ISSUES

Congresswoman Files Suit To Stop Trump From Closing The Kennedy Center

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) on Friday filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to block President Trump from closing the Kennedy Center after he announced last month that it would shut down to allow for renovations. - The Hill

Classic Reconsidered: Hudson’s Bay Coat Gets Historical Reality Check

That vintage striped coat commanding boutique prices? Turns out its colonial baggage is heavier than its wool. Fashion meets reckoning as shoppers discover their thrift store treasure carries more than just warmth. — The Walrus

Mexico Sees Increasing Backlash Against Over-Tourism

“The Guardian visits Oaxaca, ... where tourism has grown 77% since the pandemic and once-private family rituals such as the Day of the Dead are now big international parties. But with this opportunity comes a growing backlash across the country, as local people struggle with a cost-of-living crisis.” (video) - The Guardian

Trump’s “Freedom Truck” Mobile Exhibitions Are Now On The Road

“As the U.S. gears up for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump has dispatched six roving Freedom Truck exhibitions to crisscross the country. The first of 20 planned stops — mainly in the South, with forays to the Midwest, Arizona, and Utah — was last month in Nashville.” - Artnet

LA’s Art Gold Rush Ends, Actual Work Begins

The carpetbaggers have packed their Hermès bags and fled back east. What remains? The unglamorous business of building a real art scene—one gallery lease and artist studio at a time. — Artnet

Supreme Court to AI Art: Sorry, Humans Only

The high court declined to revisit whether algorithms can hold copyright, leaving AI creations in legal limbo. While tech bros rage and traditional artists breathe easier, the real question remains: who profits when creativity gets automated? — Artnet

The Role Of Arts And Culture In Turbulent Times

When the news and social media are flooded with opposing interpretations of events, outright lies, and about a zillion editorial style video shorts that offer about a zillion different opinions, art and culture can bring the reality and humanity of the headlines to light. - Ludwig Van

Downtown L.A.’s Latest, And Smallest, Performance Venue Looks Like An Electrical Box

Indeed, when artist S.C. Mero was installing it in the Arts District, police stopped her, concerned she was ripping out copper wire. Inside, the Electrical Box Theatre is “an impromptu performance space for the sort of experimental artists who no longer have an outlet in downtown's galleries or more refined stages.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)

Should AI Be Used In Grantmaking? If So, How?

Arts-minded folks are likely to hate the idea, but there are pressures which could push toward it: increasing application volumes, limited staff capacity, and mounting expectations for speed and consistency in decision-making (not least from board members). Could grantmakers use AI responsibly? - SMU DataArts

Chicago Launches Plan To Create Loop Arts District

“The district will be supported by nearly 90 Loop arts organizations that will develop the neighborhood as an arts and culture destination. … (It) is also envisioned as a way to stitch together attractions such as Millennium Park and the Chicago Riverwalk.” - Chicago Sun-Times

Too Many Basket Weavers?

Ontario is one of the provinces to see the highest economic impact from the sector, according to the report. - The Conversation

Turmoil At This Year’s Berlinale Has Some Wondering If Germany Can Run Big Cultural Events

Some "wonder if the German government’s views on permissible speech, shaped by its sense of responsibility for the Holocaust and desire to stop antisemitism, make it impossible to run top-tier cultural events in the country." - The New York Times

Mamdani Picks A New Culture Commissioner For NYC

An experienced curator with a community-forward approach, she has held several key positions at Creative Time, the High Line, and elsewhere. She has even worked at the DCLA from 2014 to 2019. - Hyperallergic

What’s On The Line As Warner Bros Accepts Paramount’s Bid

Oh: “The push into artificial intelligence by Oracle creates a thirst for more insight into how people view news and entertainment and what products they buy online. The streaming channels and social media giant both offer greater and more granular information." - NPR

Epstein Was Asked, Briefly, To Finance A Dick Cavett Biography

Luckily for Cavett, "the documentary was never made because WNET completed a background check on Mr. Epstein and decided it did not want him involved.” - The New York Times

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