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Artist Sells Eggs From Her Ovaries As NFTs

"Armenian artist Narine Arakelian, 42, says her first NFT will be a painting entitled Live – which will include an embedded contract promising one of her eggs to the buyer. … She fully expects the person who buys the NFT to conceive a child from her egg." - Page Six

Now That They’ve Done It, Should Book Fairs Be Virtual?

While fairs give you the opportunity to bring your books to the attention of editors and scouts, they are also overwhelmed with choice, so “in-person access” to get to know their tastes for future reference, as well as learn about the markets, can be key. - ArtsHub

Belarus Free Theatre Forced To Flee Homeland

While co-founders Natalia Kaliada and Nikolai Khalezin had to leave Belarus in 2011 and are settled in London, other members of the company continued to clandestinely stage political dramas in Minsk and other cities — until this latest crisis and crackdown. - The Guardian

Yes, Your Sense Of Wellbeing Comes From Your Gut

Everything changes around you, but your internal organs are always there, always broadcasting signals to the brain, always playing their thorough bass in the grand music of life. - Psyche

A Dance School Flourishes In Africa’s Largest Slum

The Kibera district of Nairobi is home to 250,000 people, most in extreme poverty. Michael Wamaya, a Kibera native, returned home from Europe in 2008 and began offering dance lessons to vulnerable children; by 2017, he was able to open a dance academy called Project Emilu. - Euronews

“Nutcracker” Is So Yesterday. Meet “Graham Cracker”

In this version, Clara tries to get her hands on a coveted s’more during a holiday bonfire. She successfully sneaks one away, soon slipping into a sugar-induced hallucination, where the love between chocolate and marshmallow is forbidden, for their clans have been enemies for years. - WPFL

Banksy To Help Turn Prison Where Oscar Wilde Was Held Into Arts Center

"Banksy has emerged as a possible white knight in a long-unrealized plan to transform the vacant prison where Oscar Wilde was once held into an art center. Reading Gaol has been up for sale since 2019 and, without a better offer, could potentially be turned into apartments." - Artnet

Spotify Removes Hundreds Of Comedians Over Royalties Dispute

The conflict is with the rights agency Spoken Giants, which is trying to get Spotify to pay comics for their writing the same way it pays songwriters for songs. The affected artists include such powerhouses as John Mulaney, Tiffany Haddish, and even Robin Williams. - CNN

Persian Gulf Countries Ban Spielberg’s “West Side Story”

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait wouldn't clear the film for release at all; Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE demanded cuts Disney refused to make. The objections are reportedly to the character Anybodys, the young tomboy in the original film, this time more explicitly transgender. - The Hollywood Reporter

Hedge Fund Billionaire Turns Over $70 Million Of Looted Antiquities

Michael Steinhardt gave up for repatriation 180 objects that he had purchased from dealers over the years. In exchange for his cooperation, including never again purchasing antiquities, authorities agreed not to prosecute. - The New York Times

Promising Young African-American Conductor Lands Two Major European Posts

Ryan Bancroft, a 32-year-old Californian, led his first concert as chief conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Proms this past summer, and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic has just appointed him to succeed Sakari Oramo as chief conductor as of 2023-24. - BBC Music Magazine

Another Politicized Museum Appointment Has Poland’s Art Community Furious Again

"In a move that has been roundly criticized by members of the Polish art community, the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw announced that its new director would be Janusz Janowski, a painter and musician who has never before run an art museum." - ARTnews

Italy Bars From Arts Venues Anyone Without A “COVID Super Green Pass”

"The pass shows proof of vaccination, or recovery from the virus within the last six months. It will be needed to enter theatres, cinemas, music venues, sports events, restaurants and bars until (at least) mid-January." - BBC

Genre-Bending Opera Wins $100,000 Grawemeyer Award

The work — a subversive blurring of genre, time and politics reflecting on how little has changed over the centuries, yet how much change is possible — jolted the generally conservative Vienna State Opera. - The New York Times

How Crowdfunding Is Helping Indie Bookstores

“There’s been a groundswell of support for indie bookshops. I’m very open and honest online about what it is like to run a bookshop and going through the pandemic, and I think they feel a little bit of ownership. They feel part of a community, and that community has helped us.”- The Guardian

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