AJ Four Ways: Text Only (by date) | headlines only
DANCE
IDEAS
- America’s 250th: all anxiety, no statues
Good Morning,
America turns 250 in under three months, and the mood isn’t fireworks, it’s unease. The New York Times finds historians scrambling to meet the public’s “hunger for meaning” as the anniversary approaches, while museums across the country roll out their celebratory exhibitions (New York Times). Meanwhile the National Garden of American Heroes, Trump’s promised 250-statue monument, supposedly ready for July 4, hasn’t even had its site finalized, per CNN. The sculptors who applied still haven’t heard a word.
Contrast Budapest, where 16 years of Orbán just ended. Hungary’s arts world is cautiously recalibrating (Ocula), and pianist András Schiff, who vowed in 2010 never to return while Orbán was in power — has accepted an invitation to perform in the city he left (Telex). Two nations, two anniversaries, the same question about who is shaping the culture.
Elsewhere: 120,000 authors have filed claims in the Anthropic copyright settlement (Reuters), AI may have authenticated a disputed El Greco (Scientific American), and book-ban attempts just hit a record high (AP).
All of our stories below.
- Vancouver Finally Has A Company Focused On Classical Ballet
Ballet BC is an impressive troupe, but it has long specialized in contemporary work; it’s been more than a decade since there was a resident company focused on classical and neoclassical style. That’s why choreographer Joshua Beamish founded Ballet Vancouver, which debuts this week. – The Georgia Straight (Vancouver)
- Japan’s 1,200-Year-Old Record Of Cherry Blossoms Has A New Keeper
Last summer, Prof. Aono, who had meticulously updated the record year after year, died after a battle with cancer. That prompted supporters of his work to start looking for a worthy successor. – The New York Times
- Seattle Nonprofit Buys Downtown Office Building To Convert To Artist Housing
This is happening through the city’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, which allows developers to take empty commercial buildings and turn them into living spaces. The program gives developers a tax deferral as long as 10% of the units in the building are sold or rented below market value. – KNKX
- How Will Hungary’s Arts World Recover From 16 Years Of Viktor Orbán?
“A wave of leadership changes is widely expected across major museums and cultural bodies, which could lead to the return of (figures) who were previously sidelined. There is, however, reason for caution. Magyar is himself a former Fidesz party member and a conservative politician, and some analysts warn against expecting rapid transformation.” – Ocula
ISSUES
- Critics Press V&A Museum To Pay Its Workers A Living Wage
While the V&A complies with all legal minimum-wage requirements, with some workers paid a living wage or above, campaigners say some of the lowest-paid contractors in London are not in receipt of the living wage. The UK minimum wage is £12.71 an hour and the living wage in London is £14.80 an hour. – The Guardian
- Did AI Solve A Longstanding El Greco Mystery?
Using artificial intelligence, researchers analyzed The Baptism of Christ at the microscopic level, looking for trends in the texture of the paint at the resolution of a single paintbrush bristle. The results suggest El Greco painted the majority of The Baptism himself—but some experts caution more research is needed. – Scientific American
- How America’s Museums Are Celebrating The 250th
The exhibitions showcase both the traditional and the unexpected, from portraiture to multimedia installations, from founding documents to found objects. Across the country, the joy, sorrow and humor of the nation’s history are on display. – The New York Times
- Legal Struggle Over Possession Of “Sistine Chapel Of Romanesque Art”
A set of 13th-century murals from the Sijena Monastery in Spain were taken to Barcelona for safekeeping during the Spanish Civil War and are now in the National Art Museum of Catalonia — which is defying a court order to return them, saying the artworks are too fragile to be moved. – ARTnews
- Trump Wanted His “Heroes” Sculpture Garden Open For July 4. It Probably Won’t Even Be Started By Then.
Plans for Trump’s National Garden Of American Heroes still haven’t been submitted to the agencies which must approve it. The choice of site hasn’t even been finalized. Artists and foundries that applied to work on the sculptures haven’t heard anything back — and the statues are supposed to be finished by June. – CNN
MEDIA
- Japan’s 1,200-Year-Old Record Of Cherry Blossoms Has A New Keeper
Last summer, Prof. Aono, who had meticulously updated the record year after year, died after a battle with cancer. That prompted supporters of his work to start looking for a worthy successor. – The New York Times
- Seattle Nonprofit Buys Downtown Office Building To Convert To Artist Housing
This is happening through the city’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, which allows developers to take empty commercial buildings and turn them into living spaces. The program gives developers a tax deferral as long as 10% of the units in the building are sold or rented below market value. – KNKX
- How Will Hungary’s Arts World Recover From 16 Years Of Viktor Orbán?
“A wave of leadership changes is widely expected across major museums and cultural bodies, which could lead to the return of (figures) who were previously sidelined. There is, however, reason for caution. Magyar is himself a former Fidesz party member and a conservative politician, and some analysts warn against expecting rapid transformation.” – Ocula
- America’s 250th Birthday Is Here. Americans Are Worried
Increasingly, historians are asking if they need to do more to meet the public’s hunger for meaning and inspiration. – The New York Times
- Faculty Are Exiting Texas Universities, Claiming Censorship
The University of Texas ordered faculty in February to refrain from teaching ill-defined “controversial” topics in class. Nearly all Texas public university systems have conducted some kind of course-review process that screens instructional materials for gender and sexuality content. – InsideHigherEd
MUSIC
- 120,000 Authors File Claims In Anthropic Copyright Settlement
Claims have been filed for 91% of the more than 480,000 works covered by the settlement, according to a court filing
, opens new tab in the case on Thursday. – Reuters - Lost Poem By García Lorca Discovered
“A previously unknown verse attributed to Federico García Lorca has been discovered 93 years after the celebrated Spanish poet and playwright is believed to have jotted it on the back of one of his manuscripts.” – The Guardian
- Book Bans And Attempts In U.S. Are At Record High, Says American Library Association
“The ALA on Monday issued its annual list of the books most challenged at the country’s libraries, part of the association’s State of America’s Libraries Report. … The (list) usually features 10 books, but this year has 11, with four tied for eighth place.” – AP
- Book Clubs Are Bringing GenZ Into Reading
Reading is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z and millennials, many of whom are actively seeking alternatives to “doomscrolling” and the mental fatigue associated with constant social media use. – The Conversation
- Letters That Keats Sent His Beloved, Stolen In The 1980s, Are Found
“The customer told them that the books had been bequeathed to him by his grandfather, who had kept them in a box at his retirement home in South Carolina.” – The New York Times
PEOPLE
- America’s 250th: all anxiety, no statues
Good Morning,
America turns 250 in under three months, and the mood isn’t fireworks, it’s unease. The New York Times finds historians scrambling to meet the public’s “hunger for meaning” as the anniversary approaches, while museums across the country roll out their celebratory exhibitions (New York Times). Meanwhile the National Garden of American Heroes, Trump’s promised 250-statue monument, supposedly ready for July 4, hasn’t even had its site finalized, per CNN. The sculptors who applied still haven’t heard a word.
Contrast Budapest, where 16 years of Orbán just ended. Hungary’s arts world is cautiously recalibrating (Ocula), and pianist András Schiff, who vowed in 2010 never to return while Orbán was in power — has accepted an invitation to perform in the city he left (Telex). Two nations, two anniversaries, the same question about who is shaping the culture.
Elsewhere: 120,000 authors have filed claims in the Anthropic copyright settlement (Reuters), AI may have authenticated a disputed El Greco (Scientific American), and book-ban attempts just hit a record high (AP).
All of our stories below.
- Vancouver Finally Has A Company Focused On Classical Ballet
Ballet BC is an impressive troupe, but it has long specialized in contemporary work; it’s been more than a decade since there was a resident company focused on classical and neoclassical style. That’s why choreographer Joshua Beamish founded Ballet Vancouver, which debuts this week. – The Georgia Straight (Vancouver)
- Japan’s 1,200-Year-Old Record Of Cherry Blossoms Has A New Keeper
Last summer, Prof. Aono, who had meticulously updated the record year after year, died after a battle with cancer. That prompted supporters of his work to start looking for a worthy successor. – The New York Times
- Seattle Nonprofit Buys Downtown Office Building To Convert To Artist Housing
This is happening through the city’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, which allows developers to take empty commercial buildings and turn them into living spaces. The program gives developers a tax deferral as long as 10% of the units in the building are sold or rented below market value. – KNKX
- How Will Hungary’s Arts World Recover From 16 Years Of Viktor Orbán?
“A wave of leadership changes is widely expected across major museums and cultural bodies, which could lead to the return of (figures) who were previously sidelined. There is, however, reason for caution. Magyar is himself a former Fidesz party member and a conservative politician, and some analysts warn against expecting rapid transformation.” – Ocula
PEOPLE
- America’s 250th: all anxiety, no statues
Good Morning,
America turns 250 in under three months, and the mood isn’t fireworks, it’s unease. The New York Times finds historians scrambling to meet the public’s “hunger for meaning” as the anniversary approaches, while museums across the country roll out their celebratory exhibitions (New York Times). Meanwhile the National Garden of American Heroes, Trump’s promised 250-statue monument, supposedly ready for July 4, hasn’t even had its site finalized, per CNN. The sculptors who applied still haven’t heard a word.
Contrast Budapest, where 16 years of Orbán just ended. Hungary’s arts world is cautiously recalibrating (Ocula), and pianist András Schiff, who vowed in 2010 never to return while Orbán was in power — has accepted an invitation to perform in the city he left (Telex). Two nations, two anniversaries, the same question about who is shaping the culture.
Elsewhere: 120,000 authors have filed claims in the Anthropic copyright settlement (Reuters), AI may have authenticated a disputed El Greco (Scientific American), and book-ban attempts just hit a record high (AP).
All of our stories below.
- Vancouver Finally Has A Company Focused On Classical Ballet
Ballet BC is an impressive troupe, but it has long specialized in contemporary work; it’s been more than a decade since there was a resident company focused on classical and neoclassical style. That’s why choreographer Joshua Beamish founded Ballet Vancouver, which debuts this week. – The Georgia Straight (Vancouver)
- Japan’s 1,200-Year-Old Record Of Cherry Blossoms Has A New Keeper
Last summer, Prof. Aono, who had meticulously updated the record year after year, died after a battle with cancer. That prompted supporters of his work to start looking for a worthy successor. – The New York Times
- Seattle Nonprofit Buys Downtown Office Building To Convert To Artist Housing
This is happening through the city’s Office to Residential Conversion Program, which allows developers to take empty commercial buildings and turn them into living spaces. The program gives developers a tax deferral as long as 10% of the units in the building are sold or rented below market value. – KNKX
- How Will Hungary’s Arts World Recover From 16 Years Of Viktor Orbán?
“A wave of leadership changes is widely expected across major museums and cultural bodies, which could lead to the return of (figures) who were previously sidelined. There is, however, reason for caution. Magyar is himself a former Fidesz party member and a conservative politician, and some analysts warn against expecting rapid transformation.” – Ocula
THEATRE
VISUAL
- Rethinking How Our Brains Process The World Using Categories
“The stimulus, cognition, response model of the brain is wrong. The brain prepares for a response and then perceives a stimulus. A brain is not reactive. It’s predictive. Action planning comes first. Perception comes second, as a function of the action plan.” – Picower Institute
- Uncertainty Can Be Toxic. But Understanding it Creates Possibility
Research suggests uncertainty can be more distressing than negative certainty. In one study, people were calmer when they knew they would receive an electric shock than when there was only a 50% chance of one. – The Guardian
- How AI Will Accelerate Human Creativity
The most successful organizations of 2026 and beyond will not be those that simply use AI to do more things faster. Instead, they will be the ones that use AI as a creativity accelerator, freeing up human capacity for the work that only we can do: imagining, connecting, and creating meaning. – Fast Company
- The Board That Built Apple – And A Personal Computing Revolution – Is Turning Fifty
“The Apple I marked a great leap forward in convenience by coming already assembled, albeit without a monitor, a keyboard, or even a case; the purchase price of USD $666.66 (closer to $4,000 today) just got you the board. But what a board.” – Open Culture
- What It Means That Hampshire College’s ‘Experimental’ Liberal Arts Education Is Saying Goodbye
“The shuttering of Hampshire College … feels different, not so much another liberal arts domino falling as the symbolic end of a whole tradition of progressive education in the US.” – New York Review Of Books
