To co-music director and conductor Gary Clark, GPGSO’s rapid growth makes sense in a city known for niche, DIY music scenes. It hasn’t exactly been a shock to the orchestra’s other organizers either. - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
“After 18 years as artistic director and two years in dual roles as chief executive and artistic director, Debbie Blunden-Diggs, daughter of DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden, has passed the artistic director baton to Qarrianne Blayr, … has served as associate artistic director for five years.” - Dayton Daily News
His supporters blame the Met’s issues on opera’s declining cultural currency and an operating structure that puts it at a unique disadvantage among arts organizations. “He has tried absolutely everything to keep his art going,” says Barbara Tober, a decadeslong patron. “He is held prisoner by the situation that confronts him every day.” - Vulture (MSN)
A prominent Israeli legal organization is threatening legal action against the Canadian Museum for Human Rights over an upcoming exhibit on the Palestinian Nakba, alleging the Winnipeg museum is promoting a politically one-sided narrative that could fuel antisemitism and violate federal law. - Winnipeg Sun
The next time you conduct a delicate bit of office diplomacy or share a romantic or financial secret with a friend over drinks, a sensor built into someone’s glasses, necklace, or lapel pin might be watching you and listening. - The Atlantic
“The planned Museum of Digital Art (MODA) … is part of Dubai’s monumental $27 billion transformation of its financial center into a tech hub, announced earlier this year, and will platform various art forms that rely on emerging technologies, including immersive and interactive experiences. No budget or completion date has yet been announced.” - Artnet
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture more than doubled its operating budget and staff, and the city earmarked $26.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to bolster Boston’s creative sector. All that is set to change, as federal pandemic funds run out and the city cuts grant programs to balance the budget. - WBUR
With Ticketmaster signaling its intent to contest the outcome aggressively and drag out the litigation, any meaningful accountability may arrive only in the distant future, rather than offering anything close to timely relief. - The Hill
Many of the lawmakers advocated on Monday for a Ticketmaster breakup. Raskin, for example, stated that Live Nation’s monopoly is so strong that artists are “seriously afraid” of the company. - Billboard
With the merger of the city’s two largest stage companies and the programming of inexpensive-to-produce small-cast shows, Pittsburgh's gig market for theater artists is shrinking. There may not be fewer shows, but the bigger ones are tours or imports. So there’s a real fear that talented theatermakers will move away. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The musical, which garnered good reviews and 10 Tony nominations but only one actual Tony, will close June 28 after a 20-month run which didn’t recoup its initial investment. A multi-year tour will begin in September in Cleveland. - Variety
Subtitled “Liberty,” the work was due to premiere the last weekend of May, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop. A joint statement said, “All parties agreed that additional time would best support the long-term life of the new symphony.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center actually programmed a gala in honor of luthier Sam Zygmuntowicz — because so many of its members, and other leading string players (including Joshua Bell and Maxim Vengerov), have instruments of his. - The New York Times
Byron Allen, a former stand-up comedian whose Allen Media Group owns 13 local TV stations, The Weather Channel and other outlets, announced a $120 million deal to acquire a 52% controlling stake in BuzzFeed. And he’s leasing from CBS Colbert’s former Late Show time slot for his comedy show Comics Unleashed. - Variety
“The move, unanimously approved by both organizations’ boards of directors, is expected to launch July 1. Leaders say the initiative will allow the two nonprofit newsrooms to share resources, streamline operations and direct more funding toward journalism and community reporting rather than overhead.” - Inside Radio
