After 1945 a new form of artistic patronage arose, reflecting the rise of that icon of midcentury capitalism, the American corporation, and creating a new genre: what Alex J. Taylor calls “corporate modernism.” - The Wall Street Journal
The Wollongong Art Gallery needed to make some big calls after it was discovered that one of its prominent donors, who passed away 30 years ago, was last month confirmed as a Nazi intelligence officer during the Second World War. - Big Idea
"That beauty is subjective and all of our interests are conflicted. What if we replaced this arbitrary system that we pretend is rational, with a true lottery? One that embraces the chaos of distributing a small pool of resources to a vast ocean of creativity." - The Big Idea (New Zealand)
Some of the most easily offended university students in America have become adept at characterizing any speech they dislike as if it creates an unsafe, discriminatory, or hostile climate, or else constitutes harassment or even violence. - The Atlantic
Hotels—grand ones, modest ones, inns, motels, and single-room occupancies—once filled a crucial niche in the American housing ecosystem. And now they should again. - Slate
This coming season, each ticket will be an NFT, which means that ticket holders will be able to buy, sell, and trade their tickets (NFTs) on the Ticketmaster marketplace. -Shelly Palmer
Vinton, Iowa's library shuttered as the staff resigned after a barrage of attacks. The complaints: "That we were not being fair to President Trump because we didn't have books that were equal. ... And that in the marching book, there was a lack of marches such as pro-life." - NPR
Leena Manimekalai shared the poster, of the Hindu goddess Kali smoking a cigarette and holding a Pride flag, on Twitter. "Any artist would expect a discussion, a discourse post her work being exhibited. But I never thought I would be attacked by this type of organized violence." - CBC
"With Russia actively trying to erase Ukraine's national identity, this country's music, literature, movies and monuments are not recreations. They are battlefields. The true culture war of our age is the war for democracy, and Ukrainian culture, past and present, has become a vital line of defense." - The New York Times
Meetings, walkouts, subtle out of office notes - and representation: "Many in Hollywood have begun to think about how they portray characters receiving abortion and reproductive care. And some in the industry have been turning to their guilds for guidance." - The Hollywood Reporter
From 2008 to 2012, the Arizona Commission on the Arts had a regular line, about $550,000, in the state budget; since then, the agency had only one-time appropriations that vary widely year-to-year. In 2020 the legislature gave the Commission $2 million; for the upcoming year, $5 million. - The Arizona Republic
Obviously, "involuntary location" is a nonstarter, but also, "describing someone as a slave does nothing to diminish their humanity. Enslaving someone diminishes their humanity, which is why one should not do it." Texas and liberals alike can use their words - correctly. - The Atlantic
David Bromwich: "In The Importance of Being Earnest, Algernon recoiled from the display of affection by the happily married: 'It is simply washing one's clean linen in public.' A great deal of the admired and well-rewarded art of our time consists of washing one's clean linen in public." - The Nation
The sixth annual Cultural Infrastructure Index, produced by AEA Consulting, has found that "after a predictable dip in 2020, due to broader pandemic lockdowns, 2021 showed an extraordinarily robust rebound in new buildings and projects." - Artnet
