ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

This Week’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: We collected 132 stories this week. That’s a lot to sort through, so here are some highlights. Jump down to see all the stories we posted.

  • Man Smashes Ai Weiwei Art at Show Opening in Rome
    A man vandalized a sculpture by Ai Weiwei at an art show in Rome, smashing the piece during the exhibition’s opening. The footage was shared on Ai Weiwei’s Instagram, sparking debates about the motivations behind art vandalism and the role of protest in contemporary art. Read more on Reuters.
  • More Than 10,000 Books Were Banned in the U.S. Last Year
    PEN America’s report revealed that book bans in the U.S. surged to over 10,000 last year. This censorship crisis highlights increasing cultural and political divides over access to literature in schools and public libraries. Read more on The Guardian.
  • World’s First AI Art Museum to Open in Los Angeles
    Refik Anadol, a pioneer in AI-generated art, is opening the first museum dedicated to AI art in downtown Los Angeles, across from Disney Concert Hall. This groundbreaking project marks a pivotal moment in the integration of technology and art. Read more on Los Angeles Times.
  • Extreme Candor: Pittsburgh Arts Council Admits Big Failures
    The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council has taken an unusual approach in its new strategic plan by openly acknowledging significant past failures. This transparent move is part of an effort to rebuild trust and foster stronger community support. Read more on WESA.
  • Why Is Executive Leadership in Dance Companies So Difficult?
    Leadership in dance companies remains a major challenge, with executives often cycling through multiple organizations. This ongoing leadership crisis has led to uncertainty and instability in an industry reliant on strong artistic and business acumen. Read more on Dance Magazine.

Till next week.

Doug

Latest Stories

The Hams That Saved A Historic French Organ

Hams produced by monks, no less. And the best of them are left to cure in the church's dry, windy bell tower. - Atlas Obscura

British Fiction Generated Record Sales In 2024

BookTok, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and the indomitable Richard Osman led Fiction, with the category accounting for the year’s top five titles, 16 of the top 20 and 32 of the top 50. - The Bookseller

New Discoveries At Luxor Could “Reconstruct” History

Artifacts found at the tombs included bronze coins with the image of Alexander the Great dating to the Time of Ptolemy I (367-283), children’s toys made of clay, cartonnage and funerary masks that covered mummies, winged scarabs, beads and funerary amulets. - APNews

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