A more assertive Canadian nationalism than any we’ve seen this century has come roaring back, bringing with it not only a renewed patriotism but also an inchoate spirit of nation building with no equivalent in recent memory. - The Walrus
Almost all unanimously say Conservative threats to tear up cultural institutions just as Trump aggressively seeks to recalibrate America’s relationship with Canada, whether through tariffs or other actions, led to culture becoming a real battleground – and it’s a battle the Liberals are winning easily. - Deadline
In dollar terms, last year, the United States sold more educational services to the rest of the world than it sold in natural gas and coal combined.- Washington Post
“Despite a drop in cigarette sales in Cuyahoga County in the first quarter of this year, tax revenue is up, creating more funding for Cuyahoga Arts & Culture” — thanks to the cigarette-tax increase from 30 cents to 70 cents per pack. But this doesn’t mean that grants will double. - Ideastream Public Media (Cleveland)
A visit to the headquarters of Just Born Quality Confections in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where some two billion Peeps are made each year (along with Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike, and Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews). - The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Organizations impacted include Opera Orlando, the Orlando Ballet, and the Orlando Science Center, to name a few. The canceled grants total $200,000 dollars and were earmarked for arts and cultural organizations that provided programming and outreach for patrons with disabilities … (and for) grassroots organizations.” - Central Florida Public Media
“’Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’ he wrote on Truth Social. ‘Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!’” - BBC
Ryan Miller of the band Guster: “We wanted to support the staff who were caught in this political crossfire; the fans who had bought tickets, flights, and hotel rooms; the musicians we would be performing with. … We had been given a microphone and we intended to use it.” - The Atlantic (MSN)
Is it fair to use A.I. to grade student essays, if you’ve prohibited students from using A.I. to write them? School leaders are grappling with these dilemmas as they confront a barrage of marketing claims around how A.I. could “transform,” “personalize” and “accelerate” learning. - The New York Times
A spokesperson wrote that the Obama portrait was simply moved. “Last month, the Trump administration and the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted a portrait to the president. It is unclear whether the portrait now hanging in the White House was a gift from Putin.” - Hyperallergic
“Scholars of racism face a peculiar accusation: that studying racism causes racism. As facile as this criticism is—no one thinks that agriculture professors cause world hunger, or that cardiology professors cause heart attacks—racism scholars know that this sort of ignorant bullying comes with the territory.” - The Atlantic
This is where the N.E.H. and N.E.A. would serve Mr. Trump well: not only correcting “woke” excesses, but also providing an elite counterpart to MAGA’s populist thrust. Expert critics, scholars and artists could ensure that only traditionalist projects are funded. - The New York Times
Communities with greater access to arts organizations have: 33% more volunteers supporting nonprofit organizations, 7% more active voters who are registered and eligible for voting, 3% lower levels of income inequality... - SMUData
