ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: How do you measure value? Self-worth? Thea Lim wrestles with the tensions between internal value for an artist and external valuation, now measured in any number of ways by likes, Tweets, and making the right lists. It makes for a schizophrenic existence as an artist. Well worth the read. Here are the rest of today’s highlights:

  • The Bells Of Notre Dame Cathedral Return To Paris A convoy of trucks carrying eight restored bells, the largest weighing more than 4 tons, arrived at Notre Dame Cathedral in preparation for its reopening on December 8, 2024. This marks a symbolic moment for France, following the catastrophic 2019 fire. Read more in AP.
  • Richard Pettibone, Progenitor Of “Appropriation Art,” Has Died At 86 Richard Pettibone, a pioneering figure in appropriation art, known for his works that copied the iconic styles of artists like Andy Warhol and Frank Stella, passed away at age 86. His death marks the end of a legacy that shaped contemporary art discussions on originality and replication. Read more in Artnet.
  • California’s New Laws Regulating Use Of AI Now In Force California has enacted new laws to regulate the use of artificial intelligence, providing actors more protection over their digital likenesses and combating the spread of deep fakes in political ads. Read more in Los Angeles Times.
  • The Guggenheim Museum Under Fire for Controversial Director Appointment The Guggenheim Museum is facing backlash after appointing a director with no prior experience in the arts. Critics argue the decision reflects a broader issue in the museum world, where fundraising prowess is often prioritized over artistic expertise. Read more in The Guardian.
  • Hollywood Mega-Agency UTA Closes Its Visual Art Division United Talent Agency (UTA) is shuttering its fine arts division after the departure of its director, signaling a shift in the agency’s focus. UTA was one of the first major entertainment agencies to expand into visual arts, representing prominent artists. Read more in ARTnews.

The rest of the stories we collected in the past day are below.

Doug

Latest Stories

Can Paris’s Iconic Zinc Rooftops Be Adapted To An Ever-Hotter Climate?

Some four-fifths of the city’s roofs are covered in the lightweight, malleable, low-maintenance metal. Many of them now need replacing — to prevent leaks in more intense rainstorms and because high summer temperatures turn the rooms below them into ovens. Parisian artisans are finding ways to address these problems....

African Publishers And “The Wakanda Problem”

"When we listen to audiobooks produced in the West, they have a Wakandan accent," said Eghosa Imasuen, executive director of Narrative Landscape Press in Lagos, Nigeria. "Nobody talks like that on the continent." - Publishers Weekly

Mali’s Capital City, Beset By Jihadi Militants, Cheers Itself Up With Marionettes

Bamako, a city of 3 million, is being squeezed by an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militia which has blocked fuel imports and made travel beyond the capital dangerous. Yet Bamakoans recently raised their spirits with a three-day festival celebrating puppetry, which has deep roots in Mali. - AP

Premium

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra seeks President & Chief Executive Officer

The next President & CEO will lead the KSO into its next century of artistic excellence, inspired community-engaged education, and strategic growth.

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Director of Programming, Hult Center, Eugene, OR

Application Deadline: Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. P.T. Accepting Online Applications Only Via the City of Eugene’s Website: Director of Programming | Job

Assistant Professor/Associate Professor of Theatre Arts (Directing) or Assistant Professor/Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Theatre Arts (Directing)

The Program aims to attract dynamic and dedicated artists with vision, a standing in the profession, a commitment to teaching, service, and an appetite for collaborating across disciplines.
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