ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: One of the most likely impacts of AI will be a massive explosion of new art — books, music, images, video. This will be brought about by AI tools making it easier to create work. Here’s a good early example: A new company called Spines, automates the process of getting a book into print. “The platform can reduce the time it takes to publish a book from six to 18 months, to two to three weeks. He [the company CEO] claimed authors are willing to pay “tens of thousands” on publishing services for self-published books, but Spines costs $1,200 to $5,000 to automate proofreading, cover design, metadata optimisation and limited translation services, starting with Spanish.” Spines says it will publish 8000 books this way next year. Flooding the zone with “content” only figures to make it more difficult for human artists to get an audience.

Here are more highlights from the past day:

  1. Lessons the Art World is Learning at Auction, Post-Election
    “Some analysts expected that Donald J. Trump’s victory in the presidential election would cast a glow over the art market after seeing the prices of some stocks, cryptocurrencies, and the dollar lift shortly after his win. And yet, no.” The New York Times
  2. Comcast Unloading Its Cable Channels Signals a Major Shift in the TV Business
    “This is a very clear, direct statement by Comcast that they are exiting the cable network business. This is them saying, ‘We don’t want to be in this business. This is no longer a growth business.’” CNN
  3. Study: UK Artists Earn Average of £12,500 Per Year
    “Visual artists in the UK take home a median annual salary of only £12,500 a year, a 40% decrease since 2010, a new survey commissioned by the Design & Artists Copyright Society (DACS) has found.” The Art Newspaper
  4. The Circus That Bought an Old West Town in the Desert
    “Spiegelworld, an entertainment and circus company based in Las Vegas, bought the entire town in 2022 for $2.5 million. This isolated plot of land, roughly an hour’s drive from Vegas and the same distance from the nearest grocery store, is now known as Spiegelworld’s ‘global headquarters’ or, more simply, the ‘circus town.'” The Guardian
  5. Evaluating Wunderkind Conductor Klaus Mäkelä
    “It is safe to say that no conductor in modern history has been entrusted with so much at such a young age. Does he deserve it?” The New York Times

Jump down to see all the stories we collected, organized by genre. See you tomorrow.

Doug

Latest Stories

An Ethnomusicologist Analyzes Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby”

Prof. Michael O’Brien discusses why we listen to so many of the same songs year after year, the unusual appeal of “Santa Baby,” and why Eartha Kitt’s version is so much better than Madonna’s (or anyone else’s). - The Post and Courier (Charleston)

The Woeful State Of Arts PR. Here’s Why It Matters

On the inside of my job, lousy PR is one of the biggest signs that an institution is struggling. Outreach goes ignored, follow-up is late and flustered, and media events suffer. - Broad Street Review

The Collective Who’s Transforming Ballet In France’s Second City

“(LA)HORDE is a choreographic collective running the National Ballet of Marseille and rewriting the ballet rulebook for a new era. Their work blends classical techniques with surprising influences, from queer nightlife to the political history of social dance.” - BBC (video)

Premium

Fall 2026 Applications Open for MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises

Earn your Master’s in One Year. Northwestern University’s MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) program develops leaders across Entertainment, Media and the Arts.

Schubert Club seeks Artistic and Executive Director

The next Artistic and Executive Director will shape Schubert Club at a moment of organizational strength and artistic vitality.

Improv In Real Life Podcast

This podcast is about the art of improv can help us navigate the speed of life: skills, philosophy and the research that supports it.

Managing Director- The Old Globe working with Management Consultants for the Arts

The Old Globe is seeking a Managing Director to co-lead the company as it looks ahead to the landmark celebration of its 100th anniversary

Classifieds

Director of Marketing and Communications – Broadway in Hollywood & the Hollywood Pantages Theatre via TOC Arts Partners

Broadway in Hollywood and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre seek an energetic, driven, and forward-thinking Director of Marketing and Communications.

Music Director, Dance, Vassar College

The Music Director is the key resource for the students, faculty and staff of the Vassar College Dance Department.

Director of Development for Texas Ballet Theater

Texas Ballet Theater seeks a creative, hands-on Development Director to lead annual fundraising efforts and prepare for a capital campaign.

PEM, Director of Exhibition Design

Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, seeks a Director of Exhibition Design to lead its Exhibition Design Department

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Arts Administration

The Arts Administration program at Elon University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position that begins in August 2026.

Executive Director, Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach (CMSPB) is known for performances and educational programs of the highest artistic merit.

Apply Now: Canada’s National Arts Centre Mentorship Program

A paid side-by-side opportunity in Ottawa, Canada for emerging and early-career orchestral musicians, conductors and administrators. International applicants welcome.
function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');