This summer Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Tyler, the Creator, GloRilla, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne and Wu-Tang Clan have packed arenas, amphitheaters and stadiums in the United States and abroad. - The New York Times
The wavy-walled houses of Tiébélé, covered with distinctive geometric patterns, constitute one of four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Burkina Faso. They’re made of earth, straw, and logs; the unpredictable rains brought on by climate change are causing the walls to deteriorate and making repair more difficult. - The Guardian
Historically, AP arts coverage has been particularly important because smaller and local papers tend to syndicate AP reviews, which are written for a wide, non-partisan audience. Absent their standard blurbs, smaller outlets that can’t afford to staff a books section may be forced to stop circulating literary news full stop. - LitHub
While some people never abandoned piracy, others admit they have recently returned – this time turning to unofficial streaming platforms. One commonly used app is legal but can, through community add-ons, channel illicit streams. - The Guardian
The paintings, which both date to around 1990 or ’91, attracted five or six bidders over the course of the sale, with offers from three prospective buyers coming in at the last minute—including one who was actively bidding on both canvases. - Artnet
In a now-viral video, Dave Koz and the Summer Horns performed their rendition of Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothing" in an impromptu concert amidst a slew of delays, diversions and timed-out staff en route from St. Louis to their next tour stop in Seattle. - ABCNews
The Malian military government on Monday started returning home the historic manuscripts of Timbuktu, which were smuggled out of their city to the capital, Bamako, for safekeeping when Timbuktu was occupied by al-Qaida-linked militants in 2012. - AP
In the midst of a technological revolution, while taking on a notoriously difficult courseload, why have they chosen to devote their time to the ancient art of making poems? - The Atlantic
The 21 percent cut was approved Wednesday by PBS’s board, which also voted to reduce dues paid by local stations by $35 million. That means PBS will receive less revenue from its members, which are under pressure to make up for budget shortfalls of their own. - The New York Times
When artist Jim Sanborn talks about “Kryptos,” his sculpture at the CIA headquarters, and the famously unsolved secret code engraved in its copper panels, he sounds as if he’s talking about espionage, not art. The piece has “destroyed marriages,” he claims. - Washington Post
“Curzon, which operates 16 venues across the UK, reports there has been a clear shift over the past six years in young people overtaking older audiences,” with notable attention to older films and works by auteurs such as Wong Kar-Wai. Social media appears to be driving much of the interest. - The Guardian
“DJ AJ 305,” whose real name is Abdias Datis, was taken into custody and his equipment seized by Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies on Tuesday while he was allegedly broadcasting on an illegal signal called “Unique FM” (91.7). - Inside Radio
In her 2025-26 budget, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has proposed a 52% reduction in funding for cultural events and the elimination of the city-county Department of Cultural Affairs — this to help close a $402 million budget deficit. A campaign called Arts Action Miami is rallying supporters to oppose the cuts. - WLRN (Miami)
“The Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design ... is officially closing its doors on Aug. 31. Superintendent Jessica Rae Sánchez informed families … ‘We were recently notified by the Texas Education Agency that our Title I funding for the 2025-2026 school year will be significantly reduced due to low enrollment.’" - San Antonio Express-News (MSN)
This latest list of the 150 largest (by expenditure) U.S. ballet and classically-based companies includes comparative rankings by company revenue, and surplus or deficit status. - Dance Data Project
