New data, revised legislation and enhanced funding support are all part of German efforts to revitalise and reshape the national cultural landscape. The 'Cultural Policies in Europe' newsletter Number 3, dated 27 July 2004, has reported several key updates from the German sector, designed to remodel cultural support and attitudes across the country. According to the newsletter, Germany has merged the Kulturstiftung der Länder (Cultural Foundation of the Länder) and the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (Federal Cultural Foundation) in order to ‘optimise the system for funding cultural activities failed in 2003.’ As a consequence, the Federal Government no longer provides support for the Cultural Foundation of the Länder. There have also been legislative developments that target the sector: including a groundbreaking amendment to the Federal Investment Support Law that recognises investments in culture. A new Federal Film Promotion Act (2004) increases support to Germany's film industry by 40% to a total of 64 million euros and amendments have been made to the German Copyright Law of 2003 dealing with the digital use of creative works. Further boosting the sector, the Act on Culture in the State of Saxony has been adjusted to make Land support available to municipal cultural activities from 2003 to 2007. The changes allow assistance for cultural institutions and regional or trans-regional co-operation activities. Finally, German data from 1992-2002 has been released, showing an increase in the number of visitors to cinemas and museums , but a decrease in the volume of those visiting theatres and public libraries. The data will help German cultural leaders assess the way forward. You can read the newsletter or subscribe to future editions at www.culturalpolicies.net. 'Cultural Policies in Europe: a compendium of basic facts and trends' is a transnational project of the Council of Europe and the European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research (ERICarts) undertaken in co-operation with a new 'community of practice' comprised of independent cultural policy researchers, NGOs and national governments adhering to the European Cultural Convention.