While Washington argues over performing arts center names, Saudi Arabia is quietly becoming the most essential wallet in the cultural sector. Two separate reports today highlight the Kingdom’s rapid ascent: they have become Hollywood’s favorite funding source for cash-strapped studios, while simultaneously executing a “relentless” top-down drive to capture a massive slice of the $300 billion video game industry.
In the world of legacy intellectual property, consolidation is the theme. Sony has moved to secure one of the world’s most enduring franchises, spending millions to acquire a controlling stake in “Peanuts” and Charlie Brown.
Meanwhile, the European art world is dealing with the return of a controversial figure. Marco Goecke, the choreographer fired in 2023 for smearing dog feces on a critic’s face, has found a new home as an artistic director in Switzerland. And in London, the British Museum is floating a “new model” for decolonization: lending stolen artifacts back to their nations of origin rather than returning them outright.
All of our stories, organized by topic, below.
