ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: The ticketing industry is rife with scams, fake tickets, outrageous fees and frustrating service. Customers get lured to websites that aren’t official but pretend to be. And TicketMaster’s lock on the industry as well as its monopolistic behavior in owning venues and controlling ticketing make for a mess. This report from the excellent independent arts site CultureOC in Orange County, California, heaps more logs on the dumpster fire. Worth the read.

And here are more highlights from today’s haul:

  1. Well-Known UK TV Actor Comes Up With Scheme To Save Small Theatre Funds would be raised by selling tickets to the performances of winning entries, with the theatre’s president Suranne Jones providing on-stage critiques. “It will combine a search for community talent with being a money-maker,” she said. – BBC
  2. Sandra Cisneros Is Turning “The House On Mango Street” Into An Opera The beloved author is crafting her own libretto, with music by composer Derek Bermel. The work just had its first performance, unstaged, at the University of Michigan, and will have its fully staged world premiere next July at Glimmerglass Opera in upstate New York. – Chicago Tribune
  3. How Quincy Jones Became The Ultimate Artistic Collaborator
    Renowned for his rhythmic intuitiveness and skillful composition, Jones’ approach has allowed him to seamlessly blend genres and showcase artists in unique ways, redefining modern music in his collaborations. – The New Yorker
  4. Raygun, The Notorious Olympic Breakdancer, Retires From Competition And Public Performance After facing social media scrutiny and challenges in the spotlight, Rachael Gunn (aka Raygun) steps away from competitive dance, continuing her academic career in breakdancing and popular culture. – AP
  5. Why Abu Dhabi Is Shoveling Cash At Sotheby’s And Art Basel
    Both companies are relieved for the financial support amid debt problems. Sotheby’s aims to expand as a luxury brand, while Abu Dhabi pursues its cultural aspirations alongside Dubai’s luxury consumerism focus. – ARTnews

As usual, skip down to see all the stories we’ve collected in the past 24 hours. More arts, less politics! See you tomorrow.

Doug

Latest Stories

Van Gogh Did Not Intend His Irises To Be Blue

He painted them, back in 1889, in a deep, vibrant purple. Here's how two conservators at the Getty figured that out — and why the irises have turned blue over the intervening 135 years. - Hyperallergic

How A Refugee From The Kennedy Center Built A Center For Dance In Southern California

Judy Morr "decided to do something nobody else was doing in Southern California, which was to bring major international dance companies to Orange County. That’s how it all started. Dance became the way to establish the Center’s reputation nationally and internationally.” - CultureOC

Musical America Names Its Artists Of The Year

Barbara Hannigan heads the list. - Musical America

Premium

Finance Consultant – Arts FMS

Arts FMS is seeking a Finance Consultant who is a highly motivated and self-directed individual with extensive experience with accounting and financial management.

Managing Director-Goodspeed Musicals

Goodspeed Musicals (Goodspeed) seeks an accomplished, inspiring, and inclusive arts leader to help guide this storied organization into a vibrant next chapter.

Managing Director – Roundabout Theatre Company

Roundabout Theatre Company is seeking a strong business and operations leader to serve in partnership with with its Artistic Director to chart the future of the nation’s largest theatre producing organization.

General Director – Opera Colorado

Opera Colorado invites talented leaders possessing drive, ambition, energy, and a deep love of opera to present themselves as candidates for General Director.

Executive Director – The Washington Ballet

The Executive Director of The Washington Ballet will work in a Co-CEO relationship with the Artistic Director, with both positions reporting to and working collaboratively with the Board of Directors.

Executive Director – Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KCRep) is excited to welcome an innovative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial minded professional to serve as the company’s next Executive Director.

Executive Director – Maestra Music

The Executive Director will harness the energy and activities of a rapid movement that has grown exponentially since Maestra’s founding in 2019.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Australian National Academy of Music 

The Australian National Academy of Music provides artistic and professional development for the most exceptional young classical musicians from Australia and New Zealand.

Fall + Winter 2025 Applications Open for MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises

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.

Classifieds

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center seeks Digital Content Manager

Reporting to the Director of Digital Media, you will take a leading role in ensuring that our website remains dynamic, up-to-date, and filled with compelling content that resonates with classical music enthusiasts at every step of their journey.

Stratford Festival seeks their next Artistic Director

“Stratford is by every measure – budget, employment, attendance, production – the largest repertory theater in North America, and likely the largest nonprofit theater, period.”

Global Executive Arts Management Fellowship

A three-year, fully-subsidized program for arts and culture executives.
function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');