“A sign of the nation’s complete engulfing by war was the presence of so many soldiers on the stages; writers who had become soldiers, soldiers who had become writers. The Russia-Ukraine war has dragged on so grievously, and for so long, that entire publishing cycles have turned since 2022.” - The Guardian
In addition to the well-preserved ceramics, researchers found barrels of grain and an array of high-end European-made goods ranging from chandeliers to stemmed glasses. They also discovered a box filled with mysterious substances, possibly coffee, tea, cocoa or medicine. - Smithsonian
Following widespread rumors that the chosen candidate was a politically-connected university professor with no experience in ballet, the company’s dancers issued a public statement stressing the importance of a qualified, experienced director. The Culture Minister responded, insisting that no choice had been made and the rumors were groundless. - The Chosun Daily (Seoul)
The survey, conducted since 2009 and last published in 2022, has found that almost all Australians (98%) engage with the arts in some capacity – whether through music, reading, festivals, creating art, digital engagement or live attendance – and more Australians are recognising the positive impact of the arts on the economy and ourselves. - Limelight
Among humans, “you can feel lonely at a party, or you can feel fine alone in your office." Whatever the ideal degree of togetherness, Tye and others think that an animal’s need to balance time alone and time with others represents a kind of homeostasis: an equilibrium that’s critical for survival. - Knowable
It’s poetry, philosophy and polemic, all in a little more than 1,300 words and all represented in its second and most famous sentence. - The New York Times
“On Sunday, the It Was Just An Accident writer/director’s attorney Mostafa Nili announced that Judge Iman Afshari rejected their objections and fully upheld the in-absentia verdict, on the grounds of making an ‘underground and problematic film against the establishment.’” - Deadline
Why aren’t people more careful when it comes to making claims about the benefits of the arts? Quite frankly, because shoddy research and even shoddier interpretations can have positive results in convincing policy makers of the importance of the arts—whether for economic development, educational outcomes, good health, and a variety of other public goods. - Nightingale Sonata
The report by European Movement UK, a cross-party campaign group advocating closer UK-EU relations, found that nearly half of British musicians had experienced a reduced amount of work in the EU since 2021, while more than a quarter had stopped working there altogether. - The Gaurdian
We have moved beyond the Information Age and are now firmly rooted in what I call the Imagination Era, a time when ideas and thinking differently are our primary currency. In this landscape, technology is not replacing our humanity; it is demanding that we deepen it. - Fast Company
“The ban comes amidst a lawsuit challenging these state-sanctioned bans filed in February, and it comes after banning 15 other books in 2026 alone.” - Book Riot
A new study from the Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music found that 33 percent of respondents “use AI to generate initial ideas, melodies, or reference tracks that are later reworked.” About 26 percent of artists “use AI for full backing tracks in finished work.” - The Hollywood Reporter
“The AFM brings this lawsuit because defendants, two of the largest music companies in the world, have licensed sound recordings on which AFM-represented musicians have worked, without compensation or credit, to two AI companies,” reads the lawsuit. - Pitchfork
Universal Music has a one euro billion bridge loan, which was arranged earlier this year, that matures in late July – as well as a 500 million euro bond due in 2027 – data compiled by Bloomberg showed. - Business Times
“Set in lush gardens patrolled by peacocks and ... dogs, the (Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico City) closed in 2020 during the coronavirus outbreak. It remained shuttered, with little explanation, long after the pandemic abated. Then on May 30, it reopened — in time, the management said, for the World Cup.” - The New York Times
