The newly elected Arterial Network steering committee held its first meeting in Dakar from the 15th to 17 January 2012. This was their first official meeting after the third biannual conference of Arterial Network in Nairobi, Kenya on the 7th December 2011. This meeting was aimed at deepening the knowledge of the new members towards the network; its constitution and principles. Led by the Chairperson, Korkor Ameteifio and co-ordinated by Mike Van Graan, the Secretary General, the meeting decided on many things concerning Arterial Network internal business. During the meeting, the new leadership drafted a plan of action for the year 2012. More details will be provided in our upcoming newsletters and on our websites.

Arterial Network would like to announce the Panel of Experts for the ARTS EDUCATION PRACTICES & POLICIES IN AFRICA project. Congratulations to the following experts: 1. Ncebakazi Mnukwana – Music (South Africa) 2. Tublu Komi N'kégbé Fogâ - Cultural Heritage (Benin) 3. George Mungai – Creative Director – Theatre (Kenya) 4. Shaima Aly – Culture / Women In Education (Sudan) 5. Tebandeke Samuel Lutaaya – Dance (Uganda) 6. Guy Martial Feukwu Noule – Fine Art (Cameroon) 7. Vicensia Shule - Tanzania (Film) 8. Wahab Ademola Azeez – Nigeria ( Education For Arts)

More than 200 poems ( French and English) from 30 countries have been received following the call for entries in the Poetry Competition on the theme: Change. This competition is being organizes by Arterial Network in collaboration with DOEN Foundation.