Disagreement between board members of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture — over how and to whom to distribute a shrinking amount of money (revenue from a dedicated cigarette tax is down more than half from 15 years ago), staffing levels, and where to seek more money — has alienated the area's arts community. - Ideastream (Cleveland)
The $125 million redesign/renovation of Copley Symphony Hall, begun in late 2021, was supposed to be done this fall, but the scheduled Nov. 4 opening was postponed indefinitely, and the CEO won't yet say exactly how far along the work is. - The San Diego Union-Tribune (MSN)
In September, the CEO resigned and then commited suicide. Two weeks later, the board announced that an audit found "questionable, unauthorized or improper" expenditures, the finance director had quit, and the budget was immediately cut by 30%. Police are investigating; community members are telling the entire board to resign. - WCBU (Peoria)
"In theory, it will be a useful legal tool for all job seekers — and particularly powerful for artists. But in practice, it is likely to have symbolic rather than functional consequences for dancers." - The New York Times
The much-honored Russian-American journalist, who is Jewish, made the comparison in a December 9 New Yorker essay criticizing Germany's unequivocal backing of Israel in its war on Hamas. In response, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, which administers the prize, withdrew its support, though Gessen will be awarded by another entity. - The Guardian
Cynthia Graham, a principal with a previous incarnation of the company who retired from the stage in 1992, stepped in last month to direct this year's Nutcracker. She voluntarily stepped down following allegations that some of the current choreography for the Tchaikovsky ballet was plagiarized. - Ideastream (Cleveland)
Isabelle Adjani — who has won five Best Actress César awards and gotten two Oscar nominations (in French-language films, no less) — was fined €250,000 and given a suspended two-year prison sentence for evading taxes by fraudulently claiming residence in Portugal and arguing that a €2,000,000 gift was only a loan. - Variety
The oil painting by Chicago artist Shawn Michael Warren presents the iconic talk show host-turned-media mogul in virtuosic detail, wearing a dramatic purple dress with a full skirt and standing amid a greenscape on the grounds of her California home. - Hyperallergic
Now that the pandemic relief funds have stopped, many arts organizations are scrambling to balance their budgets. The new report says "the duration" of those funds hasn't matched the "slower rebuild" many arts organizations are facing. - NPR
If ChatGPT reproduces news updates, what reason is there to click on the original? How many times have you Googled for more information after reading a headline on an elevator or taxicab screen? - The Atlantic
Today, free will, individual agency, forgiveness, personal improvement, and healthy cultural cross-pollination are all obliterated by omnipotent determinisms. - The Atlantic
Housed at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, the display of the 1603 canvas Diana and Actaeon reportedly “disturbed” some students, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. - ARTnews
On the chopping block is the Argentine Ministry of Culture, along with the ministries of Health, Labor, Social Development, and Education (which Milei had previously referred to as “the Ministry of Indoctrination”). - ARTnews
"Whether lost at the bottom of the ocean, tucked away in a library’s archives or hidden behind a kitchen wall, this year’s arts, archaeology and literary discoveries spanned an astonishing range. Some had only been mysteries for a few decades, … while others dated back a bit longer — say, 6,000 years?" - CNN
