ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: Here are this weekend’s highlights:

  1. Booker Shortlist Authors On The Moment Inspiration Struck “It feels incorrect, to have inspiration strike in the midst of grief, but what probably happened was that I was trying to get away somehow, to tell myself a distracting story. And a distracting story it was.” – The Guardian
  2. Dudamel In New York “LA Phil Dudamel in New York, offering a glimpse of what is to come. ‘You have the vision of a maestro who at least wants to try, who isn’t content with the base line of a symphony concert. And that is something to be excited about.'” – The New York Times
  3. Why Doesn’t Being A Good Writer Equal Being A Good Public Speaker? “Often, it’s an inverse relationship, as anyone who has gone to too many readings can tell you.” – LitHub
  4. A Time To Mourn, A Time To Publish “This is a tale of Walt Whitman’s influence on an AIDS activist, his partner’s devotion, and a posthumous novel.” – NPR
  5. Who Defines Asian American Literature? “There is no overarching chronology or guideline of how one behaves as an Asian in this country. One can immigrate and have no knowledge of the history and burden of yellowface, the Chinese Exclusion Act or the incarceration of Japanese Americans.” – LitHub

As usual, skip down to read all the stories we collected arranged by topic. See you tomorrow.

Doug

Latest Stories

An Ethnomusicologist Analyzes Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby”

Prof. Michael O’Brien discusses why we listen to so many of the same songs year after year, the unusual appeal of “Santa Baby,” and why Eartha Kitt’s version is so much better than Madonna’s (or anyone else’s). - The Post and Courier (Charleston)

The Woeful State Of Arts PR. Here’s Why It Matters

On the inside of my job, lousy PR is one of the biggest signs that an institution is struggling. Outreach goes ignored, follow-up is late and flustered, and media events suffer. - Broad Street Review

The Collective Who’s Transforming Ballet In France’s Second City

“(LA)HORDE is a choreographic collective running the National Ballet of Marseille and rewriting the ballet rulebook for a new era. Their work blends classical techniques with surprising influences, from queer nightlife to the political history of social dance.” - BBC (video)

Premium

Fall 2026 Applications Open for MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises

Earn your Master’s in One Year. Northwestern University’s MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) program develops leaders across Entertainment, Media and the Arts.

Schubert Club seeks Artistic and Executive Director

The next Artistic and Executive Director will shape Schubert Club at a moment of organizational strength and artistic vitality.

Improv In Real Life Podcast

This podcast is about the art of improv can help us navigate the speed of life: skills, philosophy and the research that supports it.

Managing Director- The Old Globe working with Management Consultants for the Arts

The Old Globe is seeking a Managing Director to co-lead the company as it looks ahead to the landmark celebration of its 100th anniversary

Classifieds

Director of Marketing and Communications – Broadway in Hollywood & the Hollywood Pantages Theatre via TOC Arts Partners

Broadway in Hollywood and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre seek an energetic, driven, and forward-thinking Director of Marketing and Communications.

Music Director, Dance, Vassar College

The Music Director is the key resource for the students, faculty and staff of the Vassar College Dance Department.

Director of Development for Texas Ballet Theater

Texas Ballet Theater seeks a creative, hands-on Development Director to lead annual fundraising efforts and prepare for a capital campaign.

PEM, Director of Exhibition Design

Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, seeks a Director of Exhibition Design to lead its Exhibition Design Department

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Arts Administration

The Arts Administration program at Elon University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position that begins in August 2026.

Executive Director, Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach (CMSPB) is known for performances and educational programs of the highest artistic merit.

Apply Now: Canada’s National Arts Centre Mentorship Program

A paid side-by-side opportunity in Ottawa, Canada for emerging and early-career orchestral musicians, conductors and administrators. International applicants welcome.
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