ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: Here are today’s highlights:

  • Man Smashes Ai Weiwei Art at Rome Show Opening
    A visitor at Ai Weiwei’s Rome exhibition vandalized one of the artist’s sculptures during the opening, sparking widespread debate about art vandalism. CCTV footage of the incident was later shared on Ai Weiwei’s Instagram, stirring further discussions on social media. Read more on Reuters.
  • The Huntington Botanical Gardens Faces Plant Theft Issue
    The Huntington Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles has been hit by a series of plant thefts, mirroring a global trend where rare and valuable plants are being stolen from botanical collections. The thefts have raised concerns about the illegal trade of endangered species. Read more on LAist.
  • More Than 10,000 Books Were Banned in the US Last Year
    A PEN America report revealed that book bans in the United States skyrocketed to over 10,000 last year, highlighting a growing battle over censorship and access to information in schools and public libraries. Read more on The Guardian.
  • Extreme Candor: Pittsburgh Arts Council Admits Big Failures
    The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s latest strategic plan openly acknowledges past failures with remarkable transparency, aiming to rebuild trust within the local arts community through self-reflection and a five-year vision. Read more on WESA.
  • One Artist Is Helping Refugees Tell Their Stories with SIM Cards
    An artist is using glass plates shaped like SIM cards to tell the stories of refugees, capturing their migration experiences. This unique artistic approach provides a new medium for raising awareness about the refugee crisis. Read more on Fast Company.

Scroll down to see the rest of the stories we collected today.

Till tomorrow.

Doug

Latest Stories

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After Just Two Years, Baltimore Symphony Extends Music Director Jonathon Heyward’s Contract

“Heyward, 33, signed a three-year contract guaranteeing that he will preside over Maryland’s largest cultural organization through Aug. 31, 2031. … Heyward will donate $120,000 —a portion of his annual conducting fee — over six years to ‘support programs that nurture emerging talent and educational initiatives.’” - The Baltimore...

French Politicians Make The Louvre Jewel Heist A Symbol Of Macron’s Presidency

“The theft has become a kind of shorthand for what critics describe as Macron’s France: a state weakened by austerity, wavering authority, and institutional neglect. The high-profile crime has quickly been seized on as evidence of systemic failure.” - ARTnews

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