It’s the University’s spring break this week, along with my kids’ break. So I’m taking a short recess from blogging to refresh my thinking and revisit my other chores. See you next week!
Archives for March 2010
A futures market for the movies
“The Business” radio show on KCRW offers an interesting inside look at futures markets (you know…pork bellies, heating oil, uranium), and the new opportunities coming soon to buy futures in popular entertainment receipts — more specifically, the movies. The proposed Cantor Exchange, seeking approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a possible launch in […]
The White House wants your copyright thoughts…today…
I’m a bit late to the party and the invitation, but artists, arts organizations, and anyone who might label themselves a ‘creative professional’ should give a moment of thought and a speedy response to this call from the White House: How many jobs depend on the existence of intellectual property? What are the greatest risks […]
Separate together – the virtual choir
Composer Eric Whitacre and his collaborators offer up a really interesting hybrid of the virtual and the real in the Virtual Choir, combining 185 separate choristers from 12 countries recorded independently, all conducted by the composer (through a prerecorded conductor track on YouTube) and combined into a single performance. Whitacre posted the announcement and instructions […]
Attempting to change the game
The independents are clearly frustrated. They’re developing their work with lean and innovative processes. They’re diving into risk and creative expression. They’re exploring new visions and new voices. But all the while, they’re struggling against a large, established, and out-dated infrastructure that’s resource-hungry, risk-averse, and wielding too much influence over the creation and control of […]
Is new technology a complement or supplement to real-world interaction?
Interesting stuff, as ever, at the Pew Internet & American Life Project web site. This time, on the contrary evidence to our common assumptions about new technologies. While many take it as a given that new technologies distract us from real-world social interaction, and encourage our cocooning into digitally-connected isolation, recent survey data suggests otherwise. […]
Generosity and curiosity
Yet more compelling and inspiring words from Ben Cameron of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation during his recent talk at TEDxYCC in Calgary. Well worth a watching.
Unbundling the arts organization
My conversations at the Salzburg Global Seminar last week reinforced the inherent tensions in the business of arts and culture. Example 1: We build organizations to resolve cost and scale problems. Organizations, by their design, seek to reduce or mitigate risk. Art is risk. Tension ensues. Example 2: We require more capital or cash to […]
Art. It’s what’s inside. Redux.
Way back in June 2008, I posted an ‘open-source public service announcement‘ concept and media mock-up called ”Art. It’s what’s inside.” Since I didn’t have the means or the channel to produce a professional version of the message I had in mind, I figured I’d release it to the world to see what life it […]
Great answers to bad questions
I’ve noticed a general agreement that the arts and culture world needs ‘problem solvers,’ people who can advance creative solutions with limited resources. But from observing countless cultural conversations, I’m emerging into a different view. From my experience, we’ve got PLENTY of problem solvers. We’re swimming in them. Extraordinarily resourceful artists, managers, board members, and […]