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- Revisiting Mark Twain In The Age Of Trump
Satire makes fun of something to expose its truth in a way that can be notoriously difficult to decode. What is often misread in Twain’s most famous novel is this: he satirically uses racism to ridicule racism. – Adi Magazine
- EU To Cancel Venice Biennale Grant Over Russia Participation
Over the weekend, a European Union commission followed up on its earlier threats to cancel a €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale, citing Russia’s participation in the event this year as its reasoning. – ARTnews
- Trump Admin’s Critique Of The Smithsonian Is Laughably Wrong
Even when judged by the standards of the form, the White House’s anti-woke polemic is a shoddy piece of workmanship not unlike the peeling blue sealant in the $15 million renovation of the Reflecting Pool. – The New Republic
- US Publishers And Authors Sue Google Over Its Training Of AI
“Publisher Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier, as well as author Scott Turow, are the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, … contending that the tech giant has engaged in widespread copyright infringement in developing its Gemini AI models.” – Publishers Weekly
- The Van Cliburn Competition Expanded. Should It Have?
A focus on how well individuals conduct a specific orchestra with limited repertoire at a given moment in time makes little sense to me when I think about what makes a great conductor and how one judges such greatness. – Nightingale’s Sonata
- Silicon Valley’s Science Fiction Problem
Steve Wozniak, Apple’s co-founder, gave expression to this ethos in 2017 when he said: ‘We are the people who make fantasies real.’ It sounds inspiring, but it is important to know which parts of those fantasies they’re choosing, and which parts they’re leaving out. – Aeon
- A Punctuational Divide (We Need To Evolve)
Now that we can react to a friend’s needy text or an enemy’s infuriating post in real time and with minimal reflection, we need reliable substitutes for extraverbal cues more than ever. – The Atlantic
- Wyoming’s Public Television Station To Drop PBS Branding
Said the station’s CEO in a statement, “While we will continue to provide the full suite of PBS programming and member benefits like Passport, we want our local vision to not be limited by a national brand. We are Wyoming’s storyteller first and a member station second.” – Current
- The Paradoxical Problem Of Pernambuco Wood Bows
“The relationship between pernambuco and music is not … environmental overconsumption. It is the primary consumers of this resource, the bow makers, who have tried hardest to conserve the wood. … They have worked to document legal stockpiles and trace provenances of finished bows, and have replanted trees by the millions.” – The New York Times
- Pat Oliphant, One Of US’s Leading Political Cartoonists, Has Died At 90
“Across his six-decade career, he was just as likely to go after D.C. Mayor Marion Barry — whom Mr. Oliphant depicted as an Idi Amin-like, tea-addicted ‘King of Kolumbia’ — as he was President George H.W. Bush, whom he skewered as a purse-carrying wimp and a would-be Lawrence of Arabia.” – The Washington Post (Yahoo!)
- Louvre Jewel Robbery Suspects Say They Were Hired To Steal By Mastermind Client — Who Was “Disappointed”
“The suspects, named locally as Abdoulaye N and Ghelamallah A, claimed they had broken into the Louvre’s Apollo gallery on the orders of a client they refused to name out of fear for their families. … The alleged mastermind … ‘wasn’t happy’ with the outcome. ‘He thought we could have taken more.’” – The Guardian
- Trump Administration Is Keeping Smithsonian Board Seats Vacant, And Nobody Is Saying Much About It
“There have been three openings on the board since April, and by October, the terms of three more trustees will have expired. But the names proposed by the board, which have not been publicly disclosed, have yet to make their way to Congress, and without clear explanation.” – The New York Times
- Ex-COO At Atlanta’s High Museum Of Art Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement
“The U.S. Justice Department said on Monday that former High chief operating officer Brady Lum pleaded guilty to a single charge of felony theft. Prosecutors accused him of stealing more than $600,000 from the museum by doctoring invoices and approving personal purchase transactions.” – Georgia Public Broadcasting
- Strike Averted In London’s West End As UK Equity And Theatres Agree On Actors’ Pay
“The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) has reached a proposed three-year agreement with Equity covering pay and working conditions for performers and stage management working in the West End. The proposed deal runs from April 2026 to April 2029.” – WhatsOnStage (UK)
- Managing Director – Texas Performing Arts via TOC Arts Partners
About the Opportunity
The Managing Director is Texas Performing Arts “number two” leader. The position is responsible for implementing the Executive & Artistic Director’s strategic vision by leading daily operations, providing financial management, and guiding the work of TPA’s operational and administrative teams. The position works closely with colleagues across UT Austin and engages extensively with the university’s centralized systems and policies.
Reporting to the Executive & Artistic Director, the Managing Director oversees the leaders of business operations (finance, human resources, accounting, procurement, and contracting); facilities (including IT and capital projects); production (with departments that serve both presented and produced events); event management (event operations and artist logistics); and guest experience (front of house, parking, and retail).
About Texas Performing Arts
Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin (TPA) is the nation’s largest and most active university-based performing arts center by annual attendance, budget, and number of events. Both an anchor institution in Austin’s arts landscape and a nationally significant presenter, TPA operates venues on the University of Texas at Austin campus including Austin’s largest theater, Bass Concert Hall. Its presenting includes Broadway in Austin; an international season of dance, theater, and music; and the Texas Welcomes series of national touring artists. Education is at the core of TPA’s programs, which serve more than 30,000 K-12 students and the 55,000 students of UT Austin.
http://texasperformingarts.org/
About Austin
Texas Performing Arts is located in Austin, the capital of Texas. Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin is known for its incredible arts and music scene, with over 250 live music venues throughout the city. Along with the bustling entertainment, Austin is also home to a vibrant food scene including Michelin-starred Tex-Mex and barbecue. For those who enjoy the outdoors, Austin offers a variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, kayaking, and swimming in the numerous parks and trails. Dedicated sports fans cheer on the Texas Longhorns championship teams, enjoy F1 racing at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, or attend Austin FC’s Major League Soccer matches. The world comes to Austin for annual events such as South by Southwest and the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
More information about Austin: https://austinrelocationguide.com/
Job Description
Responsibilities
- Internal Leadership: Provide high-level leadership to the heads of Business Operations, Guest Experience, Production, Fabrication & Academic Production, Human Resources, Facilities, and Event Management. Support these areas in understanding TPA’s priorities, setting aligned goals for their areas, and meeting or exceeding those goals. Develop and implement strategies that align TPA’s needs and ambitions with people, processes, and systems. Provide high-level thinking in parallel with attention to detail. Lead organization-wide, cross-functional teams on key initiatives. Facilitate effective and timely interdepartmental coordination. Demonstrate authenticity, emotional intelligence, and effective communications to guide and motivate TPA’s entire staff through clear and composed action. (30%)
- External Leadership: Build and sustain strong relationships with TPA’s university and industry partners. Serve as a trusted and respected leader at the university and within the field. Participate in reporting to and planning with TPA’s Leadership Board. Serve as a proxy for the Executive Director when needed and as a public face of the organization when assigned. (10%)
- Fiscal Management: Provide financial planning and management that sustains and increases TPA’s fiscal health on both an annual and long-term basis. Provide financial insight and analysis to the Executive Director and other senior leaders. Oversee the business operation team’s budget development, management, and reporting. Supervise management of the balance sheet. Maintain and continuously enhance financial systems to meet the needs of all users. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of and ensure compliance with university financial policies and procedures. (30%)
- Operations: Create operational excellence, discipline, and coordination across the organization. Lead organizational operations to ensure the effectiveness of TPA’s programs. Create and apply entrepreneurial and solution-oriented approaches to carrying out TPA’s programs within a complex business environment. Operationalize TPA’s strategic and programmatic plans. Provide operational insight and analysis to the Executive Director and other senior leaders. Develop comprehensive knowledge of and ensure compliance with university operating policies and procedures. (30%)
- Consistently advance Texas Performing Arts’ goals of expansive and innovative programming, educational impact, and world-class facilities & experiences across all defined responsibilities and other duties as assigned. This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described.
Required Qualification
- At least ten years of increasingly responsible experience in the arts, entertainment, education, or not-for-profit sectors.
- Demonstrated success utilizing administrative, financial, and operational skills to achieve impactful results in a mission-driven organization.
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems within standardized policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated experience with an organizationally significant number of direct reports in different functional areas, including recruiting, developing, managing, and retaining high-performing team members.
- Demonstrated leadership presence that inspires others to achieve a shared vision through exceptional written and spoken communication skills; authenticity; confidence and composure; and emotional intelligence.
Preferred Qualifications
- Fluency in the interrelated aspects of performing arts center operation, including programming, development, education & engagement, operations, ticketing, marketing & communications, guest experience, and production.
- General manager, managing director, or COO/CFO experience in a performing arts center, performing arts organization, theatrical production, or live event organization.
- Current understanding of the state of the performing arts and education sectors, including present and future opportunities and challenges.
- Experience in a public or large-scale organization such as an institution of higher education or municipally owned venue.
- Familiarity with databases, dashboards, and reporting tools applicable to cash and accrual accounting systems.
- Demonstrated fluency in the use of current technology and commitment to adopting new technology.
- Strong interest in and passion for TPA’s purpose, values, vision and programs.
- Relevant professional education or credentials.
Compensation
- The salary for this position is $150,000 + depending on qualifications and experience. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package, including but not limited to:
- Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
- Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
- Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs:
- Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred
- Compensation program 457(b)
- Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
- Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
For more details, please see:
https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-totaWorking Conditions
- This position is based in Austin, Texas and requires residence in the greater Austin area. The work location is 100% on-site at Texas Performing Arts.
- Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
- Prolonged screen time
- Use of manual dexterity
Work Shift
Evening, weekend, and holiday work, including “on-call” times, are regularly required in connection with performances. Working shifts may include extended daily hours in connection with performances and events. Work will exceed 40 hours per week at peak times. A compensatory time program is provided.
Application Instructions
The search for the Managing Director at Texas Performing Arts is being supported by TOC Arts Partners, a New York-based executive search and consulting firm specializing in the arts and culture industries. Cynthia Fuhrman, Vice President/Executive Search, is leading the search process for TOC Arts.
If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with a range of workplace experience and backgrounds in the performing arts or non-profit space. So, whether you’re returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.
Applications are to be submitted via the University of Texas at this link. Please include:
- A letter of interest; please use this letter to tell us about what you hope to bring to this role, and how your background and experience responds to the desired skills and qualities.
- A current Resume/CV
- 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior consultation with the candidate.
- Work samples may be requested if the applicant advances to the interview stage
For best consideration, please apply by Friday, July 24. While we will still accept and consider applications received after this date, we encourage you to apply as early as possible for the best chance of being considered for the position. Please note that meeting the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview. No phone calls, please.
From the University
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I- 9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
E-Verify:
- The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
- E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
- E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
- Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
- Right To Work Poster.(Spanish)[PDF]
Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified as Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
Required Materials
- Cover letter detailing interest in and qualifications for this specific opportunity.
- Resume
- 3 professional references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior approval of the candidate.
- Work samples may be requested if applicant advances to the interview stage.
- Yo-Yo Ma Plays the Drainage Ditch
Good Morning,
Yo-Yo Ma is among the musicians turning the Los Angeles River — neglected, trashed, half-restored — into an impromptu concert stage (Los Angeles Times). And in Oakland, a nonreligious choir is packing a church with people who just want to sing together (San Francisco Chronicle).
The ownership end of culture had a busier day. Twelve states sued to block Paramount’s $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. (The New York Times), while Netflix — struggling to keep viewers hooked — is in talks to buy Letterboxd, a community movie lovers built for themselves (The Guardian). Ask Goodreads how that goes.
And the recording industry proposed voluntary labels distinguishing “AI-generated” from “AI-assisted” tracks (Deadline). Attribution is the right instinct.
Sam Neill, who spent five decades making decency magnetic on screen, died at 78 (The New York Times).
All of our stories below.
- Is It Really Possible To Map The Odyssey?
The ancient Greek polymath Eratosthenes, who was the first person to measure the circumference of the Earth, disputed that the Odyssey had anything to do with geography. He said: “You will find the scene of the wanderings of Odysseus when you find the cobbler who sewed up the bag of the winds.” – The Conversation
- The Fault Lines Of PEN America’s Support Of Free Speech
PEN America currently sits on a widening fault line, one that divides old-school liberalism, which treats the right to speak as more important than any particular ideology, from a surging and fiercely ideological left that sees Israel and Zionism as its enemy. – The Atlantic
- Survey: Americans Support AI Companies Transferring Half Their Stock To A Public Fund
According to a new national survey of 1,690 adults from research firm Verasight, 69% said they support “forcing” AI firms to transfer half their stock to a public sovereign wealth fund that would, in theory, pour AI profits back into the economy and even provide direct payments to Americans. – Fast Company
- Music Industry Proposes Labels For AI-Use
The labels are simple icons that distinguish between those that are “AI-generated” and “AI-assisted,” but they are designed to be adopted by digital music services, distributors and others. The track labeling is voluntary. – Deadline
- Danny Elfman: What Classical Music Is Missing
“In too much classical modern contemporary music, there’s just sound,” he said. “Nothing sticks. You’re not giving the audience anything to hold on to. It’s just a lot of sound, a lot of orchestration.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Netflix Considering Adding Live Channels
To bolster engagement, executives at the company have recently discussed adding live channels that would continuously stream certain programs, or shows and films from a certain genre, according to people familiar with the matter. – The Wall Street Journal
- 12 US States Sue To Challenge Paramount/Warner Deal
A coalition of 12 Democratic states including California, New York and Washington filed a lawsuit Monday to block Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the most serious legal challenge to date for one of the biggest media deals in history. – The New York Times
- How The University Of North Texas Censored An Art Exhibition
Initially, the administrators discussed removing some of the pieces from the show. But then the provost texted that he wanted to take down the entire exhibition instead. Michael McPherson wrote, “I think it’ll be easier to manage any barking from our friends in Austin.” – NPR
- The Private Concierges Of Rome (Culture On Demand)
The secret to the company’s success lies in its network of “partners”—museums and churches and palazzi, but also artists and photographers and scholars. Each has something special to offer if they can be persuaded to provide it. – The Atlantic
- Yo-Yo Ma Is Just One Of Many Musicians Performing Along The Los Angeles River These Days
The river has “been neglected, trashed and often forgotten over time, myriad governmental and nonprofit groups have been working for years to restore habitat. … And recently, creatives and activists, who dream of transforming it into a hospitable greenway, have been hosting arts events.” – Los Angeles Times (MSN)
- Sam Neill, Beloved New Zealand Actor Known For Jurassic Park And The Piano, Has Died At 78
The actor was a warm internet presence and a proud producer of wine from his vineyard. “At 11, he changed his name to Sam, taking inspiration from characters in Western movies. It was, he added, ‘probably the best decision I made in my life.’” – The New York Times
- At Long Last, John Constable’s Most Famous Painting Is On View In Suffolk
“The famous work depicts a rural scene near the River Stour in Flatford, but it was actually painted in Constable’s London studio.” – BBC
- Learning How To Fake-Punch, Fake-Fall, And Fake-Go Up In Flames, On Camera
“The best side of a stunt always has to face the lens: The trajectory of a feigned punch, a few degrees off, can look fake to viewers.” – The New York Times
- Why Debates Over Free Speech Can Lead To So Much Fury
“The free speech wars of recent years are not just about rules – they’re about what it means to be a good person.” – The Guardian (UK)
- This Nonreligious Choir Draws Crowds In The Bay Area
Big crowds for a church venue, anyway – and a lot of participants. “The choir is full of these intense, amazing, freaky, kooky people, and the community that I’ve been able to fall into and build has just been a game changer.” – San Francisco Chronicle
- California Places A New Cap On Film And TV Tax Credits, Freaking Out State Lawmakers
The state legislators “are calling for Gov. Gavin Newsom to exempt the state’s film and TV production incentive program from a recently approved cap on corporate tax credits.” – Los Angeles Times (MSN)
- It Was Probably Way Too Early For A Live-Action Moana, And The Box Office Reflects That Problem
“On average, Disney has waited 27 years before remaking one of its animated classics as a live-action movie.” Just one problem: They’re out of animated classics to remake. – The New York Times
- Reconsidering An English Artist Who Painted The Working-Class
A painter from Manchester, who focused on the working class, isn’t necessarily what Londoners think. “What we’re hoping to do is actually to bust a few myths. … [LS Lowry] wasn’t just an industrial painter. He certainly wasn’t naive or isolated.” – The Guardian (UK)
- The Question Remains
Can genAI art or writing ever, ever be more than mid? – Glasstire