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The studio-space <http://www.studio-space.net> Virtual Learning Environment for Art and Design has a multi-media capable knowledge-base and appropriate web-based tools for dropping in, authoring, sharing accessing and creating inter-operable and re-usable resources. If there is an interest in systems that can support and also manage this kind of knowledge capture, creation and dissemination this might be a useful prototype. At 12:45 15/03/01 +0000, you wrote: >And Chris Smith used the word 'interoperability' .... > >apologies if you receive more than one copy .... > >75/01 15 March 2001 >CULTURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS - CHRIS SMITH LAUNCHES VISION FOR CULTURE ONLINE >Opening up the nation's cultural resources to new audiences in new ways. > >Watching a performance of Macbeth, visiting a museum or touring a Victorian >street will be some of the options available to people when Culture Online >becomes a reality early next year. >This vision of Britain's cultural future - where children and families have >instant access to the nation's storehouse of cultural treasures 24 hours a >day - was unveiled by Culture Secretary Chris Smith today. >The Culture Online vision report sets out how computers and the Internet can >be used in innovative ways to open up arts and culture to new audiences. >Speaking at Tate Modern, Chris Smith said: >" The Internet will allow Britain's cultural riches to reach vast new >audiences, in new ways at the click of a computer mouse. It means that for >the first time for many people our great standing collections, new >exhibitions, or live performances of world class theatre or music will be >accessible at home, at school or in public libraries. >"I believe we are using new technology in a creative way to set up a >virtuous circle. A circle where, building on the riches and wealth of talent >in our arts and cultural institutions, we can increase access and >participation, which in turn will help encourage individual creativity and >the love of learning. >"The potential applications for Culture Online are truly exciting and are a >tribute to the creative talent in our arts and cultural institutions. The >report shows how we could provide free access to the nation's culture, and >at the same time create a participatory experience that will actively >encourage learning. >" The People's Memory is but one example. It is a project that would >enhance the users' understanding of history, while participating and >contributing materials. Afterwards it will leave a lasting cultural >resource capturing the essence of the twentieth century based on people's >own experience of it." >Culture Online aims to give both school children and life long learners easy >access to high quality cultural resources including museums, galleries, arts >organisations, film archives, and libraries, presented alongside explanatory >materials designed to enrich the learning experience. >In future, for example, a child studying Victorian Britain will be able to: >* download relevant sources of text, photographs and source materials >* take a virtual tour through a Victorian street or factory >* take part in discussion groups with other students >* call up clothing designs from the period; and >* discuss these online with a curator, and listen to children's >experiences of the work house - all without leaving their PC terminal or >digital TV. >And, of course, it will also provide a web presence for real cultural events >such as concerts and play rehearsals. >However, Culture Online will offer even more than that. Its emphasis will >be more on the quality of experience it offers than the quantity of >information it provides. It will create truly interactive experiences >allowing the user to engage in real cultural events such as having >discussions with curators, receiving lessons from artists, or taking tips >from theatre directors. It will also encourage both individual users and >communities to participate by allowing them to design and submit their own >materials and post them online. >A new organisation Culture Online will be set up to mastermind making the >ambitious vision a reality. >The report has been produced by Charlie Leadbeater, an ICT consultant. It >draws on advice from experts in the arts and culture world and from the >spheres of ICT and education. > >Notes to editors >The Department has a £5m Development Fund for Culture Online. It has engaged >independent business strategy consultants to conduct a full economic options >appraisal which will set out a business plan for COL. >It is intended that COL will be operational as a statutory corporation >towards the end of 2001 and to produce its first wave of materials and >services by early 2002. >Culture Online is an integral part of the DCMS e-business strategy which, in >itself is a response to the Government's commitment to the UK Online >programme. This programme aims to ensure everyone who wants it has access to >the Internet by 2005 and that all Government services are online by that >date and to make Britain one of the leading knowledge economies. >The COL website is on www.cultureonline.gov.uk > > > > >David Dawson >Senior ICT Adviser >Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries >Fifth Floor, 19-29 Woburn Place London WC1H 0LU >email: [log in to unmask] tel: 020 7273 8757 (direct line) >www.resource.gov.uk www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk > >Join the ResourceNews mailing list at >www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/resourcenews.html > > > >David Dawson >Senior ICT Adviser >Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries >Fifth Floor, 19-29 Woburn Place London WC1H 0LU >email: [log in to unmask] tel: 020 7273 8757 (direct line) >www.resource.gov.uk www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk > >Join the ResourceNews mailing list at >www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/resourcenews.html Jenny Ure NetCulture Regional Coordinator CLUES Centre University of Aberdeen Email : [log in to unmask] Tel : +44 1224 273754 Fax : +44 1224 273752 Web : http://netculture.scotcit.ac.uk