AJ Four Ways: Text Only (by date) | headlines only
DANCE
IDEAS
- Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra seeks Vice President, Marketing and PR
Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in the search for a Vice President, Marketing and PR.
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice President, Marketing and PR will lead the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s storytelling and audience-development strategy, with responsibility for marketing and selling approximately $3 million in annual ticket revenue across a broad and dynamic portfolio of programs. This includes the Symphonic and Pops subscription series, the annual fundraising Gala, Kimbell Chamber Music and Family programming, and a wide range of community events. Working in close partnership with the President & CEO, the Vice President will play a central role in advancing the FWSO’s distinctive “Theater of a Concert” programming approach, which integrates dance, singers, projections, actors, and other visual elements into traditional symphonic and pops experiences. The Vice President will also lead high-profile promotional efforts highlighting the orchestra’s artistic leadership, including four-time Grammy Award–winning Music Director Robert Spano and distinguished Guest Conductor Dame Jane Glover.
The Vice President will collaborate closely with the President & CEO and Vice President, Operations on the selection and positioning of Pops and Specials programming to maximize earned-revenue margin in future seasons. They will play a lead role in promoting the FWSO’s collaborations with a broad range of artistic partners as part of the orchestra’s “Theater of a Concert” productions, including organizations such as the Kimbell Art Museum, Sid Richardson Museum, Bruce Wood Dance, and Dallas Theater Center. In partnership with the President & CEO and the Development team, the Vice President will help design and launch a new “VIP Marketing” capability, providing customized, high-touch marketing support for the organization’s top 75–80 donors. The Vice President will lead the Box Office and Marketing teams; oversee the FWSO website and Tessitura functions; and collaborate closely with the Director of Education and Community Programs. As a member of the orchestra’s front-line leadership team, the Vice President is expected to attend concerts regularly to build relationships with key donors and patrons, including engagement during intermission, and to address patron concerns as needed.
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) stands as one of Texas’s leading cultural institutions and one of the most artistically vibrant regional orchestras in the United States. Since its founding in 1912, the Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Fort Worth’s cultural identity and a vital force within the city’s thriving arts community. Chaired for many years by the distinguished philanthropist and arts leader Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, the FWSO has set an ambitious path since 2019 to deliver performances and community engagement at the highest level. Its musicians, leadership, and board share a bold mission: to perform great symphonic music at the highest level of artistic excellence to educate, entertain, and enhance cultural life; to present engaging music education programs for young people to foster early interest in and inspire lifelong enjoyment of music; and to achieve ever-greater levels of artistic accomplishment and leadership in Fort Worth and across the nation. Under the artistic direction of Music Director Robert Spano, who joined the Orchestra in 2022, the FWSO continues to achieve new levels of artistic excellence and innovation.
The FWSO’s artistic strength and community impact are supported by an ambitious and successful program of donor recruitment, prudent management, and forward-thinking strategy. With an annual operating budget of approximately $15.5 million, 72 exceptional musicians, an endowment of approximately $30 million, an engaged 75-member Board of Directors led by Chairman of the Board Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, and a dedicated professional staff led by President & CEO Dr. Keith Cerny, the Orchestra operates from a position of organizational health and sustainability. The FWSO also recently launched a special fundraising campaign for artistic excellence, which has already raised over $1.5 million in just a few weeks. As it enters its second century, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra remains deeply committed to artistic excellence, education, and innovation. It is an ensemble that embodies both the rich traditions of symphonic music and the evolving creativity of a modern cultural institution. With a clear strategic vision, exceptional leadership, and a dynamic relationship with its community, the FWSO is poised to expand its reach, nurture the next generation of audiences and artists, and reaffirm the transformative power of orchestral music in Fort Worth and beyond.
A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field, and at least ten years of progressive experience in marketing, preferably in the arts, is required for this position. Detailed knowledge of some aspect of symphonic or pops repertoire is preferred. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to FWSO, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.
The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $140,000. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, an Employee Assistance Program, and generous vacation days, paid time off, and paid holidays.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Kim Farr at kimfarr@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
To apply for this position, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6863954.
- Good Morning
Today’s AJ highlights: Contraction of the institutional arts world continues. The Metropolitan Opera has announced layoffs and pay cuts for top executives to balance its books (The Guardian ). This financial pressure is mirrored in the theater world; the Williamstown Theatre Festival has canceled its upcoming summer season to “rethink its future” and is considering moving to a biennial model (The Washington Post (MSN) ). Even the Sundance Film Festival is in a state of profound transition, preparing for its final run in Park City following the death of founder Robert Redford and a planned move to Boulder, Colorado (AP ).
Political and ideological battles are also intensifying at the institutional level. In Alabama, a state library board has withheld funding from a library that refused to relocate The Handmaid’s Tale to the adult section (The Daily Beast ). Meanwhile, reports indicate that New Deal-era murals are being targeted for removal, with critics labeling the Depression-era public art programs as “too woke” (Hyperallergic ). The Pakistani government continues the expulsion of Afghan musicians who fled the Taliban (The New York Times ).
On the industry front, the definition of success is being rewritten. While some declare the “starchitect” era over in favor of collaborative models (Dezeen ), the publishing world is finding a massive boost in “Romantasy”—women-centered fantasy fiction that prioritizes magic and meaningful relationships (The Conversation ). In the visual arts, the Philadelphia Art Museum is reportedly considering redoing its recent “botched” rebrand f(Hyperallergic ).
Finally, we look at the fallout of a major museum breach: new footage of the Louvre jewelry robbery shows perpetrators using disc cutters to open display cases while staff members were unable to intervene (Artnet ).
All our stories below.
- A Labor Economist Looks At Opera And Says It Isn’t Dying (But Its Business Model Might Be)
Christos Makridis of Arizona State University: “I found the public’s demand for meaningful, live cultural experiences — including opera — remains strong. … (But) few opera companies have embraced strategies the rest of the entertainment industry regularly uses: audience data analysis, experimentation with digital content and streaming, engagement through online platforms rather than brochures.” – The Conversation
- San Francisco Ballet And “Anticipatory Obedience”
Trot out the national anthem, the flag or a John Philip Sousa march, they believe, and it’s like a free exclamation mark to whatever point they’re trying to make: “Ha! See? The stars and stripes are on my side!” – San Francisco Chronicle
- There’s More Footage Of The Jewelry Robbery At The Louvre — And It Looks Pretty Bad
“The two perpetrators can be seen wearing balaclavas and using disc cutters to slice open display cases. The theft takes place under the watch of staff members who were not able to intervene.” – Artnet
ISSUES
- There’s More Footage Of The Jewelry Robbery At The Louvre — And It Looks Pretty Bad
“The two perpetrators can be seen wearing balaclavas and using disc cutters to slice open display cases. The theft takes place under the watch of staff members who were not able to intervene.” – Artnet
- Philly Art Museum’s Rebrand Needs a Rebrand (And Might Get It)
Nothing says “we nailed it” quite like forming a task force to fix your fresh new identity while quietly showing your chief marketing officer the door. Sometimes the most authentic brand move is admitting you got it spectacularly wrong. — Hyperallergic
- Trump Takes Aim at New Deal Murals
Because nothing says ‘making America great again’ like erasing the last time we actually invested in artists. Depression-era public art programs apparently too woke for 2025. Grandma Moses weeps. — Hyperallergic
- As The Old Starchitects Die, Maybe We Shouldn’t Replace Them
The “starchitect” was a figment of media attention, drummed up to answer our interest in celebrity, and our exaggerated expectations of what might be achieved without the help of other people. It belongs to a deluded, more decadent age. – Dezeen
- Philadelphia Art Museum’s New Director On Moving Past The Recent Turmoil
Daniel H. Weiss talks about leading the museum (“I believe very strongly in shared governance”) and sorting out the pressing priorities: re-examining the rebrand, erasing the budget deficit, looking at the museum’s physical facilities, and getting everyone’s focus back on the art. – The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
MEDIA
- The Crisis In Humanities? The Business Model Doesn’t Work
Fundamentally, the state of the humanities and liberal arts reveals a widening conflict over the “value” of higher education – with increasingly corporatized universities favoring market-driven metrics for evaluation, and proponents of humanistic education stressing that its worth to both individuals and society at large cannot be measured that way. – The Guardian
- So This Is Donald Trump’s “Golden Age of Culture” …
“Trolling and tackiness, often crossbred with left-coded pop songs and hot memes, have served to wish a new zeitgeist into existence. Consume only the output of MAGA’s multi-front media efforts, and you may come to feel that the country is coalescing into pep-rally unity on Trump’s behalf.” – The Atlantic (MSN)
- Here Are The Grants The New National Endowment For The Humanities Has Given
The National Endowment for the Humanities on Thursday announced $71 million in new grants, including nearly $40 million to classical humanities institutes and civic leadership programs that have been promoted by conservatives as a counterweight to liberal-dominated higher education. – The New York Times
- Despite Trump Administration Attacks, NEH Has Just Given $75 Million In Grants
“The National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) has announced a new round of grants — $75.1m to 84 projects, many of them celebrating the US’s semiquincentennial. These are the first grants since the administration of president Donald Trump fired all but four members of the National Council on the Humanities … in October.” – The Art Newspaper
- The Trump-Kennedy Center Regime’s Odd Notion Of An Arts Business Model
The notion that unstated corporate aesthetic preferences should determine what the public encounters as art — indeed, what counts as art at the nation’s art center — is absurd. It’s why we don’t (yet) have touring musicals about a young couple discovering the bold, zesty flavor of Cool Ranch Doritos. – Washington Post
MUSIC
- Women-Centered Fantasy Is Fueling The Publishing Industry
Women are rewriting the rules of sword-and-sorcery, trading testosterone-fueled quests for romance-driven adventures. Publishers are discovering that dragons plus dating equals dollars—who knew female readers wanted both magic and meaningful relationships? — The Conversation
- Writers vs. Machines: The John Henry Complex Returns
ChatGPT has writers channeling their inner folk hero, hammer in hand. But as Stephen Marche notes, we’ve been dancing with technological muses long before algorithms—typewriters, anyone? — LitHub
- Maybe Listening To An Audiobook Really Is As Good As Reading A Print Book
“Is listening to a book while doing the dishes, walking the dog or drifting off to sleep really as valuable as sitting down to read it? For authors, the publishing trade and those encouraging reading and literacy, the answer is increasingly yes.” – The Guardian
- Alabama Library Board Cuts Funding To Library That Wouldn’t Remove “Handmaid’s Tale”
The Republican-run Alabama Public Library Service Board voted to withhold roughly $22,000 in state funding from the Fairhope Public Library, citing the library’s failure to comply with the board’s rules requiring books deemed “sexually explicit” be relocated to the adult section. – The Daily Beast
- A Brief History Of The Word “Hello”
The greeting’s first known appearance in print happened 200 years ago this week in a Connecticut newspaper, but its roots go back at least two centuries further, probably more. – BBC
PEOPLE
- Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra seeks Vice President, Marketing and PR
Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in the search for a Vice President, Marketing and PR.
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice President, Marketing and PR will lead the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s storytelling and audience-development strategy, with responsibility for marketing and selling approximately $3 million in annual ticket revenue across a broad and dynamic portfolio of programs. This includes the Symphonic and Pops subscription series, the annual fundraising Gala, Kimbell Chamber Music and Family programming, and a wide range of community events. Working in close partnership with the President & CEO, the Vice President will play a central role in advancing the FWSO’s distinctive “Theater of a Concert” programming approach, which integrates dance, singers, projections, actors, and other visual elements into traditional symphonic and pops experiences. The Vice President will also lead high-profile promotional efforts highlighting the orchestra’s artistic leadership, including four-time Grammy Award–winning Music Director Robert Spano and distinguished Guest Conductor Dame Jane Glover.
The Vice President will collaborate closely with the President & CEO and Vice President, Operations on the selection and positioning of Pops and Specials programming to maximize earned-revenue margin in future seasons. They will play a lead role in promoting the FWSO’s collaborations with a broad range of artistic partners as part of the orchestra’s “Theater of a Concert” productions, including organizations such as the Kimbell Art Museum, Sid Richardson Museum, Bruce Wood Dance, and Dallas Theater Center. In partnership with the President & CEO and the Development team, the Vice President will help design and launch a new “VIP Marketing” capability, providing customized, high-touch marketing support for the organization’s top 75–80 donors. The Vice President will lead the Box Office and Marketing teams; oversee the FWSO website and Tessitura functions; and collaborate closely with the Director of Education and Community Programs. As a member of the orchestra’s front-line leadership team, the Vice President is expected to attend concerts regularly to build relationships with key donors and patrons, including engagement during intermission, and to address patron concerns as needed.
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) stands as one of Texas’s leading cultural institutions and one of the most artistically vibrant regional orchestras in the United States. Since its founding in 1912, the Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Fort Worth’s cultural identity and a vital force within the city’s thriving arts community. Chaired for many years by the distinguished philanthropist and arts leader Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, the FWSO has set an ambitious path since 2019 to deliver performances and community engagement at the highest level. Its musicians, leadership, and board share a bold mission: to perform great symphonic music at the highest level of artistic excellence to educate, entertain, and enhance cultural life; to present engaging music education programs for young people to foster early interest in and inspire lifelong enjoyment of music; and to achieve ever-greater levels of artistic accomplishment and leadership in Fort Worth and across the nation. Under the artistic direction of Music Director Robert Spano, who joined the Orchestra in 2022, the FWSO continues to achieve new levels of artistic excellence and innovation.
The FWSO’s artistic strength and community impact are supported by an ambitious and successful program of donor recruitment, prudent management, and forward-thinking strategy. With an annual operating budget of approximately $15.5 million, 72 exceptional musicians, an endowment of approximately $30 million, an engaged 75-member Board of Directors led by Chairman of the Board Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, and a dedicated professional staff led by President & CEO Dr. Keith Cerny, the Orchestra operates from a position of organizational health and sustainability. The FWSO also recently launched a special fundraising campaign for artistic excellence, which has already raised over $1.5 million in just a few weeks. As it enters its second century, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra remains deeply committed to artistic excellence, education, and innovation. It is an ensemble that embodies both the rich traditions of symphonic music and the evolving creativity of a modern cultural institution. With a clear strategic vision, exceptional leadership, and a dynamic relationship with its community, the FWSO is poised to expand its reach, nurture the next generation of audiences and artists, and reaffirm the transformative power of orchestral music in Fort Worth and beyond.
A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field, and at least ten years of progressive experience in marketing, preferably in the arts, is required for this position. Detailed knowledge of some aspect of symphonic or pops repertoire is preferred. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to FWSO, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.
The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $140,000. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, an Employee Assistance Program, and generous vacation days, paid time off, and paid holidays.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Kim Farr at kimfarr@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
To apply for this position, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6863954.
- Good Morning
Today’s AJ highlights: Contraction of the institutional arts world continues. The Metropolitan Opera has announced layoffs and pay cuts for top executives to balance its books (The Guardian ). This financial pressure is mirrored in the theater world; the Williamstown Theatre Festival has canceled its upcoming summer season to “rethink its future” and is considering moving to a biennial model (The Washington Post (MSN) ). Even the Sundance Film Festival is in a state of profound transition, preparing for its final run in Park City following the death of founder Robert Redford and a planned move to Boulder, Colorado (AP ).
Political and ideological battles are also intensifying at the institutional level. In Alabama, a state library board has withheld funding from a library that refused to relocate The Handmaid’s Tale to the adult section (The Daily Beast ). Meanwhile, reports indicate that New Deal-era murals are being targeted for removal, with critics labeling the Depression-era public art programs as “too woke” (Hyperallergic ). The Pakistani government continues the expulsion of Afghan musicians who fled the Taliban (The New York Times ).
On the industry front, the definition of success is being rewritten. While some declare the “starchitect” era over in favor of collaborative models (Dezeen ), the publishing world is finding a massive boost in “Romantasy”—women-centered fantasy fiction that prioritizes magic and meaningful relationships (The Conversation ). In the visual arts, the Philadelphia Art Museum is reportedly considering redoing its recent “botched” rebrand f(Hyperallergic ).
Finally, we look at the fallout of a major museum breach: new footage of the Louvre jewelry robbery shows perpetrators using disc cutters to open display cases while staff members were unable to intervene (Artnet ).
All our stories below.
- A Labor Economist Looks At Opera And Says It Isn’t Dying (But Its Business Model Might Be)
Christos Makridis of Arizona State University: “I found the public’s demand for meaningful, live cultural experiences — including opera — remains strong. … (But) few opera companies have embraced strategies the rest of the entertainment industry regularly uses: audience data analysis, experimentation with digital content and streaming, engagement through online platforms rather than brochures.” – The Conversation
- San Francisco Ballet And “Anticipatory Obedience”
Trot out the national anthem, the flag or a John Philip Sousa march, they believe, and it’s like a free exclamation mark to whatever point they’re trying to make: “Ha! See? The stars and stripes are on my side!” – San Francisco Chronicle
- There’s More Footage Of The Jewelry Robbery At The Louvre — And It Looks Pretty Bad
“The two perpetrators can be seen wearing balaclavas and using disc cutters to slice open display cases. The theft takes place under the watch of staff members who were not able to intervene.” – Artnet
PEOPLE
- Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra seeks Vice President, Marketing and PR
Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in the search for a Vice President, Marketing and PR.
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice President, Marketing and PR will lead the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s storytelling and audience-development strategy, with responsibility for marketing and selling approximately $3 million in annual ticket revenue across a broad and dynamic portfolio of programs. This includes the Symphonic and Pops subscription series, the annual fundraising Gala, Kimbell Chamber Music and Family programming, and a wide range of community events. Working in close partnership with the President & CEO, the Vice President will play a central role in advancing the FWSO’s distinctive “Theater of a Concert” programming approach, which integrates dance, singers, projections, actors, and other visual elements into traditional symphonic and pops experiences. The Vice President will also lead high-profile promotional efforts highlighting the orchestra’s artistic leadership, including four-time Grammy Award–winning Music Director Robert Spano and distinguished Guest Conductor Dame Jane Glover.
The Vice President will collaborate closely with the President & CEO and Vice President, Operations on the selection and positioning of Pops and Specials programming to maximize earned-revenue margin in future seasons. They will play a lead role in promoting the FWSO’s collaborations with a broad range of artistic partners as part of the orchestra’s “Theater of a Concert” productions, including organizations such as the Kimbell Art Museum, Sid Richardson Museum, Bruce Wood Dance, and Dallas Theater Center. In partnership with the President & CEO and the Development team, the Vice President will help design and launch a new “VIP Marketing” capability, providing customized, high-touch marketing support for the organization’s top 75–80 donors. The Vice President will lead the Box Office and Marketing teams; oversee the FWSO website and Tessitura functions; and collaborate closely with the Director of Education and Community Programs. As a member of the orchestra’s front-line leadership team, the Vice President is expected to attend concerts regularly to build relationships with key donors and patrons, including engagement during intermission, and to address patron concerns as needed.
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) stands as one of Texas’s leading cultural institutions and one of the most artistically vibrant regional orchestras in the United States. Since its founding in 1912, the Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Fort Worth’s cultural identity and a vital force within the city’s thriving arts community. Chaired for many years by the distinguished philanthropist and arts leader Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, the FWSO has set an ambitious path since 2019 to deliver performances and community engagement at the highest level. Its musicians, leadership, and board share a bold mission: to perform great symphonic music at the highest level of artistic excellence to educate, entertain, and enhance cultural life; to present engaging music education programs for young people to foster early interest in and inspire lifelong enjoyment of music; and to achieve ever-greater levels of artistic accomplishment and leadership in Fort Worth and across the nation. Under the artistic direction of Music Director Robert Spano, who joined the Orchestra in 2022, the FWSO continues to achieve new levels of artistic excellence and innovation.
The FWSO’s artistic strength and community impact are supported by an ambitious and successful program of donor recruitment, prudent management, and forward-thinking strategy. With an annual operating budget of approximately $15.5 million, 72 exceptional musicians, an endowment of approximately $30 million, an engaged 75-member Board of Directors led by Chairman of the Board Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, and a dedicated professional staff led by President & CEO Dr. Keith Cerny, the Orchestra operates from a position of organizational health and sustainability. The FWSO also recently launched a special fundraising campaign for artistic excellence, which has already raised over $1.5 million in just a few weeks. As it enters its second century, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra remains deeply committed to artistic excellence, education, and innovation. It is an ensemble that embodies both the rich traditions of symphonic music and the evolving creativity of a modern cultural institution. With a clear strategic vision, exceptional leadership, and a dynamic relationship with its community, the FWSO is poised to expand its reach, nurture the next generation of audiences and artists, and reaffirm the transformative power of orchestral music in Fort Worth and beyond.
A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field, and at least ten years of progressive experience in marketing, preferably in the arts, is required for this position. Detailed knowledge of some aspect of symphonic or pops repertoire is preferred. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to FWSO, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.
The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $140,000. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, an Employee Assistance Program, and generous vacation days, paid time off, and paid holidays.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Kim Farr at kimfarr@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
To apply for this position, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6863954.
- Good Morning
Today’s AJ highlights: Contraction of the institutional arts world continues. The Metropolitan Opera has announced layoffs and pay cuts for top executives to balance its books (The Guardian ). This financial pressure is mirrored in the theater world; the Williamstown Theatre Festival has canceled its upcoming summer season to “rethink its future” and is considering moving to a biennial model (The Washington Post (MSN) ). Even the Sundance Film Festival is in a state of profound transition, preparing for its final run in Park City following the death of founder Robert Redford and a planned move to Boulder, Colorado (AP ).
Political and ideological battles are also intensifying at the institutional level. In Alabama, a state library board has withheld funding from a library that refused to relocate The Handmaid’s Tale to the adult section (The Daily Beast ). Meanwhile, reports indicate that New Deal-era murals are being targeted for removal, with critics labeling the Depression-era public art programs as “too woke” (Hyperallergic ). The Pakistani government continues the expulsion of Afghan musicians who fled the Taliban (The New York Times ).
On the industry front, the definition of success is being rewritten. While some declare the “starchitect” era over in favor of collaborative models (Dezeen ), the publishing world is finding a massive boost in “Romantasy”—women-centered fantasy fiction that prioritizes magic and meaningful relationships (The Conversation ). In the visual arts, the Philadelphia Art Museum is reportedly considering redoing its recent “botched” rebrand f(Hyperallergic ).
Finally, we look at the fallout of a major museum breach: new footage of the Louvre jewelry robbery shows perpetrators using disc cutters to open display cases while staff members were unable to intervene (Artnet ).
All our stories below.
- A Labor Economist Looks At Opera And Says It Isn’t Dying (But Its Business Model Might Be)
Christos Makridis of Arizona State University: “I found the public’s demand for meaningful, live cultural experiences — including opera — remains strong. … (But) few opera companies have embraced strategies the rest of the entertainment industry regularly uses: audience data analysis, experimentation with digital content and streaming, engagement through online platforms rather than brochures.” – The Conversation
- San Francisco Ballet And “Anticipatory Obedience”
Trot out the national anthem, the flag or a John Philip Sousa march, they believe, and it’s like a free exclamation mark to whatever point they’re trying to make: “Ha! See? The stars and stripes are on my side!” – San Francisco Chronicle
- There’s More Footage Of The Jewelry Robbery At The Louvre — And It Looks Pretty Bad
“The two perpetrators can be seen wearing balaclavas and using disc cutters to slice open display cases. The theft takes place under the watch of staff members who were not able to intervene.” – Artnet
THEATRE
VISUAL
- Why Movies Launch And Music Drops
A key reason why it’s now more complicated to promote an album than, say, a theatrically released film, is the ephemeral, immaterial nature of contemporary music consumption. By comparison, most films that see a theatrical release maintain a predictable, streamlined promotional schedule. – The New Yorker
- How We Lost The Art Of Paying Attention
Most of us are by now familiar with the broad mechanisms of the “attention economy” – the hijacking and monetising of consumer attention through addictive channels. The ravages of this system are ever more apparent. – The Observer
- The Death Of The 20th Century Mono-Culture (And What It Means)
The implications for the battered-and-bruised entertainment industry are obvious. The impacts on our culture are just starting to fully materialize, but will be more significant. Instead of pulling us together, pop culture is another force dragging us apart. – The Wall Street Journal
- We Think Time Always Moves Forward. This Is A Relatively New Concept
This picture of time is not natural. Its roots stretch only to the 18th century, yet this notion has now entrenched itself so deeply in Western thought that it’s difficult to imagine time as anything else. And this new representation of time has affected all kinds of things, from our understanding of history to time travel. – Aeon
- What If AI Changes The Very Nature Of Our Attention?
What if the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t designed to feed that addiction — but to fundamentally change it? What if the future of AI demands young people’s attention, curiosity, and creativity in ways we haven’t experienced before? – Big Think
