ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: French president Macron’s idea to promote culture among young people was to offer students between 15 and 18 money to pay for culture. It’s expensive, costing the government €260m per year. And a study came out reporting that 70 percent of the culture young people bought is mangas and comic books. Perhaps not the culture Macron sought to promote. Moreover, “the system mainly benefits teenagers from educated and wealthy families, who already have access to comic books and movies.” So now the program is under threat of being defunded. More here.

  • Daniel Day-Lewis Ends His Seven-Year Retirement From Acting
    Daniel Day-Lewis, the three-time Oscar-winning actor, is returning to the screen after a seven-year hiatus. Read more on The Guardian.
  • Opera In The UK Is Suffering, Except At Glyndebourne
    As the British opera world faces severe financial crises, Glyndebourne Festival stands apart, continuing to thrive with private funding and minimal state support. This success highlights a unique business model amidst widespread industry challenges. Read more on The New York Times.
  • The Real Miracle of Notre-Dame: Rebuilding the Intricate Wood Frame
    The reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Cathedral has faced massive challenges, especially the task of recreating its iconic medieval wood frame. The effort involved sourcing ancient oaks and utilizing medieval tools to restore the Gothic masterpiece. Read more on GQ.
  • Who’s Funding the Arts? And Does It Need to Change?
    With decreases in corporate charitable giving, there are growing concerns about how the arts are funded. As philanthropy shrinks, some wonder if the current model is sustainable or if it’s time for a new approach. Read more on Esquire.
  • Ballet Star Steven McRae’s Three-Year Recovery from Career-Threatening Injury
    Steven McRae, Royal Ballet principal, reflects on his long recovery after his Achilles tendon snapped mid-performance. Following extensive surgery and rehabilitation, McRae, now 38, has made a triumphant return to the stage. Read more on inews.

As usual, the rest of the stories we collected are below. See you tomorrow.

Doug

Latest Stories

It’s Just Science: Some Christmas Music Really Tanks Productivity

Those who love torturing customers and co-workers alike might have to listen to the science. The fact is, Ariana Grande and Andy Williams are out. "On the other hand, Brenda Lee’s 'Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ emerged as the most productivity-friendly holiday track.” - Fast Company

Gehry Was The Rare Architect Who Also Changed Music

“The ‘Goldberg Variations’ was Gehry’s favorite work. He loved its otherworldliness and its worldliness. He loved its invitation to dance and to dream. He loved its astonishing sense of design, complex yet flowing with the ocean’s grace, its depth and its inviting surface.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)

The Kennedy Center Under The 47th President: Emptier, Showier, Way More Political

“What is the Kennedy Center now? For one thing, it’s getting a Trumpian revamp. He ordered new marble and the repainting of the exterior columns in austere white. Portraits of the first and second couples now hang in the center’s Hall of Nations.” - Washington Post (MSN)

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