Olivia Swarthout is the researcher behind the popular art history-inspired social media account Weird Medieval Guys, which has attracted nearly 700,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter, since she began posting with the handle @WeirdMedieval in April 2022. - CNN
“We thought, 'What’s the point in us existing in perpetuity and just trickling out funds while saying no to more communities when we knew we could have a greater impact by allocating our resources at an accelerated rate.'” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
After Izvestiya reported this story two weeks ago, both Gergiev himself and outgoing director Vladimir Urin backed away from it, though without an outright denial. But Urin announced his departure to colleagues last night, and the government announced that Gergiev has been appointed for a five-year term. - The Guardian
Hunter College has agreed to reschedule a screening of a documentary critical of Israel, following an outcry from faculty members and students who claimed that the administration’s earlier decision to cancel it violated academic freedom. - The New York Times
The law, which passed earlier this year via a majority Republican Legislature, forbids "any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation" in grades K-6. - Axios
As the CEO of the San Diego-based nonprofit newsroom inewsource says, "People want to ‘see’ more in the news, as is evidenced by the growing audiences on social media sites like Instagram. The allure — and mandate — of visuals inspired us to hire (two-time Pulitzer winner) Steve (Breen)." - Nieman Lab
Historic religious sites, museums, and archaeological sites have been destroyed, the report says, noting that Gaza has been a cultural hub for every civilization that has conquered the region, from Egypt in the early 15th century BCE, to the Greeks under Alexander the Great, to the Roman and Byzantine Empires. - ARTnews
"The historians want Ukraine’s history to take its place among a wealth of global stories – from the part it played in the history of the ancient Greeks who founded trading emporia on the Black Sea to its connections with Byzantium and the Vikings who ruled Kyivan Rus." - The Guardian
A gesture, a tear, or just silence may be more eloquent than words. It is this ‘beyond’ in our imperfect communications, that hint at what art can do. Art aspires to a more perfect communication: one that takes us beyond the confines of the lonely self. - 3 Quarks Daily
While the Romans clearly engaged in acts that we today consider gay or straight sex, they would not recognise the sexual orientations we associate with them. The ancient Romans did not share the same conceptions of sexuality that we do. - The Conversation
At a time when more Americans feel stressed, face mental health challenges, and feel more disconnected from each other than ever before, the arts can serve as a unifier and a touchstone for our humanity, directly impacting our individual and collective well-being. - American Theatre
According to the BBC, the decision was made after Mr. Mitsotakis, appearing on British television on Sunday, called for the marbles, which include statues of Greek gods and carved frieze panels that once decorated the Parthenon, to be returned to Athens. - The New York Times
"A decline in subscription rates, shockingly higher costs, and donations that haven't kept pace with inflation have thrown some arts organizations off-balance and spiraled others into crisis. Museums, music and dance venues have bounced back faster. Theaters struggled, perhaps due to the expense and complexity of staging." - Crain's Chicago Business
"Even residents are wary of the city’s ongoing crime surge. Barely half (53%) of Cook County residents feel safe spending time in downtown Chicago (according to a Harris poll). If locals feel unsafe in their own city, how can we expect out-of-town visitors to feel comfortable?" - Crain's Chicago Business
"The local vendors that supply productions with the furniture, equipment, decorations and other items they need to dress a film or TV set were among the hardest hit during the work stoppages, just as they were bouncing back" from COVID shutdowns. - Los Angeles Times
