ISSUES

The BBC Commissioned A Film About Health Care In Gaza, And Then Refused To Air It

“All these Palestinians told us that they thought the BBC would never run our film, and we really had to try and persuade them to talk to us because they didn’t and don’t trust the BBC.” The journalists were shocked to learn that the sources were correct. - Reveal

The Performing Arts In The UK Aren’t Exactly Friendly To Working Parents

So says a new report, which “criticises the industry for failing to consider how it might adapt to better accommodate parents, with the result that many, in particular women, drop out.” - The Guardian (UK)

How DOGE Used AI In An Attempt To Destroy The Humanities

DOGE employees used ChatGPT to make their choices. “The prompt was simple: ‘Does the following relate at all to D.E.I.? Respond factually in less than 120 characters. Begin with ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’’ The results were sweeping, and sometimes bizarre.” - The New York Times

The Cosplayers Taking Emerald City Comic Con To Task For Its Deep Connections To ICE

“The problem lies in a rotten, corporate family tree,” and the self-described nerds aren’t going to let anyone forget it. For instance, in one panel, “it’ll be much, much more about fascism than a steamy book panel usually would be.” - The Stranger (Seattle)

Grammarly Openly Steals The Work Of Writers Living And Dead

Gross: “Using Grammarly’s ‘Expert Review’ allows an approximation of Stephen King and Neil deGrasse Tyson to nitpick your work. While Tyson has the opportunity to say whether he’d like to be turned into a chatbot, other authors, like Carl Sagan, cannot because they are dead.” - AV Club

Congresswoman Files Suit To Stop Trump From Closing The Kennedy Center

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) on Friday filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to block President Trump from closing the Kennedy Center after he announced last month that it would shut down to allow for renovations. - The Hill

Classic Reconsidered: Hudson’s Bay Coat Gets Historical Reality Check

That vintage striped coat commanding boutique prices? Turns out its colonial baggage is heavier than its wool. Fashion meets reckoning as shoppers discover their thrift store treasure carries more than just warmth. — The Walrus

Mexico Sees Increasing Backlash Against Over-Tourism

“The Guardian visits Oaxaca, ... where tourism has grown 77% since the pandemic and once-private family rituals such as the Day of the Dead are now big international parties. But with this opportunity comes a growing backlash across the country, as local people struggle with a cost-of-living crisis.” (video) - The Guardian

Trump’s “Freedom Truck” Mobile Exhibitions Are Now On The Road

“As the U.S. gears up for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump has dispatched six roving Freedom Truck exhibitions to crisscross the country. The first of 20 planned stops — mainly in the South, with forays to the Midwest, Arizona, and Utah — was last month in Nashville.” - Artnet

LA’s Art Gold Rush Ends, Actual Work Begins

The carpetbaggers have packed their Hermès bags and fled back east. What remains? The unglamorous business of building a real art scene—one gallery lease and artist studio at a time. — Artnet

Supreme Court to AI Art: Sorry, Humans Only

The high court declined to revisit whether algorithms can hold copyright, leaving AI creations in legal limbo. While tech bros rage and traditional artists breathe easier, the real question remains: who profits when creativity gets automated? — Artnet

The Role Of Arts And Culture In Turbulent Times

When the news and social media are flooded with opposing interpretations of events, outright lies, and about a zillion editorial style video shorts that offer about a zillion different opinions, art and culture can bring the reality and humanity of the headlines to light. - Ludwig Van

Downtown L.A.’s Latest, And Smallest, Performance Venue Looks Like An Electrical Box

Indeed, when artist S.C. Mero was installing it in the Arts District, police stopped her, concerned she was ripping out copper wire. Inside, the Electrical Box Theatre is “an impromptu performance space for the sort of experimental artists who no longer have an outlet in downtown's galleries or more refined stages.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)

Should AI Be Used In Grantmaking? If So, How?

Arts-minded folks are likely to hate the idea, but there are pressures which could push toward it: increasing application volumes, limited staff capacity, and mounting expectations for speed and consistency in decision-making (not least from board members). Could grantmakers use AI responsibly? - SMU DataArts

Chicago Launches Plan To Create Loop Arts District

“The district will be supported by nearly 90 Loop arts organizations that will develop the neighborhood as an arts and culture destination. … (It) is also envisioned as a way to stitch together attractions such as Millennium Park and the Chicago Riverwalk.” - Chicago Sun-Times

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