"'The Taliban tried to silence us,' said Ahmad Sarmast, the director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, in his new office in Braga," where he and his students were eventually settled after escaping the radical fundamentalist takeover of their homeland. "'But we’re much stronger and much louder than yesterday.'" - The Guardian
In London, the mood on the theater steps was upbeat and there seemed little concern that when this “Slave Play” transfer — including two Black Out performances — was announced in February, it drew the wrath of some British commentators, and got caught up in ongoing debates over race in British cultural institutions. - The New York Times
"(He) fashioned a 43-year career at The Inquirer that featured hundreds of influential stories about Philadelphia’s art and culture and the people who shaped them. He first covered cultural life ... in 1989 and, until he retired in 2022, focused as much on the newsmakers as the culture they created." - The Philadelphia Inquirer
"(They) worry this is yet another attempt at gentrifying their art form and ways of life. (Breaker) Anne Nguyen … argues that the 'sportification' of breaking will push dancers to forego improvisation and individual spirit. 'Instead, they will be strategic, planning everything from A to Z, to get high scores.'" - Condé Nast Traveler
After 40 years, the festival seems to be acknowledging that it has outgrown its hometown. Last week organizers announced six finalist candidates for the new host city, and Nate Jones rates them. - Vulture (MSN)
"A multi-instrumentalist who sang and played guitar, keyboards and harmonica, Mr. Mayall was better known as a bandleader who had a superb eye for talent and a steadfast devotion to the purity of the blues." He also helped launch the careers of Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac. - The Washington Post (MSN)
"The US Justice Department has reached an agreement with Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, the former general counsel of Malaysia’s sovereign investment development fund (1MDB), to recover a $1.27 million drawing by Pablo Picasso … (purchased) using misappropriated 1MDB funds from a bond sale underwritten by Goldman Sachs." - ARTnews
The sculpture, a replica of the 16th-century original (kept in the Bargello Museum) by Giambologna, is on a street corner near the Ponte Vecchio. Bacchus appears to be undamaged from the moment of passion, which, of course, the amorous young lady posted on social media. - CNN
"The BBC will lay off 500 more staff by March 2026 as its annual report paints a worrying financial picture including a near-doubling of its deficit to almost £500M ($646M). BBC headcount has fallen by 2,000 – or 10% – over the past five years." - Deadline
It helps that the Harris memes booted up shortly after Biden’s disastrous debate. It makes it feel as if the internet manifested her candidacy. Her boosters are now tipsy with their collective power. - The New York Times
Many galleries in Paris’s Saint Germain des Près area, one of the city’s major art hubs, were unexpectedly forced to close on Thursday, due to security measures put in place for the upcoming Olympic Games. - ARTnews
Although virtually "taking away" one of their five senses, the show banks on spectators' reliance on their four other forms of perception: the venue features a 3D -surround sound experience, a chemical company was tapped to create some of the scents used during the show... - Time Out New York
For months, the outlet has faced complaints from freelancers who say that the new owners, prominent L.A.-based trial lawyers Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas, have refused to pay freelance writers, reporters, photographers and graphic artists. - The Wrap
In the last few months, there have been protests against overtourism and "bad" tourist behaviour around the globe, and both issues seem to be coming under greater scrutiny. - BBC
"Barely a decade has passed since (Rieko) Hirosawa started learning goze uta (blind women’s songs) – a genre of music spanning four centuries that most Japanese people have probably never heard. That she now plays with the composure of a veteran is remarkable …: not a single goze uta musical score exists." - The Guardian
