In 2019, the country's right-wing Liberal-National government, encouraged by then-Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (a descendant of survivors), pledged millions of dollars to fund the building or renovation of a Holocaust museum in every capital city, from Darwin to Canberra to Perth to Melbourne and Sydney. - Tablet
A collective called Looty "seeks to give people from former colonies who are unable to travel to the West three-dimensional replicas and knowledge of their stolen treasures. Their aim is to end Western museums' monopoly over the narrative and give the public a more complete picture." - The New York Times
The University of Kentucky upgraded its campus to the tune of $805,000 a day for more than a decade. Its freshmen, who come from one of America’s poorest states, paid an average $18,693 to attend in 2021-22. - The Wall Street Journal
"Germany has seen more than €3.2 million in revenue (US$3.5 million) generated for cultural products, events, and services thanks to the rollout of that market's new KulturPass for 18-year-olds," who get €200 (US$219) to spend on cultural offerings by registering on an app. - Publishing Perspectives
"English teachers in Hillsborough County … (and) school district officials redesigned their instructional guides for teachers because of revised state teaching standards and a new set of state exams that cover a vast array of books and writing styles." - Tampa Bay Times
Researchers say they have created a system that can work out which keys are being pressed on a laptop keyboard with more than 90% accuracy, just based on sound recordings. - The Guardian
While readers see less coverage from traditional outlets, arts critics also find it harder to earn a living in the field. Many have moved from print to the internet, in hopes of finding greener pastures – or at least a more appreciative audience. - Quill
"An unlikely group of artists and activists known as the Art Stays Here Coalition has emerged to combat displacement. The small, all-volunteer group is part of a broader effort including policy makers, developers, advocacy groups, and others to confront ... 2 million square feet of (lost) cultural space." - MSN (The Boston Globe)
In 2020, a global investment firm bought the company that provides ebooks to nearly all libraries in the US, and quite a few in other countries as well. That is not good news for libraries - or their patrons. - Nine Lives
"'To be clear, any A.P. Psychology course taught in Florida will violate either Florida law or college requirements,' the College Board said." Then Florida's homophobes accused the College Board of "playing games with Florida students." - The New York Times
The plea deal avoids jail time. Daniels, "who appeared on some of the world’s leading stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera in London, is one of the most prominent classical stars to face criminal charges during the national #MeToo reckoning." - The New York Times
In a note to members after the so-called meeting, "WGA leaders dampened expectations of a resolution to the strike and expressed skepticism over the AMPTP’s intentions." - Los Angeles Times
With a $2.7 million major investment from the City of Melbourne and a further $1.25 million from the Victorian Government, Now or Never is expected to attract over 200,000 people. Its ambitions are to not only cement itself in Melbourne’s highly saturated festival calendar, but to also become an international festival destination. - ArtsHub
“To speak to the converted or the entirely familiar is not to truly converse,. It is to have one’s beliefs reinforced; it is self-soothing but not self-developing.” - The Wall Street Journal
