"Cuts of around £6.6m," made by the cabinet of recently departed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, "to Scotland's arts and culture sector funded by the state were reversed – but (the acting Finance Minister) warned this was the 'absolute limit' of funding he could offer Creative Scotland." - The National (Scotland)
In the budget proposal he submitted to the legislature, Gov. Tony Evers has called for $100 million from the state's general fund to be placed in an Artistic Endowment Fund, with the interest from that money distributed annually in grants to arts organizations across Wisconsin. - WXPR (Rhinelander, WI)
"Pictures of the city showed gondolas stuck in canals reduced to muddy ditches, revealing the ancient foundations of buildings. ... The problems in Venice are being blamed on a combination of factors — the lack of rain, a high pressure system, a full moon and sea currents." - The Independent (UK)
There have now been more than a thousand versions of Monopoly, based not only on different cities but on properties such as “The Big Bang Theory,” “The Powerpuff Girls,” and M&M’s. The message, though, remains the same. - The New Yorker
What theatres need "are the movies that grease the wheels of the theatrical experience: the friendly bread-and-butter formula films for adults that audiences can depend on, that can keep them hooked on the act of moviegoing." - Variety
The site is - of course - going to become a residential development. "The artifacts found at the site include pottery sherds, stone tools, and humans remains likely dating back to the Tequesta people who lived along the Miami river." - ARTnews
The Bulgarian journalist, Christo Grozev, says "the ban was down to 'concerns about public safety and security,' he was told, but was given no more information on what those risks were." - BBC
"At the moment it just seems at the forefront because we’re living in these extraordinary climate-change end times and so much is collapsing. I’m interested in the idea that maybe forgiveness in some way, shape or form is a tool for emboldening and empowering women." - The Guardian (UK)
"When Florida stripped Disney of its special tax zone around the company's theme parks, it led observers to wonder: Why would Disney cede this long-held ground? What it would come down to is a cost-benefit analysis ... and the results of an internal poll ... showing they're losing two important demographic groups." - TheWrap
In 2015 there were 4,803 craft breweries in the US, by 2021 there were 9,118. Equally important is the ideological shift in the beer market they signify. Big beer singularly seeks and values profit. Craft beer, while also motivated by profit, equally values community, quality and independence. - The Conversation
Disney is, famously, a vast corporate content farm, with all artistic choices carefully examined by an assembly line of executives, marketers, focus groups, etc. Whereas Miyazaki’s vision is absolutely his own. Despite its global success, Studio Ghibli has remained quirky and unpredictable. - The New York Times
"Unfortunately, Brexit seems to be good at putting up barriers. Brexit red tape means that bringing in skilled workers the UK economy desperately needs is more difficult, and it also means that exporting artistic success is harder and more expensive." - The New European
In 2023, U.S. state legislatures managed to surpass the number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that were proposed 2022—i.e., what took lawmakers 365 days to achieve last year took has taken a month this year. Indeed, these bills are popping up faster than a game of transphobic Whac-A-Mole. - American Theatre
It ain’t always pretty, but it is fascinating. As the policy tide turns to the end of single-family zoning and looser housing development regulations, Houston is a vision of the future. Other cities have a lot to learn from its successes and failures. - Fast Company
"Jonathan Miller ... once sent me a New Year's Day card urging me to cease my 'foul pork scratchings' and told an interviewer that ideally directors should be reviewed by their peers rather than 'nonentities like Michael Billington'." - The Guardian
