The initial versions of characters Popeye and Tintin (though not yet their most famous versions) are becoming available, as are key novels by Faulkner, Hemingway and Steinbeck; early sound films by Hitchcock, De Mille, and the Marx brothers; and hit songs by Cole Porter and Fats Waller. - AP
“Wicked” went even bigger, teaming up with over 400 brands to ensure a saturation that would be, in the words of Universal Pictures’ chief marketing officer, Michael Moses, “just short of obnoxious.” It’s just the latest example of how the culture industry has come to rely on collaborations. - The New York Times
Since Meloni came to power more than two years ago, there has been debate in Italy over whether her government is meddling in the cultural sphere. Some observers say that Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party is elbowing for cultural space to make up for decades on the outskirts of political power. - The New York Times
"The Walt Disney Co. has reached a California-record $233 million settlement with Disneyland workers over a 2019 class-action wage theft lawsuit. The settlement will provide back pay to workers at the Anaheim theme park, with interest dating back to the start of 2019," - TheWrap (Yahoo!)
Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas, slapped a $3 million estimate on the slippers. Pre-sale bidding had taken the price up to $1.55 million before fierce phone bidding propelled it to $10 million within three minutes. - ARTnews
As usual, the annual index lists the top 20 large cities, top 10 medium-sized and top 10 small communities. Because the numbers crunched are per-capita figures and are adjusted for cost of living, some individual rankings might be surprising (e.g., Minneapolis-St. Paul and Nashville ahead of Chicago and Los Angeles). - SMU DataArts
Data found that during the 29 dates the initial €5 access fee was in force in 2024, Venice received on average 7,000 more visitors compared to the same days of the previous year. With a population of fewer than 50,000 residents, the city receives around 40,000 tourists a day. - The Art Newspaper
"A £191 million funding package to support critical repairs and upgrades at (the arts complex) were approved on Thursday … (by) the City of London Corporation." The grant is about 80% of what's needed for the project; fundraising for the rest begins next year, with construction to start in 2027. - The Standard (London)
What might appear to be a superficial spat over sweaters and hairstyles could actually be a legal fight that gets at the heart of social media influence. As much as platforms like TikTok and Instagram may seem like free-for-alls, lifestyle influencers exist in an ecosystem that prizes homogeneity. - The New York Times
For context, 4Culture usually sends out about $10 million to $15 million per year. With Doors Open, the agency’s 2025 grants are increasing to $70.1 million across 720 organizations. - Seattle Times
"The city agency (Metro Arts) is behind schedule because it’s still recovering from last year’s chaotic funding cycle. … This year, (there's) a much smaller pool of money to distribute: $3.2 million, down from over $7 million last year. And this year’s applicant pool is larger than last year’s record high." - WPLN (Nashville)
The 1911 Wright Model B was flown, recklessly and repeatedly, around the skies over Philadelphia by brewery heir Grover Cleveland Bergdoll. In 1935, after he fled to Germany, the plane went on display at the Institute. Now Bergdoll's daughter and granddaughter claim the museum stole the plane. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
Lately, “new Berlin” has become shorthand for an under-visited European city that is cheap, fun, and up-and-coming. Ever since creeping gentrification and a massive rise in tourism have thrown into question the German capital’s status of the world’s “coolest” city, people have been racing to determine its successor. - The New Republic
The regional government for Berlin intends to cut its cultural budget by 12%, and other state and municipal governments are similarly strapped. The German federal government is holding back as well, and with the coalition government just having collapsed, there's no budget for 2025 at all yet. What can arts managers there expect? - Deutsche Welle
