The total number of books published in the U.S. in 2025 with ISBN numbers jumped 32.5% over 2024, to more than four million books, according to statistics compiled by Bowker. - Publishers Weekly
“The former is the perfect excursion. If it’s a bad show, you’re not held hostage for long; if it’s good, you can bookend the night with a meal and a drink — or go home for an early night. … Stretch longer — five hours and beyond — and the entire shape of a work changes.” - The Guardian
Alexandria on the Tigris (later renamed Charax Spasinou) was one of several major cities founded by the Macedonian general, the most famous of which is Alexandria in Egypt, today the country’s second largest metropolis. - ARTnews
Ministers initially proposed reforming copyright law to boost the AI industry but were faced with a campaign of opposition led by Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney, who accused the government of legalising the “theft” of creative works. - The Times
Theaters cannot simply reduce expenses and expect to find long-term stability. At some point, the conversation must include new ways of thinking about revenue, capital, and value. - Leading Creativity
“The industry still has an obsession with ‘perfect’ feet. High arches have traditionally been praised in ballet, and some dancers today use farches (fake arches), which give the illusion that your foot is more bendy than it is, … (even though) flat-footed ballet professionals are out there and thriving.” - The Guardian
Visitors currently enter the White House through a series of temporary tents and trailers operated by USSS on East Executive Avenue. The proposed 33,000-square-foot visitor center would be to the west quadrant of Sherman Park, so as to avoid subterranean sewer tunnels and “reduce visual impact.” - The Architect's Newspaper
Because of opera’s long history, integrating elements such as prerecorded and live video into the mix opens up a larger discussion about the role of technology in live performance. - Fast Company
Experts note that the momentum is part of a global shift that has gathered pace since the late 1990s: an alignment between cities navigating economic and demographic change and legacy Western institutions seeking more resilient revenue streams. - Korea Times
The West Kowloon Cultural District — a 99-acre campus, home to the M+ contemporary art museum, Hong Kong Palace Museum, and two performance venues — has gotten a 10-year loan and authority to issue bonds to bridge the gap until rental income from planned office and apartment towers arrives. - South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
“The newly announced measures (against overcrowding) include slashing the (maximum) size of visitor groups from 30 to 20. Access for groups will also be limited to the museum’s off-peak hours between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.” - Artnet
“Minutes from six crucial Adelaide Festival board meetings in December and January, obtained by Crikey, give an unvarnished view of how disinviting (Palestinian-Australian author Randa) Abdel-Fattah from the Adelaide Writers' Week in the wake of the antisemitic Bondi Beach terror attack snowballed into a public relations disaster.” - Crikey (Australia)
The “Rainbow Waltz” which Yannick Nézet-Séguin programmed for the generally tradition-bound event was attributed to Price (America’s first Black female symphonist) in the program. In fact, it’s a rather free orchestral arrangement of Price’s original piano version — so free that the leading scholar of her work calls it a “forgery.” - The Guardian
The Contemporary Jewish Museum, which temporarily closed in late 2024 and laid off 80% of its staff, will sell its 63,000 square-foot building in the Yerba Buena neighborhood. The museum’s next steps beyond the sale are not yet clear, though management says it intends to reopen. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
