"The findings … will likely surprise no one as they reflect the 'mixed picture' of the broader economic outlook. So, while there are many more new projects that have been completed or that lie ahead, spending on newly announced projects is lower, amid broader belt-tightening in the arts world." - Artnet
The State Department introduced 11 global music ambassadors who are charged with bridging cultural divides through poetry and melody at a time when the chasm separating Americans from each other and their neighbors abroad seems wider than ever. - Washington Post (MSN)
"Gradually, then all at once, the NDA became enmeshed in every part of our lives. … No one can say how many are signed every day because NDAs often prohibit even the acknowledgment of their existence, but lawyers attest that (it) is now one of the most commonly signed contracts." - The Cut
Our current system of grading reinforces practices set in a time far different from that of the present, with different values and ideas. As knowledge becomes exponentially more important over time, the way we teach it needs to change. - 3 Quarks Daily
The first budget proposal the governor made suggested a 58% cut to California’s state arts programs. Among those cuts is a $10 million reduction from $26 million to $16 million to the California Arts Council (CAC), the state agency that supports local arts infrastructure. - CultureOC
DeSantis said the cause was Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, which he characterized as being overtly “sexual” and therefore an inappropriate recipient of state funds. While it’s unclear if the Orlando festival was slated to receive any money from the grants, the state of Florida awards money for cultural projects based on a ranked list. - ARTnews
Thangam Debbonaire, 57 — a former professional cellist who danced at raves in her college days and has lines of poetry tattooed on her forearm — was in charge of developing Labour’s election promises on the arts. Those include more art, drama and music classes in schools, and a crackdown on ticket scalping. - The New York Times
"First of all, the legislature had already reduced the budget from $60 million to $30 million. But $30 million in the budget of the state represents 0.03 percent. So it's negligible for the state economy, for the budget, but it makes a huge impact for (the arts programs). - CBS News
At the Gardner, it’s not easy to meet the city’s climate goals: “The building is strictly governed by Stewart Gardner’s will, which requires each gallery to remain exactly as it was at the time of her death.” - Boston Globe (MSN)
The 87-year-old actor, whose voiceover narrations are popular among a movie crowd trained on March of the Penguins, also thanked his fans for calling out AI fakes on TikTok. - Variety
“An open source approach, perhaps with the micropayment system Polosukhin envisions, might provide a way to resolve the tough intellectual property crisis that AI has triggered.” - Wired
Iowa’s censorship law has been suspended under appeal. And while there is no list “designated for schools to determine whether or not materials are in compliance with the law, Salmon has used state letterhead to inform some districts that there is” - a Moms for Liberty list. - Book Riot
Just a portion of the issues: “The library’s public computers have been unavailable for a month. So have its public Wi-Fi networks. Books are being checked out by spreadsheet. And librarians are asking patrons to not return books.” - Seattle Times
“Because of social media and dating apps, our generation has been spoon-fed in a lot of ways when it comes to meeting people. We’re realizing dating apps aren’t it, but there’s also a bit of shyness when it comes to, ‘OK, I deleted the app, but how do I even approach someone in person?’” - Bloomberg
These counties are all in the top 5% of SMU Data Arts' Arts Vibrancy Index, and all are classified as rural by the US Census Bureau. Among the characteristics many of these counties share are tourism destinations and wealthy residents (heading the list is Nantucket, Massachusetts). - SMU Data Arts
