Stories

Competition Which Discovered Gustavo Dudamel Awards No First Prize This Year

The jury of the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition, which Dudamel (in his first time leading a fully professional orchestra) won in its inaugural edition in 2004, decided not to name a winner for only the second time in the event’s history. The €20,000 second prize went to 31-year-old Polish conductor Jakub Przybycień. - Moto Perpetuo

Four London Theatres Listed As At Risk Of Closure

Borough Hall, Streatham Hill Theatre, Tottenham Palace Theatre, and the Intimate Theatre have been deemed “at risk of closure, redevelopment, or demolition.” Three of them are being eyed for conversion into churches or other sites of worship. - The Standard (London)

Smithsonian Chief Rebuts Trump Administration Report Accusing American History Museum Of Extremism

In a staff-wide email, Lonnie Bunch wrote that “there will always be room for improvement,” but the report “is not a fair characterization of ... the National Museum of American History. At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy, and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America’s story.” - The Washington Post

Ukrainian Troops Get Handbook On Protecting Cultural Property

“The handbook sets out Ukrainian soldiers' main obligations under international humanitarian law, the different levels of protection afforded to cultural property, the precautions to be integrated into operational planning, and the procedures for identifying, reporting and documenting attacks against heritage.” - The Art Newspaper

“The Pitt”, “Hacks”, “Widow’s Bay” Dominate 2026 Emmy Nominations

“The Pitt leads all nominees with a total of 25, followed by Hacks with 24 (a record for a comedy series for noms in a single year) and Widow’s Bay with 19 (leading all new shows).” Connor Storrie scored the only nomination he was eligible for — for guest-hosting Saturday Night Live. - The Hollywood Reporter

Trump’s Name Must Stay Off Kennedy Center While Appeals Proceed, Rules Panel

“A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit … rejected the administration’s argument that the removal was damaging the arts institution’s finances.” - The Guardian

Man Sentenced For Theft Of Rare Chinese Manuscripts From UCLA Library

Jeffrey Ying, a 39-year-old resident of Fremont, Cal., gets a year of house arrest and three years of probation for a scheme in which he reserved and checked out, under false names, several 17th-century manuscripts, then returned fake dummy copies. - San Francisco Chronicle (Yahoo!)

Aboard A Cruise Ship With 20 Celebrity Impersonators

“Near the exit, with his blue eyes and sensible sandals, was Boy George, who swanned over to double-cheek kiss Sharon, then peck the forehead of Martha Stewart, and  —  skipping over Jeff Bezos  —  the tip of Fran Drescher’s nose. Sinatra (A), by the banquette, had just politely pumped the hand of Sinatra (B) ...” - N+1

ABC, Fighting Back Against The FCC, Says That ‘The View’ As A News Show Is Long-Settled Law

“The F.C.C.’s focus on The View plays on longstanding grudges held by the president against the show and some of its hosts, and thrusts a talk show started by the ABC journalist Barbara Walters as a breezy kaffeeklatsch into a molten national debate.” - The New York Times

British Businessman Fined In First Russia Art Sanctions Conviction

“The U.K. banned the export of luxury items such as cars, jewelry, art, and antiques valued over £250 ($330) to Russia in April 2022. Breaching the law is considered a criminal offense,” but the businessman was fined $37,000 instead. - Artnet

The UK’s New Children’s Laureate Is Neither White Nor Dead

Patrice Lawrence "has a practical vision for her laureateship. ‘To change policy you need evidence,’ she says. ‘We say stories work, let’s show how they work.’” - The Guardian (UK)

In Pamplona With The Bulls As Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” Turns 100

“Hemingway is etched into the landscape of Pamplona. Hotels and bars have busts of him or signs up that he was once there. Outside the Pamplona bull ring, ... a huge banner hangs in honor of the novel, including a quote that shows how the festival left the writer speechless.” - AP

No Joke: The Onion Has Finally Opened Infowars Again

The strategy with saying Alex Jones exploded; “We’re trying to draw him in ... he’s not hurting anybody else for a few minutes or he’s not, you know, spreading more ridiculous lies about innocent people. So we want to waste his time.” - Slate

The Origins Of Performance Star Carmelita Tropicana

“What resulted was not just an outré and out lesbian ‘Latin spitfire,’ in words, but also decades of film and theater work on topics ranging from racism and homelessness to revolution to questions of identity.” - Hyperallergic

Kahlo Foundation Creates A New Prize For Emerging Mexican Artists

“Through the process of opening the museo and welcoming the globe into Frida’s world, there has been one constant refrain: Más amor, más família, más Mexico – more love, more family, more Mexico,” said the artist’s grandniece. - ARTnews

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