches of sunshine that we were permitted, while a crazy visiting Berliner conducted readings of his 'childrens book for adults'. While just outside there was a kind of villege fete, with games and cycling races. It was an ultra inspiring, crafty cool gathering of geek chic and fun folk, and for a former zine producer like myself it was truly awesome to see so many independent creators. In the next issue of YEN there'll be an article by yours truly on zine culture with a full lowdown on the fair and zine history with interviews and pics galore!

Ishmeal Beah’s A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of A Child Soldier grippingly portrays Beah’s experience during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the nineties. Beah candidly describes transforming from a music-loving boy into a killing machine brainwashed by Rambo films and potent hits of gun powder and cocaine, called ‘Brown Brown.’ Rest assured $2 of the book’s profit goes to UNICEF.
Check here for more information about child soldiers.

Recently whilst undertaking my newly appointed position as 'Lieutenant groupie', I've
been privy, up close and rather personal with some pretty amazing new talent in Sydney
music. I've witnessed the exciting metaphorical rise of a previously unheard of band and have since concluded that things seem to happen with more ease the more names you can drop. For a while it's been a case of the more myspace friends you have, the more people perceive you as mythical when really the people logging on to the band page are all goofy musicians in their PJ's with bed hair and an impressive image. I'm not bagging the tendencies of today's pop culture or the people affiliated with it. It's in fact the opposite, I'm fascinated by it. I just find it curious that image is such a huge part of the way we operate in this crazy world today. Now pardon me while I go cut myself a fringe.

-Wolfmother catch public transport! Andrew Stockdale got a bus to the event.
-When asked if she often plays to a worldwide audience of 2 billion people, Missy Higgins replied, “Oh yeah, probably do it again tomorrow!”
-Al Gore is tops. Gore personally called one of the organizers, Joe Segreto to congratulate him on the success of the show. In a “so Australian” reaction, Segreto replied to Al Gore’s greeting with an incredulous “Bullshit!”
-John Butler had his baby in tow all day, even taking her on stage to join in with the Crowded House finale. While earlier a newly preggers Toni Collette rocked the stage.
-The environment is emotional. Leaving the venue with thousands of people singing “Better Be Home Soon” was more touching than I expected. I'm sure everyone's eyes were just "sweating".

Go to Live Earth for everyday tips on decreasing your carbon foootprint.

The jagged emblem for London’s 2012 Olympic Games has sparked a huge response; and it aint all good. Virtually every other Olympic logo has featured a city skyline and the rings, this one is based solely on the number 2012. Resembling a cross between graffiti and a jigsaw puzzle that the Klaxons concocted, critics of the emblem have described it as "hideous", while organisers call it "powerful and modern”.
The logo, which cost almost $1 million to create (n.b. the Nike ‘swoosh’ was designed by a student for only $35), is geared towards catching the attention of 'young' people. But with everything about youth culture - from fashion to bands to new technology -coming and going so quickly, how will the brand last the five years from now until the games without looking ‘vintage’?