Stories

Revisiting Fank Gehry’s Plans For A Grand Avenue Of Culture In LA

Gehry’s vision included completing the original plans cost-cut out of Disney a quarter-century ago, along with new modifications and much more throughout the area. Some are more costly than others. Enough could be done on Grand Avenue in time for the Olympics to make a difference if we begin this minute. - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)

Behold Brisbane’s Shimmering New Performance Venue

The Glasshouse Theatre, a new extension of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Australia’s third-largest city, has a flexible 1,500-seat auditorium designed to accommodate dance performances, opera, orchestral concerts, and musical theatre. The design is by the firms Blight Rayner Architecture and Snøhetta. - Dezeen

Trump’s Handpicked Arts Commission Says Plans For New White House Entry “Not Beautiful Enough”

The federal Commission of Fine Arts has taken issue with plans for a new 33,000-square-foot security screening center for White House visitors, saying the proposed facility is too big and not beautiful enough. - The New York Times

Trump’s Handpicked Arts Commission Approves 250th Birthday Gold Coin — With Trump’s Image

The coin, which is supposed to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, shows Mr. Trump with his fists pressed against a desk and a glowering expression on his face. The back of the coin features an eagle. - The New York Times

Report: Adding Up The Financial Worth Of Public Libraries

A new report has put a figure on the value of public libraries to the community, estimating that they are worth $86.60 in community value per adult per year. - ABC Australia

Nova Scotia Gets Its First Professional Ballet Company

Port City Ballet Company in Halifax is currently in its first season, offering a full school program as well as professional performances (in the capital and throughout the province) and a living wage for Nova Scotia dancers at home. Founding artistic director Nova Johnstone talks about getting the company launched. (video) - CTV (Canada)

New Obama Presidential Library Makes Big Bets On Art

Obama and his wife, Michelle, envisioned art as being a fundamental part of the $800 million Obama Presidential Center when it opens on Juneteenth after 10 years of planning and construction. - WBEZ

The Donut-Hole Of Theatre Attention

Three and a half hours is the danger zone: the length of many an unabridged classic. The artists, too often, haven’t thought of the way time sits on our bodies and our minds. This is the play you’re most likely to feel restless in, like it has taken up too much of your day, like it has outstayed its...

Publishers Are Unprepared For Books That Have Been Written With AI

In response to questions from The New York Times about the A.I. allegations against “Shy Girl,” Hachette told The Times that its imprint Orbit has canceled plans to release the novel in the United States and that Hachette will discontinue its U.K. edition. - The New York Times

Venice Mayor Will Close Russia’s Biennale Pavilion If It Is Used For ‘Propaganda”

“Russia … is a problem, but the Russian people are not. I’m pro-Ukrainian, everyone knows that, I've twinned Venice with Odessa. (But) we must work to ensure that culture isn't censorship,” said Luigi Brugnaro. “If the Russian government were to carry out propaganda, we would be the first to close the pavilion.” - The Art Newspaper

Metropolitan Opera Debt Downgraded To “Junk” Status

A Caa1 is a credit rating that indicates very high credit risk and poor standing, often referred to as “junk” or “speculative” grade. It indicates that an organization is in danger of defaulting, though it is not yet in default. - OperaWire

Chuck Norris, Action-Movie Icon, Is Dead At 86

The martial-arts grandmaster starred in more than 20 films, including Return of the Dragon, Missing in Action, and The Delta Force, as well as the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger. - AP

CBS News To Lay Off 6% Of Staff

“It’s the second round of layoffs in six months at CBS News (a round in October canceled some streaming shows and overhauled the Saturday morning show), but these are the first in pursuit of (editor-in-chief Bari) Weiss’s new strategy, which she outlined to staff earlier this year.” - The Hollywood Reporter

Leader Who Received Death Threats At Oregon Shakespeare Festival Has A New, Safer Job

“Since January, (Nataki Garrett), whose era-defining OSF term lasted just four years, has been at another helm as interim artistic director of San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company, and she's optimistic that this new appointment will be less troubled. For one thing, she no longer retains a security detail.” - San Francisco Chronicle (Yahoo!)

What Happened After Huntsville, AL’s Public Radio Station Dropped NPR Programming? Disaster.

Since WRLH ended its affiliation with NPR last October 1, the station has lost 75% of its listenership. This is notwithstanding the fact that the station continues to air programming from PRX, American Public Media and the BBC. - Michael Krall

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