Four of the Big Five publishers—Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster—and Sourcebooks sent a letter to Congress on April 3 expressing “deep concern” over the state of the nation’s libraries following a week of unprecedented turmoil at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the agency responsible for distributing federal funding...
Until we hear more about any potential deal that actually could be used to delay the law as it’s written, it’s probably a good idea to keep your TikTok app updated just in case its listings disappear again. - The Verge
The Temple Anthropology Lab and Museum (TALM) officially opened this week. “The space was languishing and something needed to happen — either it was going to be shut down or someone was going to be having to take care of them.” - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
Opera Carolina and its business director are embroiled in a lawsuit with the former production director amid a leadership shakeup that’s as dramatic and intense as an opera performance itself. - Charlotte Observer
“For decades, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, in which gender nonconforming patrons of a late-night Tenderloin eatery stood up to chronic police harassment — smashing the diner’s windows, destroying a patrol car, setting a newsstand aflame — went untold.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
“Today is a celebration for my colleagues at RT, Sputnik, and other outlets, because Trump unexpectedly announced that he’s closing down Radio Liberty and Voice of America, and now they’re closed. This is an awesome decision,” said Margarita Simonyan, RT’s chief editor. - NiemanLab
“Prior to the Arts Access Fund, there were 31 full-time arts teachers and educators serving K-5 students across Portland schools,” Dawn Isaacs, the City of Portland’s arts education coordinator said in a press release in December. “In the 2023-24 school year, there were 111. That increase is directly related to the Arts Access Fund.” - The Oregonian
The latest economic impact study of arts and culture throughout the United States: Arts and culture sectors contributed $1.2 trillion to the United States economy in 2023. ACPSA is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research and Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department. - Broadway News
“There could be deep psychological – even evolutionary – factors behind the success of Minecraft and games like it, say experts. Such games tap into an innate instinct within all of us – one that underpins the success of our entire species. The desire to build.” - BBC
There is a sizeable body of research looking at how gender, sexuality and interconnecting identities are represented in video games. - The Conversation
We live in a time of unparalleled interaction, communicating instantly with people across the world, with intimate insight into other people’s lives. Yet we feel increasingly disconnected from ourselves, each other and the world. - Aeon
Being based underground enhanced the atmosphere in the clubs. Attendees were simultaneously part of an underground movement and also literally hidden from view from the adult world. - The Conversation
From the banana on the wall to the butt-plug-shaped balloon to the (alleged) vulva in Versailles, here’s a chance to revisit some of the biggest brouhahas of the past quarter-century. - ARTnews
“Picador, the paperback arm of FSG, will embark on ... the trade paperback reissue of all 75 Inspector Maigret novels over a three-year period starting in spring 2025. Reissues of 30 of his standalone psychological noirs — which Simenon himself called romans durs, or ‘hard novels’ — will follow beginning in winter 2026.” - Publishers Weekly
“(He) rose improbably from rural poverty in Costa Rica to the towering heights of the global antiquities market, despite accusations that he trafficked in fake and stolen artifacts — and … fell precipitously when those accusations proved to be true.” - The New York Times
“As the deadline nears for TikTok‘s Chinese parent to cut a deal to divest controlling ownership of the app or face a U.S. ban, new bidders are coming out of the woodwork. Among the interested investors in TikTok is Tim Stokely, founder of OnlyFans. … In addition, Amazon submitted a last-minute offer.” - Variety
“Originally scheduled for July 5-6, the (free) festival, which attracts more than 50,000 attendees annually to San Francisco’s historic Fillmore district, will not take place this summer due to ongoing financial challenges. Tim Omi, president of the association, said in a statement, ‘2025 is not financially viable.’” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
“Underneath this genteel surface are bitter divisions that erupted just as the institution struggled to recover from the worst event ever to happen on its campus, when Salman Rushdie was nearly killed onstage. … Chautauqua’s culture of agreeable disagreement failed. Some wonder if it can be reclaimed.” - The New York Times
Thousands of cultural groups are receiving a “Notice of Grant Termination” which reads, in part, “Your grant no longer effectuates the agency's needs and priorities and conditions of the Grant Agreement and is subject to termination. … Your grant's immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government." - NPR
“U.S. District Judge William Smith acknowledged that plaintiffs ‘demonstrated a likelihood of success,’ … but because the NEA had rescinded the requirement about a week after the lawsuit was filed, Smith said an ‘injunction is not in the public interest at this time.’” - AP
We live in a time of unparalleled interaction, communicating instantly with people across the world, with intimate insight into other people’s lives. Yet we feel increasingly disconnected from ourselves, each other and the world. - Aeon
I like genre fiction for the same reason I like black-and-white film, stylized dialogue, animation, the paintings of Marc Chagall or ballet: things feel more real if they’re obviously a little fake. - The Point
When information is in a complete free market, the vast majority of information becomes fiction, illusion, or lies. This is because there are three main difficulties with truth. - Wired
“Trust your gut”, “be yourself” or “less is more” are aphorisms that contain much truth, while also being prone to catastrophic misinterpretation. - The Guardian
More and more I have the sense of dealing with a technology that’s finished, that’s out of keeping with the times, by which I don’t mean only the short form video proliferation of our era but that, even within writing, books aren’t really in line with the specific requirements of the digital age. - Sam Khan
Dystopian dramas are clearly in vogue right now, but films and TV dramas have often reflected the fears and anxieties of their times. - The Conversation
“Prior to the Arts Access Fund, there were 31 full-time arts teachers and educators serving K-5 students across Portland schools,” Dawn Isaacs, the City of Portland’s arts education coordinator said in a press release in December. “In the 2023-24 school year, there were 111. That increase is directly related to the Arts Access Fund.” -...
The latest economic impact study of arts and culture throughout the United States: Arts and culture sectors contributed $1.2 trillion to the United States economy in 2023. ACPSA is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research and Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department. - Broadway News
“Underneath this genteel surface are bitter divisions that erupted just as the institution struggled to recover from the worst event ever to happen on its campus, when Salman Rushdie was nearly killed onstage. … Chautauqua’s culture of agreeable disagreement failed. Some wonder if it can be reclaimed.” - The New York Times
Thousands of cultural groups are receiving a “Notice of Grant Termination” which reads, in part, “Your grant no longer effectuates the agency's needs and priorities and conditions of the Grant Agreement and is subject to termination. … Your grant's immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government." - NPR
“U.S. District Judge William Smith acknowledged that plaintiffs ‘demonstrated a likelihood of success,’ … but because the NEA had rescinded the requirement about a week after the lawsuit was filed, Smith said an ‘injunction is not in the public interest at this time.’” - AP
Like Battersea, Barcelona’s plant is set to undergo a radical transformation into the new Catalunya Media City—a cutting-edge hub for digital arts, technology, and education. - Fast Company
Opera Carolina and its business director are embroiled in a lawsuit with the former production director amid a leadership shakeup that’s as dramatic and intense as an opera performance itself. - Charlotte Observer
Being based underground enhanced the atmosphere in the clubs. Attendees were simultaneously part of an underground movement and also literally hidden from view from the adult world. - The Conversation
“Originally scheduled for July 5-6, the (free) festival, which attracts more than 50,000 attendees annually to San Francisco’s historic Fillmore district, will not take place this summer due to ongoing financial challenges. Tim Omi, president of the association, said in a statement, ‘2025 is not financially viable.’” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
The three-time Oscar nominee will direct Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at the Paris Opera. (He played the title role in a 1999 film adaptation of the Pushkin novel on which the opera is based.) The production runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 27, 2026 at the Palais Garnier; Semyon Bychkov will conduct. - AP
For 2025-26, the company will again offer all seats at $11 each (or higher if the buyer chooses). There are twice as many performances as this season, and five works scheduled rather than this season’s three — but only one of those works is a conventional opera. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
“He’s actually a replica of what we see in the tech industry,” Yuval Sharon said. “There’s a messianic belief that we must transcend our own humanity and that AI is making up for all the terrible ways we behave. People really do believe that the future of humanity is robotic.” - APNews
The Temple Anthropology Lab and Museum (TALM) officially opened this week. “The space was languishing and something needed to happen — either it was going to be shut down or someone was going to be having to take care of them.” - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
From the banana on the wall to the butt-plug-shaped balloon to the (alleged) vulva in Versailles, here’s a chance to revisit some of the biggest brouhahas of the past quarter-century. - ARTnews
“The gold leaf had washed off the 350-year-old statues, leaving a behind dull, ruddy scene. Algae had spread across the 13 statues, leaving marks down Apollo’s dashing face that appeared like a trail of green tears. Things were not much better internally.” - Artnet
The Getty maintains earthquake and fire insurance but, as expressed in the filing, there are concerns “such insurance could become unavailable at rates considered reasonable by the Getty Trust.” - ARTnews
Kevin Young’s leave came two weeks before Trump issued an executive order calling for the elimination of what he described as “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology” within the Smithsonian. - The Guardian
Following the attempted prosecution of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth for child pornography over an exhibition of Sally Mann’s photography, a state representative has proposed a law that would fine a museum $500,000 per item per day for displaying anything deemed “obscene or harmful material.” - Fort Worth Report
Four of the Big Five publishers—Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster—and Sourcebooks sent a letter to Congress on April 3 expressing “deep concern” over the state of the nation’s libraries following a week of unprecedented turmoil at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the agency responsible for distributing...
“Picador, the paperback arm of FSG, will embark on ... the trade paperback reissue of all 75 Inspector Maigret novels over a three-year period starting in spring 2025. Reissues of 30 of his standalone psychological noirs — which Simenon himself called romans durs, or ‘hard novels’ — will follow beginning in winter 2026.” - Publishers...
Fandom has long facilitated deep dives into media in which fans analyse, discuss and track their favourite storylines and character arcs. This has been particularly true of the science fiction and fantasy genres, due to their complex and expansive narrative universes. - The Conversation
Automated bots seeking AI model training data for LLMs have been vacuuming up terabytes of data, growing the foundation's bandwidth used for downloading multimedia content by 50 percent since January 2024. - Ars Technica
As a professor of computer science who has authored hundreds of works on artificial intelligence, including AI textbooks that cover social impact of large language models, I think understanding how the models work can help writers and educators consider the limitations and potential uses of AI for what might be called “creative” writing. - The Conversation
Giving away books for free might seem counterproductive, but it’s one of the best ways to get readers invested. Once they finish one book, they’re more likely to purchase another. More importantly, it helps trigger Amazon’s algorithms, increasing a book’s visibility long after the free period ends. - Jane Friedman
Until we hear more about any potential deal that actually could be used to delay the law as it’s written, it’s probably a good idea to keep your TikTok app updated just in case its listings disappear again. - The Verge
“Today is a celebration for my colleagues at RT, Sputnik, and other outlets, because Trump unexpectedly announced that he’s closing down Radio Liberty and Voice of America, and now they’re closed. This is an awesome decision,” said Margarita Simonyan, RT’s chief editor. - NiemanLab
“There could be deep psychological – even evolutionary – factors behind the success of Minecraft and games like it, say experts. Such games tap into an innate instinct within all of us – one that underpins the success of our entire species. The desire to build.” - BBC
There is a sizeable body of research looking at how gender, sexuality and interconnecting identities are represented in video games. - The Conversation
“As the deadline nears for TikTok‘s Chinese parent to cut a deal to divest controlling ownership of the app or face a U.S. ban, new bidders are coming out of the woodwork. Among the interested investors in TikTok is Tim Stokely, founder of OnlyFans. … In addition, Amazon submitted a last-minute offer.” - Variety
Radio Liechtenstein, which began broadcasting in 1995, went off the air at 6:00 pm Thursday, following a referendum last October in which 55.4% of voters elected to revoke the law that funds the station. Plans for privatization never materialized, as no buyer appeared interested in such a tiny market. - AP
"The response of these dance leaders reinforces my belief that the Trump administration’s move to suffocate diversity in the arts is ultimately doomed to fail. The voice of Americans of all races, genders and ability levels is a bell that cannot be un-rung and the arts are endlessly inventive, subversive and evolving." - New...
Out of 213 classically-based companies examined, only 30% of artistic directors are women and 70% are men. Women comprise 32.3% of artistic directors at second companies and 46.2% of assistant or associate artistic directors. Nearly half (49.2) of company executive directors are female. - Dance Data Project
For three decades, starting in 1942, “Marian Chace helped shell-shocked soldiers, sexual abuse victims, and the mentally ill use movement to communicate their feelings. ... The former Denishawn dancer proved that dance isn’t just entertaining and beautiful; it could free the deepest parts of the soul and strengthen an entire person.” - Dance Teacher
“The clip — titled ‘Slayed this TikTok but missed my flight’ — has inspired a months-long social media trend as scores of fans around the world staged their own airport routines. Dancers in countries including New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada have jumped on board.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
“I don’t want to take away from the power of the abstract because that's where we find our own imaginative ways to connect with the choreography. But I love that story ballets are being made by young choreographers. And that' because we connect. We spend our lives telling stories.” - San Francisco Classical Voice
“For decades, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, in which gender nonconforming patrons of a late-night Tenderloin eatery stood up to chronic police harassment — smashing the diner’s windows, destroying a patrol car, setting a newsstand aflame — went untold.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
SOLT’s update on attendances for 2024 shows that 17.1 million attended performances – the same as in 2023. When compared with 2019 – the year before theatres shut due to the pandemic lockdowns – attendances are up 11% (from 15.3 million). - The Stage
The festival, located where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario on the US-Canada border, had planned to close the century-old Royal George Theatre permanently. Now the provincial government has pledged C$35 million to reconstruct the venue — with more physical stability, updated facilities and expanded seating. - Toronto Star
“The city (government) has pulled $500,000 of Dream Keeper Initiative funding previously awarded to African-American Shakespeare Company with ‘no explanation,’ according to its founder. Executive Director Sherri Young … started the theater company in 1994 to provide actors of color more opportunities to perform in the classics.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
Audible Theater is teaming up with Together, a new accessible-theater initiative led by megastar Hugh Jackman and superproducer Sonia Friedman, for an eight-week series of programming at Off Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre this spring. - TimeOut
“Othello is Shakespeare’s only major work in which the hero and antihero are given equal weight. … As the Shakespeare scholar Harold Bloom summed up the dichotomy: It is Othello’s tragedy, but it is Iago’s play.” Ben Brantley considers 13 Othello-Iago pairs, going back nearly a century. - The New York Times
“(He) rose improbably from rural poverty in Costa Rica to the towering heights of the global antiquities market, despite accusations that he trafficked in fake and stolen artifacts — and … fell precipitously when those accusations proved to be true.” - The New York Times
“Filed last week in New York federal court, the complaint from Dr. Brian Morley, the ex-medical director of health insurance corporation AmeriHealth Caritas, … (states) “Defendants falsely told millions of viewers … that Dr. Morley testified in a Medicaid hearing that ‘he thinks it’s okay if people have shit on them for days.’” -...
“The tragedy came from the women’s testimony — a set decorator who spoke of how Depardieu trapped her between his legs and groped her, an assistant director who detailed multiple occasions when the actor touched her breasts, buttocks, and genitals. The farce is from Depardieu’s performance in court.” - The Hollywood Reporter
“(He) experienced the ups and downs of fame more dramatically than most. His break came in 1984’s spy spoof Top Secret! … (and) his movie career hit its zenith in the 1990s ... as a dashing leading man” in Tombstone, True Romance, Top Gun, The Doors (as rockstar Jim Morrison), and Batman Forever. -...
Just hours before he was due to surrender to Federal authorities to serve almost 10 years in prison, Watson received clemency from the Trump White House. - CNBC
Want to learn to live like her? The Marina Abramović Institute offers €2,450 (~$2,600) five-day Cleaning the House workshops in various locations—Brazil, Thailand—taught by people (not her) trained to lead guests “through a series of long durational exercises to improve individual focus, stamina, and concentration.” - ARTnews
La Jolla Playhouse is excited to welcome a new visionary leader to serve as its next Artistic Director, shaping the Playhouse’s artistic footprint ....
Northwestern University’s MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) program develops leaders across Entertainment, Media and the Arts. Earn your Master’s in One Year.
Levine Music, one of the nation’s leading centers for community-based music education, welcomes nominations and applications for the position of Vice President of Development.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) invites applications for the role of Director of Marketing and Communications, a pivotal leadership position.
The College of Arts and Architecture at The Pennsylvania State University seeks a dynamic, visionary, and collaborative leader to assume the directorship of the Palmer Museum of Art
In a community offering many cultural experiences, the Rollins Museum of Art (RMA) remains unique in the breadth of its collection, the focus on education, and providing free access to all.
The Managing Director of Laguna Playhouse will serve as the organization's strategic, financial, and operational leader, co-leading with the Artistic Director to fulfill The Playhouse’s artistic vision and mission.
The Arts and Culture Director, who will report to Mesa’s City Manager’s Office, will function as an arts and culture advisor to the City Council, City Manager, and the public at large.
For 2025-26, the company will again offer all seats at $11 each (or higher if the buyer chooses). There are twice as many performances as this season, and five works scheduled rather than this season’s three — but only one of those works is a conventional opera. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
“(He) experienced the ups and downs of fame more dramatically than most. His break came in 1984’s spy spoof Top Secret! … (and) his movie career hit its zenith in the 1990s ... as a dashing leading man” in Tombstone, True Romance, Top Gun, The Doors (as rockstar Jim Morrison), and Batman Forever. -...
One (really) good thing: “While the vice president, along with the chief justice of the United States, is a member of the board by law, the executive branch does not have authority over the institution.” - The New York Times
"When I was coming up in the ranks, no one ever talked about the complicated ethics of fundraising. How do you decide when to say no to that check because it comes with strings attached, or … you take the money and you hold your nose?" - Nieman Storyboard
“A Tarrant County grand jury declined to take action against the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth or artist Sally Mann in (the) case of … four photos that were confiscated months ago from Diaries of Home, a temporary exhibition at the museum.” - KERA (Dallas)
Love Life, composer Kurt Weill’s only collaboration with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, seemed like a very promising project. But its debut didn’t go over well — Broadway wasn’t ready for a concept musical in 1948 — and circumstances led to almost no trace of the show surviving. Until now. - The New York Times
Activists scattered throughout Davies Symphony Hall interrupted the show one by one, displaying Palestinian flags and yelling denunciations of the war in Gaza. Some audience members shouted back; others pinned one protestor, pulled another’s hair and broke her glasses, and tried to pull others from their seats. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
Maybe reconsider that Open AI pitch, Hollywood creatives. "In Sora’s world, … pilots, CEOs, and college professors are men, while flight attendants, receptionists, and childcare workers are women. Disabled people are wheelchair users, interracial relationships are tricky to generate, and fat people don’t run.” - Wired
L.A. artists have talked about their losses, but “we still have no clear picture of how many artworks by which artists, owned by which collectors, were lost. And it’s entirely possible that the public, and even museums, will not know for many years to come — if ever.” - Washington Post (MSN)
On one street, banding together, “The neighbors plan to present a design package to a contractor, so they can pool resources and access to plumbers and electricians, saving both money and time.” - The New York Times
