The Australia Council recently released its February 2002 newsletter, which details progress in a number of areas, including: a youth policy, recommendations from the Regional Panel, and the Federal Government's Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry. The newsletter, with an introduction by CEO Jennifer Bott, states that the council is currently developing a 'Young People and the Arts' policy, which will be informed by recommendations from its Youth Panel and last year's comprehensive Promoting the Value of the Arts research and strategy. A final report from the countil's Regional Panel has also been delivered, which includes the recommendation that that the nation's cultural landscape be 'mapped', in order to identify where resource gaps exist outside the capital cities. The newsletter also gives an update on the government's Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry, now due to report in April. According to the report, Inquiry Chair Rupert Myer recently met with the council's Visual Arts and Craft Board Chair, Victoria Lynn, and has also been undertaking consultative meetings nationwide, to add to the 194 public submissions received. Meanwhile, an investigation into the challenges facing small to medium sized performing arts companies, commissioned by the Cultural Ministers' Council and being co-ordinated by the Ministry for the Arts in Western Australia, is now not due to report until May 2002. According to the newsletter, council staff are currently involved in analysing two studies based on research from around 125 performing arts production and service companies nationwide. Information from this process will feed into the investigation. Further information regarding the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry is available online at: www.cvacinquiry.dcita.gov.au Further information regarding the Australia Council is available online at: www.ozco.gov.au