Today’s Highlights: San Francisco Ballet is facing intense public pressure to cancel its upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center to avoid aligning with an institution critics say has been “politicized” (San Francisco Chronicle). Reports indicate that the U.S. has withdrawn from 66 international institutions, a move experts warn “weakens the global protective frameworks” that artists and cultural workers rely on for freedom of expression (Artnet). And the Washington National Opera’s decision to part ways with the Kennedy Center is getting a “groundswell of support” for patrons who had stopped attending during the recent administrative takeover (Washington Post (Yahoo)).
Educators are raising alarms as Gen Z arrives at college unable to read full-length books, forcing institutions to lower standards as students struggle to complete assigned reading at record levels (Fortune (MSN)). And new research reveals that AI models “memorize” the books they ingest on a massive scale, a finding that could cost tech companies billions in upcoming copyright battles (The Atlantic).
Finally, we look at the friction between national branding and artistic independence. South Africa’s right-wing culture minister has axed the country’s Venice Biennale proposal—a performance mourning Gaza’s dead—arguing that international platforms must be used to “sell our country” rather than highlight global tragedies (Hyperallergic).
All of our stories below.
