Birmingham City Council owns an artwork collection valued at almost half a billion pounds, a BBC investigation has discovered. But none will be sold off to help tackle the financial challenges at the council which declared it was effectively bankrupt last year. - BBC
The West Kowloon Cultural District received a set amount of funding to open, expecting to sustain itself long-term by developing commercial and residential real estate on its property. But construction delays, and a market downturn have kept that plan from working, leaving WKCD desperate for cash. - Bloomberg (The Business Times, Singapore)
The mini-screens used until July could only show two languages. The new system will offer five languages – Italian, English, French, German and Spanish – with the possibility of arriving at eight languages in total. Chinese will be added for the titles broadcast by LaScalaTv in China. - Gramilano
“We continue to see unprecedented levels of demand for the Open Fund for Individuals and will process the high volume of applications we have received. With the budget now confirmed, we will work to re-open this fund. - The Herald
We often joke about awkwardness; it’s a staple of contemporary comedy. The exclamation ‘Awkward!’ functions as a light-hearted deflection, defusing social tension. The reality is heavier. - Aeon
England's Northern Ballet premiered Geisha just before the 2020 COVID lockdown. The troupe has several Japanese dancers who were excited about it, the creative team worked with experts on authenticity, and the Japanese Embassy gave official approval. Who made the accusations of appropriation, and who accepted them? - The Spectator
Harari is to the tech CEO what David Foster Wallace once was to the Williamsburg hipster. This is a surprising role for someone who started as almost a parody of professorial obscurity. - The Atlantic (MSN)
Our dopamine-driven brains drive us to choose cheap distraction over entertainment and art. A 15-second video causes a dopamine release in the brain, which creates a desire for more stimulus, which leads to the habit of more scrolling on your phone, which leads to an addiction to more stimulus. - The New York Times
There’s been a lot of bad news: Seattle theater companies are launching emergency fundraisers, exploring mergers, furloughing or laying people off, and cutting back on — or even postponing — shows and downsizing casts. Workers are worried about the future of the field. - Seattle Times
Nell Bang-Jensen, artistic director of Theatre Horizon in (the Philadelphia suburb of) Norristown, will be (FringeArts') … new CEO, taking over from cofounder Nick Stuccio, who stepped down last year. She will begin her position after the current 2024 festival" — in which she's directing a major production — "wraps in October." - WHYY (Philadelphia)
Born in Minnesota, raised in New Mexico and trained in Madrid, she established María Benítez Teatro Flamenco in New York and Santa Fe in the 1970s; the company toured the world for three decades before she settled back in New Mexico's capital for her final years. - Santa Fe New Mexican
"Spared from prosecution in Britain on Thursday, Harvey Weinstein now faces the prospect of a new indictment in New York, where prosecutors retrying the disgraced movie mogul’s rape case are taking steps to potentially charge him with up to three additional sex assaults." - AP
"The Arch of Constantine, a giant ancient Roman arch next to the Colosseum, was damaged (by a lightning strike) after a violent storm hit Rome, conservation authorities said on Tuesday. … The triumphal arch was built in the 4th century AD to celebrate the victory of Constantine ... over his rival, Maxentius." - Reuters
Las Vegas is the largest city in the US without a major art museum; casino magnate Elaine Wynn and LACMA director Michael Govan intend to change that. The Las Vegas Museum of Art won't start out with a collection; artworks, curation, and exhibitions will come from Los Angeles. - The New York Times
"NPR expects to close its current fiscal year with revenues about 2% over budget due in part to growth in development. … (The network's) projections show an increase of about 3% in revenues from member station fees. Corporate sponsorship income will be roughly flat when fiscal 2024 closes at the end of September." - Current
