Stories

House Republicans Demand Details Of Smithsonian Museum Curation

“The Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency is concerned that the Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) does not properly review proposed exhibits in its museums,” says a letter to outgoing Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch III, penned by subcommittee chairman Tim Burchett of Tennessee along with Georgia’s Brian Jack. - ARTnews

The Shockingly Fantastic Imagery Of The Met’s New “Lincoln” Opera

At a moment when film or TV versions of novels often end up, at best, as decent airplane watches, opera, as the excellent Lincoln in the Bardo illustrates, has the potential to create something bolder and more bizarre. - The Atlantic

The Kennedy Center’s Perplexing Choice Of Architect For $257M Renovations

The firm — which employs just 50 people, including eight architects, according to an industry database — generally does work that is a fraction of the scale and expense of the job. One if its most ambitious projects, according to its online portfolio, was a high school renovation completed in 2016 that cost about $40 million. - Washington Post

Meet The People Who Choose The Poems In New York Subway Cars

Anyone who has taken the subway has likely come across Poetry in Motion, which pairs poems with artwork. … Tina Vaz, the head of the MTA’s Arts & Design team, and Matt Brogan, the executive director of the Poetry Society of America, are the big decision makers behind the Poetry in Motion program. - Literary Hub

Inside The Books Of The Mega-Galleries

Even for the biggest blue-chip galleries, selling art is a tough business. - Artnet

$6.5M Donation To Phoenix Symphony In Jeopardy

A new $6.5 million donation to the financially troubled Phoenix Symphony is in legal jeopardy after the orchestra announced last week it would suspend its season. - Arizona Republic

Northern Arkansas Has Become A Cultural Destination. The Culture Is Changing

Bentonville’s population has nearly doubled. The town is bursting with new activity: award-winning restaurants, shopping, boutique hotels, condominiums, offices and arguably the most sophisticated bike trail network in the country. But prices are bursting too: A single-family home now hovers around $490,000. The average rent has nearly tripled, to $2,000 a month from about $800. - The New York...

Orlando Ballet Artistic Directors Jorden And Lisa Morris Announce Retirement

Jorden Morris, a choreographer and former principal dancer at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, joined Orlando Ballet as in 2020 Artist-in-Residence and was named Artistic Director at the end of 2021. Lisa Thorn Morris, currently associate artistic director, joined the company in 2015 and served in several leadership roles. - WESH (Orlando)

Music Giant UMG Posts Big Revenue Growth

According to UMG, its Q3 growth was primarily driven by “subscription revenue growth, including pricing benefits from Streaming 2.0 agreements”, “strong physical sales”, “higher ad-supported streaming revenue”, and “increased Music Publishing digital revenue”. - Music Business Worldwide

Sales Of CDs And CD Players Are Soaring

CDs appear to be having a resurgence. John Lewis said searches for CD players are up 96% since July, while another report on trends in music and film this year found that CD sales are up 16%. - The Guardian

Major Culture Shift: Private Equity Is Buying Up Small Businesses

Deal by deal, ownership is being extracted from the thousands of communities where businesses were built to the handful of cities where capital is already concentrated.  - The New York Times

Another Posthumous Concert Hall Design By Frank Gehry

“Expected to open in January 2027 …, the Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi will contain a 600-seat concert hall and 18 rehearsal rooms. The orchestra building, designed by Gehry before he died in December last year, will have a more pared-back appearance compared to the fluid, organic forms for which the architect is famed.” - Dezeen

China’s First AI-Generated Feature Film Is Not A Smash Hit

“The film, the sci-fi thriller Sanxingdui: Future Past, was released last week and only grossed an estimated $198,000. … With 10,000-plus opening-day screenings, Future Past marks the first longform AI film to get a true wide release with reported box office numbers in a major territory.” - The Hollywood Reporter

“Adapting And Settling”: SMU DataArts 2026 Report On State Of US Nonprofit Arts Sector

“While the sector may be moving past pandemic-era volatility, reduced earned revenue and persistent inflation over the last several years leave fewer resources available to the cultural organizations that bring music, theatre, art, and shared experiences to our communities. Even so, many organizations are maintaining a financial surplus.” - SMU DataArts

“One Shared Collection”: MoMA, Pompidou Centre And Hong Kong’s M+ Announce Unprecedented Partnership

“At the heart of the alliance is an agreement that the institutions will treat their holdings as a shared collection. … This alliance differs from past models such as traveling exhibitions, co-organized shows, and collaborations on specific projects … in that it is a long-term commitment to building programs together from the ground up.” - ARTnews

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