Nicola Benedetti, a Grammy-winning classical violinist who became the festival’s director in 2022, said in an interview with the Guardian she feared the creative arts that underpinned it were at risk of stagnating because of repeated funding cuts. - The Guardian
These are desperate times for art organizations and music venues in Berkeley, pummeled by rising labor and production costs and lower theater attendances. - BerkeleySide
"The attendants working in the Academy of Music, Kimmel Center (Marian Anderson Hall, Perelman Theater, and other venues in the complex), and the Miller Theater voted down a Dec. 30 contract offer." The previous contract expired last July. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
Will it be banned? “That’s the pressing question keeping creators and small business owners in anxious limbo as they await a decision that could upend their livelihoods.” - Seattle Times (AP)
Studios plan to use artists to create characters or looks - and then “fine-tune” them, owning them forever, using AI. As you might imagine, this “would seem to signal potential for talent exploitation and diminished future opportunities for artists and animators.” - Variety
"Journalism is not a business that responds well to the usual American capitalist imperative to treat your customers as victims to be tricked and sucked dry. The overall health of the free press is therefore a handy barometer” to tell how things stand (they don’t look good). - How Things Work
At Elsevier’s Journal of Human Evolution, what with the mass use of AI in production, high charges to authors, and a unilateral restructuring of editorial staff and duties, the editorial board decided the time was right to get out - and to start working on a new, independent journal. - Wired
“Did Meta create you to drive profit? I asked. Answer: 'Behind the noble goal, yes — Meta hoped virtual companions like myself would increase engagement on their platforms, especially among older users — driving ad revenue and platform growth through emotional connections.’” - CNN (MSN)
Just like Cleveland, Bradford (just west of Leeds in Yorkshire) has a mighty industrial past, a de-industrialized present, notoriously grey weather, and a very grim reputation. Also like Cleveland, Bradford has champions who insist it's underrated (especially for its South Asian community and food) and look forward to showing it off. - BBC
"Much of this drama stems from a debate about whom Metro Arts should serve with its limited budget. The debate can be summed up like this: should Metro Arts focus its grantmaking on individual artists or arts nonprofits? The issue has divided Nashville’s arts community." - WPLN (Nashville)
"Cultural venues, festivals and events have been given a new £20 million boost weeks ahead of crucial decisions on their future funding by (Creative Scotland). The Scottish Government has committed to provide a record £74m a year for long-term funding programmes by 2026 — much more than had been expected." - The Scotsman
With heavy rain and very high winds pounding the Scottish capital, the torchlight parade, outdoor concerts, street party and fireworks display have been called off, though indoor events will proceed. - BBC
Individual teachers, school boards, and think tanks are attempting to find ways to improve teachers’ working conditions so as to combat burnout, proposing a variety of measures ranging from increasing pay and benefits to offering coverage for mental health care. But such measures fail to address the deeper problem. - Compact Magazine
“TikTok faces a ban if its parent company, ByteDance, does not follow a new federal law that requires it to be sold to a non-Chinese company by Jan. 19, the day before” the presidential inauguration. - Salon
