ISSUES

Preservationists Sue To Block Trump’s “National Garden Of American Heroes”

“Congress has made clear that the National Mall is … not a personal sandbox for each President to renovate however he likes,” argues the lawsuit. “To that end, Congress has decreed that no new ‘commemorative work’ shall be located within ‘the great cross-axis of the Mall’.” - USA Today

Federal Court Orders Kennedy Center To Make A Plan For Staying Open And Offering Programming

“Judge Christopher R. Cooper of Federal District Court in Washington asked for a status report from the Kennedy Center that would include plans for ‘public access and ongoing programming, activities and operations’ should the center stay open past July 4, which the president proposed as a closing date.” - The New York Times

A Professor Despairs Of What AI Reveals About Students

There will always be idealistic, ink-stained people who want to devote their lives to scholarly pursuits—their role to inspire young people to love ideas as they do. But this transfer, more than anything else in the academy, has been increasingly blocked by A.I. in the classroom. - The New Yorker

What We Learned About How To Celebrate A Divided America’s Birthday From The Bicentennial

Philadelphia, as the cradle of American independence, was supposed to be the center of attention 50 years ago. From the beginning, deliberations involved arguably the most important architect of the late 20th century, Louis I. Kahn. - Architecture and the City

Kennedy Center Establishes A New Endowment, One Named After Donald Trump

“(Its) establishment comes less than two weeks after a judge ruled the Kennedy Center's board acted unlawfully in adding the president's name. … A source with knowledge of the plans for the endowment” — called the Trump Kennedy Center Fund — “suggested it will focus on the ‘physical disrepair’ of the building.” - CBS News

The Kennedy Center Sign Is Restored. But There’s A Bigger Issue

My biggest concern is that the Kennedy Center will remain nominally open—as in, I’ll be free to walk through the doors and perhaps buy a coffee at the cafe—but there will be few, or even no, performances to see. - Washingtonian

What The Kennedy Center Might Have Been

Imagine a scenario in which Bernstein and the Kennedys — John and Jackie both — bequeathed a proactive White House arts component prioritizing American achievement, past and present. It would have shaped the goals of the envisioned national cultural center. It almost happened. - ArtsFuse

They Just Had To Take That Man’s Name Off The Kennedy Center From Behind A Curtain

After blowing the deadline and begging for more time - and being denied - workers took Donald J. Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center on Friday night. But “a spokeswoman for the center, said the institution was … evaluating ‘legal options.’” - The New York Times

Kennedy Center As De-Trumpification Warning

Trump’s threat to walk away from the Kennedy Center suggests an additional danger: He could lose interest and doze off, as if at yet another Cabinet meeting or NBA Finals game, leaving parts of the government to fend for themselves. - The Atlantic

Trump Kennedy Center Board Appeals Judge’s Order On Removing Trump’s Name

The board voted Thursday to seek a stay of U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper's May 29 ruling that said Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center. - NPR

International African-American Museum Institutes Rolling Furloughs For All Employees

Just under three years after opening, the museum on Charleston’s waterfront is facing financial troubles severe enough that all staffers, including senior executives, are taking mandatory 20-day unpaid furloughs on a staggered schedule from July through December. The IAAM will remain open throughout this period. - WCIV (Charleston)

Demand For Workers With Creative Skills Is Growing

Nearly 50% of employers are looking to expand their workforce in the next three to five years. Video games, music, design and fashion were particularly expecting to grow over that time. - The Conversation

San Diego Mayor’s Budget Eliminates Arts Funding. This New Plan Restores Over 90% Of It.

The plan from City Council members and the Prebys Foundation will have the nonprofit provide $3 million in one-time replacement money, while the city shifts $6 million of hotel occupancy tax money from renovation of the Convention Center to fund arts and culture. - KPBS (San Diego)

Pennsylvania Reverses Decision Not To Fund Smallest Arts Organizations

“Last year, the (Pennsylvania Council on the Arts) renamed itself Pennsylvania Creative Industries and reorganized its funding criteria, making organizations with budgets under $100,000 ineligible for grants. … (Last Thursday) the council approved a new program called Spotlight, which makes state funding available to organizations with budgets between $10,000 and $100,000.” - WHYY (Philadelphia)

California Universities Abandoned The SAT. It’s Been A Disaster

A huge share of STEM and economics faculty across the UC system is now in open revolt—demanding that California’s public universities at least look at standardized-test scores before offering admission. - The Atlantic

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