ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

  1. How An Iranian Director Made His Award-Winning Film In Secret — And Was Then Smuggled Out Of The Country “Mohammad Rasoulof had been imprisoned for his work before, and he knew that his The Seed of the Sacred Fig — which ultimately got a 13-minute ovation and a special jury prize at Cannes — would land him there again. Yet he felt compelled to do it.” The New York Times Magazine
  2. Opera In Its Traditional Role: Innovator, Leader In Technology
    “Every technology affects the way that we think, behave and interact. AI is not going away. It will become a part of our humanity, and therefore a part of our art-making.” The Guardian
  3. Historic Town Halls In Australia Are Becoming Low-Cost Performance Venues “Beautiful brick early 20th-century town halls were once venues for council meetings, award nights and country dances. But in recent decades many have been under-used or left entirely empty. Now municipalities are offering them to strapped arts organizations, often without rental fees.” The Guardian
  4. Mexico’s New President Wants To Fight The Popularity Of Ballads About Drug Lords “President Claudia Sheinbaum said she has a plan to reduce the popularity of narcocorridos. She vowed to launch a campaign to promote other, less violent musical styles that aren’t as linked to drug traffickers in an effort to stop glorifying them.” AP News
  5. Nostalgia Used To Be A Bad Thing. Now It Seduces Us “Nostalgia is a universal malady for which there is no effective remedy, and throughout its long history it has served politically diverse ends.” Washington Post

Skip down to see all the stories we collected in the past day, organized by art form. 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.
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