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- When background music doesn’t help
Good Morning:
New York’s Little Island has cut its performance schedule in half (The New York Times), and Nicholas Hytner’s Bridge Theatre has been swallowed by a commercial chain (The Guardian).
More studies are showing that reading on paper yields measurably better comprehension than reading on screens (Time), and the playlist you put on to focus on your work mostly doesn’t work that way (The Conversation).
Aeon argues we can’t yet measure most of what AI actually costs or delivers — the impacts only surface years behind the technology. A charred Vesuvius scroll has been fully deciphered for the first time (Smithsonian).
And if you’re wondering why it’s Shrek 5 instead of Ratatouille at El Bulli, Vulture has theories.
All of our stories below.
Doug
- Despite “Billy Elliot,” Boys Studying Ballet In Britain Mostly Still Keep It Secret
The movie certainly helped over the 26 years since it was released: there are noticeably more boys in ballet classes than there used to be — especially where there are boys-only classes. But they still face trouble from peers at school. – The Sunday Times (UK)
- Did Malta’s National Orchestra Receive Millions In Laundered Money?
The European Foundation for Support of Culture, set up in 2015 and based for several years at the Russian Cultural Centre in Valletta, gave more than €8 million to the Malta Philharmonic between 2018 and 2022, triggering a money-laundering investigation which was stonewalled by the orchestra and eventually faded away. – Times of Malta
- General Custer And The Changing Cultural Record
Artists and writers have interpreted and reinterpreted George Armstrong Custer, who died in a storied battle that just had a major anniversary. – The New York Times
- What I Learned About Myself Through Translating
“Translators like to say, we discover our authors,” writes translator and novelist Anton Hur. “But maybe we’re wrong. Maybe the books choose us.” – American Scholar
- What American Classical Music Needs
Classical music in the United States is borrowed from Europe, and that borrowing was initially ambitious and impressive. An apex was attained around 1900. – The New York Times
- Why It’s So Difficult To Calculate Benefits And Costs Of Technology Innovation
When a tool reliably performs a cognitive operation, the internal capacity for that operation tends to weaken with disuse. People who know they can look up something on Google develop weaker memory for the information itself, and habitual GPS users show measurable decline in hippocampal-dependent spatial navigation. – Aeon
- For The First Time, The Complete Text Of A Vesuvius Scroll Has Been Deciphered
These 1,800 papyrus scrolls from Herculaneum, the only such library collection from ancient Rome to survive, were carbonized by the Vesuvius eruption; the scrolls would crumble if physically unrolled, so scientists are using X-ray and AI technology to decipher them. The first scroll to be completely readable is a text about Stoicism. – Smithsonian Magazine
- Alex Ross Is Leaving The New Yorker
My latest column, about the Ojai Music Festival, is my last. Although the musical scene exhilarates me more than ever — contemporary composition is eternally vital — I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome. – The Rest is Noise
- Why Leisure Is A Tough Gig
Give people an hour with nothing scheduled, and many fill it with thoughts of to-dos: the unanswered email, the errand that’s been put off, the project due next week. Free time is sometimes less a chance to rest than an opportunity to take inventory of our obligations. – The Atlantic
- Does Listening To Music While You Work Help You Focus?
Researchers generally agree that the relationship between music and learning is complex. The effects of music on studying and other cognitively demanding tasks appear to depend on the type of task performed, the kind of music and the students themselves. – The Conversation
- Nicholas Hytner’s Bridge Theatre Bought By Major Commercial Theatre Owner
“The Bridge Teatre in London, opened in 2017 by the former National Theatre duo Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr, has been acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment,” which owns more than 20 venues in Britain and elsewhere – The Guardian
- Mounting Scientific Evidence That Reading On Screens Results In Lower Comprehension
Reading comprehension was significantly lower when the students read on screens. The researchers also found that the number of “transitions,” where students would go back and re-read the text before submitting their answers, more than doubled—and in some cases tripled—when kids read on screens. – Time
- Australia’s Theatre Sector Raises Alarm
Australia’s theatre industry is in desperate need of tax reform to keep it alive, experts have warned the federal government, after two major touring musicals and a $20m opera cancelled shows in the space of a week, citing skyrocketing costs and soft box office sales. – The Guardian
- Why Are We Getting Shrek 5 And Not, Like, Ratatouille Goes To El Bulli?
Oh, Brad Bird, say it ain’t so: “Ratatouille director Brad Bird revealed he’s putting the kibosh on any sequels to that delightful, delicious film.” (Could we at least get the musical? Remember that from the early days of the pandemic?) – Vulture
- Philadelphia Cultural Fund And Mural Arts Philadelphia To Make Deep Cuts After Funding Reductions From City
“The Cultural Fund will be forced to reduce the number of grants it had been expecting to distribute in the coming year, from 332 to 232. It has changed its eligibility requirements, eliminating grants to a pool of midsize organizations.” Mural Arts, meanwhile, is reducing its budget by 26%. – The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
- Film Archivists Plan To Edit And Complete Orson Welles’s Unfinished “Don Quixote”
“Oja Kodar, the American film-maker’s partner and collaborator, has given her blessing to the project led by archives in France, Spain and Italy, along with the Munich film museum, to produce a coherent film out of 30 hours of footage scattered among them.” – The Guardian
- Italy Acquires 2,400-Year-Old Frescoes From Ancient Etruscan Tomb
“The Culture Ministry announced in May that it had acquired the fresco panels, dating from the 4th century, from members of the Torlonia family, one of Italy’s ancient noble families whose vast collection of antiquity has long been kept out of the public domain.” – AP
- Penelope Keith, One Of Britain’s Most Beloved Sitcom Actresses, Is Dead At 86
“In the late 1970s and early 1980s, (she became) one of Britain’s most popular comedy actresses through her work in the BBC sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born: she was both convincing and funny when portraying imperious and autocratic ‘grand ladies’.” – The Telegraph (UK) (Yahoo!)
- New York’s Little Island Has Cut Its Performance Schedule In Half
Last summer the outdoor venue on stilts in the Hudson River presented 100 performances over four months; this year’s season is offering 56 performances over six weeks. The stated reason for the change is that funder Barry Diller “wants to take programming in a different direction.” – The New York Times
- Comcast Is Splitting Itself In Two, Spinning NBCUniversal Into A Separate Company
“The stand-alone NBCUniversal will include Universal’s film and television studios, its growing theme parks division, the NBC and Telemundo networks, Bravo, Peacock, and the European media business, Sky. The remaining Comcast business will consist of the company’s broadband, wireless and cable television operations.” – The Wall Street Journal (MSN)
- Appeals Court Upholds Harvey Weinstein’s L.A. Rape Conviction But Orders Re-Sentencing
“A three-judge panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal unanimously issued the decision, saying his trial judge did not violate the former movie magnate’s constitutional rights. … The decision came a day after prosecutors in New York decided Weinstein would not face a fourth trial there.” – AP
- AJ Chronicles: It’s Getting Expensive to Prove You’re a Human Artist
We’re now focused on “doping tests” to determine if artists have cheated. Rather than pee in a bottle, however, we’re depending on AI detector tools and documentary proof of human creation. Did the Foundation double down to ask what’s the best writing? No. They cared more about how it was made. Perhaps that’s important. Of course it is. But, in a way, it’s now an impossible question. Moreover, it may ultimately be the wrong question. - University Musical Society seeks Vice President and Chief Development Officer.
ZRG Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with University Musical Society in the search for a Vice President and Chief Development Officer.
Reporting to the President, the Vice President and Chief Development Officer will be a key institutional leader and strategic partner to the UMS President, with the responsibility of designing and leading a comprehensive fundraising program that includes annual, major, planned, and endowment giving; foundation and corporate giving; and donor engagement. This leader must be fluent in the fundamentals of each area, excited to craft their own vision, strategy, and roadmap for the function, and able to align resources to deliver the plan.
The VP/CDO will be responsible for a portfolio of key donors and prospects, and will actively direct and support the President, Board, and key staff members in fundraising efforts. Additionally, the VP/CDO will work closely with the President on the Nominating and Development Committees of the Board and in advancing the Campaign Council.
The position requires broad and comprehensive experience, of both high-level strategic planning and management of practical day-to-day operations, strong interpersonal skills and the
ability to build authentic relationships with key stakeholders. The VP/CDO will be responsible for helping shape, then translating UMS’s vision, strategy, and commitment to U-M, Ann Arbor, and Southeast Michigan into a clear and compelling fundraising strategy, with achievable goals and performance objectives.Now in its 148th season, UMS is admired across the country for its boundary-pushing roster of artists and its curious and supportive audiences, showcasing traditional performing art forms and contemporary artists in a variety of venues ranging in size from 200-3,500. Based on the campus of the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor, UMS is one of the oldest performing arts presenters in the country, committed to its mission of connecting audiences with performing artists from around the world in uncommon and engaging experiences.
UMS is an affiliated partner of the University of Michigan but remains an independent 501(c)3 arts presenter, enabling the organization to both complement and leverage the resources of a world-class university, while also serving as a public-facing cultural hub for the entire community. UMS is financially healthy with an endowment of more than $50M and an annual budget of approximately $11M. UMS contributes to a vibrant cultural community in Southeast Michigan by presenting approximately 60-75 music, dance, and theater performances and more than 100 free educational activities for K-12 students, educators, university students, families, adults, and cultural and ethnic communities each season.
Currently, the University Musical Society and the University of Michigan are exploring the building of a new performing arts space on Ann Arbor’s central campus. The building will be a place where students and audience members get to immerse themselves, experience remarkable artistry, and develop their own creative process; where world-renowned artists can rehearse, perform, innovate, and teach; and where the community can gather, be enriched and entertained, and share in the power of the arts – together.
UMS approaches its 150th season in Fall 2028 operating with vision and confidence, marked by strategic financial and philanthropic models that support its programming, personnel, and capital aspirations. Through its diverse programming and strategic investment of resources, UMS continues to be a cultural leader, both as a destination for artistic innovation and as a presenter of live performing arts activities that are increasingly available and accessible to all.
A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and a minimum of five years of experience in a significant role in development and fundraising for a nonprofit institution is required for this position. University Musical Society will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to UMS, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of University Musical Society and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.
The target salary for this position is $200,000. University Musical Society and the University of Michigan offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a combined 403(b) and 401(a) retirement plan with employer contribution, and generous paid time off.
UMS is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Marianna DiVietro at mariannadivietro@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
To apply for this position, visit: https://apptrkr.com/7274518.
- Sheriff Simon Leis Liked Art
We know from our research that people love the arts. All kinds of people. Pretty much everyone—provided we talk about it in a way they recognize. I was reminded of this over the weekend when the news came of Simon Leis passing. There are a lot of creative touchpoints to his story. If you aren’t […] - Critics Might Have Hated The Michael Jackson Movie, But It’s Now The Highest-Grossing Biopic Of All Time
The recently released Michael Jackson movie has overtaken Oppenheimer as the highest-grossing biopic of all time, after taking $977m (£739m) at the worldwide box office. – BBC
- The AI Design Aesthetic That’s Taking Over The Internet
As Claude Design catches on among Anthropic users, a generic-design aesthetic is emerging that’s as noticeable as text-based A.I. tics such as overenthusiastic em-dash usage or “not X . . . but Y” constructions. – The New Yorker
- Why You Need To Be A Better Reader
Navigating today’s digital information landscape requires strong critical evaluation skills. Reading plays a central role in this process by serving not only as a means of acquiring information but also of distinguishing credible claims from misinformation. But only a specific kind of reading builds that capacity. The difference is between passive and active reading. – The Conversation
- When Being A Critic Was Glamorous
If you look at these people—literally look at photos or watch footage—you discover that they were either beautiful or charismatic, or both. They all appeared on television. Among fiction writers of that time, maybe Philip Roth had some of that swagger, quick wit, amused air, though he also had a professorial, sweater-wearing side. – The Ideas Letter
- Did Marcel Duchamp Wreck Modern Art?
Duchamp left behind a legacy that people either love or loathe. He is known as the father of conceptual art, but his so-called ideas were mostly idle notions, provocations, speculations. Opinion divides on whether he snuffed out or emancipated art. – The Atlantic
- Restorers Discover How A Rembrandt Painting Was Altered
Layers of overpaint have been removed from a 17th-century painting, confirming that it was painted by Rembrandt and revealing that a turban on one of the figures had been replaced with a traditional Dutch soft cap. – The Guardian
- How Do We Learn To Read Books Again?
I don’t necessarily believe that reading books is going to automatically fix everything in your life or anything. I do think, however, it is kind of a panacea for a lot of the ills and a lot of the struggles that we’ve brought into our life through these tech platforms. – The Atlantic
- Why Are GenZers Flocking To Movie Theatres To Watch Reality TV?
Where binge-watching reality TV used to happen in the secret and safety of your own home, the popularity of “Love Island USA,” and shows like it, are redefining community for millions of viewers. – Washington Post
- Higher Ed Has Lost Public Trust. What To Do?
The reports differ in their diagnoses of where higher education went wrong and, by extension, of what should be done now. But their mere existence proves, if nothing else, that America’s universities have finally gotten the message: People don’t like them very much. – The Atlantic
- How AI Is Reviving Dying Languages
Over the months, as the learning language model is trained on bits of the language — such as an old-age French nursery rhyme — it brings centuries-old dialect closer into the digital age. – The New York Times
