ISSUES

If You Can’t Hold It, You Don’t Own It

Physical media are really making a comeback in the era of streaming services removing series and movies at (seemingly) random, book censorship, and AI music. - The Guardian (UK)

Authoritarian Politics Are Threatening Culture Worldwide

In addition to established understandings of intrinsic esthetic and historic values of heritage, new emphasis on development reconceptualizes heritage as a resource that can generate economic development, tourism, employment and social cohesion. - The Conversation

How Ravinia Reconfigured Itself

The pavilion reopened partway through the 2026 summer season after two seasons of design and construction, then quickly began demonstrating its newfound flexibility. - Architect Magazine

Philadelphia’s Beloved Academy Of Sciences Almost Made It To 200

"When they announced the one month notice it was a surprise for everybody. ... It's like the leadership didn't even try to keep it open, and that's why there's a lot of frustration around what's happening. It's just not right." - NPR

Protesters In Culver City Demand That Media Companies Commit To Democracy

"Spotlighting Sony Pictures Studios, Apple, Pinterest and Amazon MGM Studios, all with local offices, protesters demanded that the companies sign on to the 'Business for Democracy Pledge' ahead of the elections in November." - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)

This Administration Is Moving The Kennedy Center Honors To Capital One Arena

"As Mr. Trump pushes to close the center for two years of renovations, he is trading the ruby-red Opera House for the 20,000-seat home of the N.B.A.’s Washington Wizards and the N.H.L.’s Washington Capitals." - The New York Times

Kennedy Center Honors To Be Moved To An Arena

The 49th annual awards are set to take place at Washington's downtown arena, a Kennedy Center spokesperson said Friday. Few other details were immediately available, and an explanation for the change wasn't given. - AP (Yahoo)

Court Upholds Thomson Reuters’ Landmark AI Copyright Win

The ruling marks the first federal appeals case to reject a fair use argument for using publisher content, without permission or compensation, to train a commercial AI product. - NiemanLab

One Third Of Britain’s Arts Centres Have “No Financial Cushion”: Report

“Drawing on financial data and member surveys of more than 131 arts centres, the report concludes that … one third of arts centres across the UK have ‘little or no financial cushion’ with which to absorb further increases in costs, reductions in funding or unexpected expenditure.” - The Stage

After 40 Years, Segerstrom Center Is Thriving, Bringing L.A.-Level Performing Arts To Orange County

Building a Lincoln Center-style multi-venue arts center in a county that was a byword for conservative suburbia seemed improbable in 1986, but philanthropist Henry Segerstrom pulled it off. Now, after getting hit hard by the pandemic, the complex is back on track, with a $14.6 million surplus last year. - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)

Can Trump Really Demolish The Kennedy Center?

The legal fight over Mr. Trump’s takeover of the center has revolved largely around one important statute, first passed by Congress in 1958. It established a National Cultural Center and then was amended in 1964 to dedicate the institution to President Kennedy after his assassination. - The New York Times

Republican Senator Blocks Passage Of Bill To Prevent Demolishing The Kennedy Center

A bipartisan effort to ban the demolition of presidential memorials — including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — was blocked Monday night in the Senate by an objection from Sen.Mike Lee (R-Utah). - Washington Post

The Numbers Are Clear: Kennedy Center’s Finances Were Fine Before Trump, And They’re Disastrous Now

“In the 19 months since President Trump took over the Kennedy Center, the institution has borrowed everything its bank would lend it, dipped into money donors had given on condition it never be spent, and written off pledges from supporters who stopped paying.” - The Washington Post (MSN)

Carnegie-Mellon University Gets $3 Billion Gift To Build Campus In Miami

“The staggering amount (pledged by hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin) is the largest-ever gift by an individual in higher education, surpassing Michael Bloomberg’s $1.8 billion donation to Johns Hopkins in 2018. Griffin’s donation will be split: $1 billion will support CMU’s original campus in Pittsburgh and $2 billion will help launch CMU’s Miami campus.” - CNN

California Bans “Ghost” Ticketing

The law prohibits using software to get around ticket limits, queue and presale restrictions. It restricts websites and ads designed to make resellers look like authorized ticket sources. Sellers in violation could face misdemeanor charges and penalties. - Los Angeles Times

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