“There’s been a lot of conversation about a false doom narrative … surrounding our city’s art scene. I counter that assertion. I want to point out that our scene is, in fact, thriving.” - ARTnews
I’ve set out to perform the annual ritual of assessing and unpacking the year gone by through the objects that captured our attention. Here, then, is the year in objects—the good, the unsettling, and the hard to explain.
"From financial challenges and workforce dynamics to measures of arts vibrancy, these findings capture the trends and key shifts shaping the field today. For a broader perspective, we’ve also included a few honorable mentions, offering a well-rounded look at this year’s discoveries." - SMU DataArts
For all they like to talk about the “enrichment” that diversity brings, pro-immigration liberalism in Britain often insists on a studied lack of curiosity or observancy about either the individuals or their cultures; or the new cultures that emerge as they mix in our cities. - The Critic
One of the wellsprings of the English canon is, of course, classical literature. Where does this start? With Homer, who, if he existed, was a blind poet born on the shores of Asia Minor. The Iliad: battles between Mediterranean warlords and an Asiatic king with many children, and intense love between two male warriors. - The Critic
MrBeast says on the podcast that he worked with the Egyptian government to get access to the historic site. “I’ve never been inside of it,” he says. “I want to just find secrets and go through all the rooms and the tombs and that kind of stuff.” - Fast Company
"Writers, publishers, musicians, photographers, movie producers and newspapers have rejected the Labour government’s plan to create a copyright exemption to help artificial intelligence companies train their algorithms." - The Guardian
"The Cour des Comptes has found several faults with France’s Culture Pass, which gives 18-year-olds €300 to spend on just about any cultural activity or product they wish over two years. The scheme has seen 'its spending soar, does not meet its social objectives and needs governance reform.'" - The Bookseller (UK)
Decades-old copyright legislation varies by region but is generally too outdated to be reliably applied to the new challenges presented by generative A.I. This has left both A.I. developers and artists in a state of uncertainty. - Artnet
Under the proposals, tech companies will be allowed to freely use copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence models unless creative professionals and companies opt out of the process. - The Guardian
Margaret Hodge, who was minister of culture under previous Labour PM Gordon Brown, will lead the review of Arts Council England, the government funding body. The focus will be on underserved regions, this after culture minister Lisa Nandy described some areas of England as "cultural deserts." - The Guardian
"Consuming culture is good for your health and wellbeing – and generates £8bn a year worth of improvements in people’s quality of life and higher productivity. That is the conclusion of the first major UK research to quantify the impact the arts and heritage can have on physical and mental health." - The Guardian
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
