ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: Here are today’s highlights:

  • Man Smashes Ai Weiwei Art at Rome Show Opening
    A visitor at Ai Weiwei’s Rome exhibition vandalized one of the artist’s sculptures during the opening, sparking widespread debate about art vandalism. CCTV footage of the incident was later shared on Ai Weiwei’s Instagram, stirring further discussions on social media. Read more on Reuters.
  • The Huntington Botanical Gardens Faces Plant Theft Issue
    The Huntington Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles has been hit by a series of plant thefts, mirroring a global trend where rare and valuable plants are being stolen from botanical collections. The thefts have raised concerns about the illegal trade of endangered species. Read more on LAist.
  • More Than 10,000 Books Were Banned in the US Last Year
    A PEN America report revealed that book bans in the United States skyrocketed to over 10,000 last year, highlighting a growing battle over censorship and access to information in schools and public libraries. Read more on The Guardian.
  • Extreme Candor: Pittsburgh Arts Council Admits Big Failures
    The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s latest strategic plan openly acknowledges past failures with remarkable transparency, aiming to rebuild trust within the local arts community through self-reflection and a five-year vision. Read more on WESA.
  • One Artist Is Helping Refugees Tell Their Stories with SIM Cards
    An artist is using glass plates shaped like SIM cards to tell the stories of refugees, capturing their migration experiences. This unique artistic approach provides a new medium for raising awareness about the refugee crisis. Read more on Fast Company.

Scroll down to see the rest of the stories we collected today.

Till tomorrow.

Doug

Latest Stories

An AI Map Of Bob Dylan’s Songs

Could machine analysis measure the qualities that make Dylan’s songs resonate – how complexity arises, how new images mix with the familiar, how ambiguity threads through songs? - Aeon

Film Festival In New York Cancelled At Last Minute After Chinese Filmmakers Withdraw

“The inaugural IndieChina film festival was planned to take place between 8 and 15 November. But on 5 November the festival’s curator ... posted on Facebook that he had been forced to cancel 80% of the planned screenings because film-makers had pulled out” after their families in China were...

The Mona Lisa Problem

One solution might be to put it in a separate structure — climate-controlled, transparent — in the neighboring Tuileries Garden. Time-controlled tickets could be sold at a premium, while the general public could view it for free at a distance, through the glass walls. - Washington Post

Premium

Production Coordinator

Opportunity to shape a brand-new presenting program in Surprise, AZ. Position will oversee, coordinate, and execute all production related aspects of Surprise Arts events.

Senior Vice President TMC Arts – The Music Center working with Management Consultants for the Arts

The Music Center seeks an inspiring and strategic individual to lead its cultural programming division, TMC Arts. Reporting directly to the president & CEO..

Classifieds

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

Modern Women: 21st Century Dance a COLORING BOOK and CALENDAR 2026

Modern Women: 21st Century Dance coloring book and calendar 2026 Great gifts for women, girls, dance lovers and those who love them.

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.

Texas Ballet Theater seeks Director of Development Via Sweibel Arts

Texas Ballet Theater seeks a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead fundraising and donor engagement as the company launches a $40 million capital campaign.
function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');