A new national report reveals that achievement levels for primary-aged learners in dance, drama, music and visual arts have plunged compared to 2015 scores. - The Big Idea
"In the 1960s, much of Old Nubia was destroyed by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. … Between 50,000 and 130,000 people were forced to move from ancient villages, mostly to … areas where Arabic was spoken. 'Nubians started to dissolve', says Mohamed Sobhy, 'like when you put sugar in water.'" - The Guardian
“It’s equally important to preserve their cultural heritage, because this is their identity,” Kubicki said, “This is how they remain Ukrainians—who they are.” - Forbes
"'Only in the past few years have I had theatre companies refuse to do my plays, because they don't like some of the wording,' McDonagh said. They wanted to make some words 'more palatable to what they think their audience is', he said, despite him being 'an established writer who sells tickets'." - BBC
Missouri House Republicans voted to defund all of the state’s public libraries, in a proposed $45.6 billion state budget that will soon move to a vote in the GOP-controlled state Senate. - HeartlandSignal
"The exhibition industry is finally looking like its pre-pandemic self again. That's partly attributable to studios releasing new installments of successful franchises, but it is also linked to a shift in attitude among the major media companies when assessing the value of a theatrical release." - Variety
Recall the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. A straw is a very small thing, it weighs almost nothing, but it can bring down a thousand-pound camel. Or consider how small cracks can grow until they eventually destroy the largest structures. That’s how failures occur. - Tablet
"(There is) a string of new stage shows based on hit books by female authors that were enjoyed largely by female readers. Waiting in the wings this spring are plays or musicals based on bestsellers that include Hamnet, The Time Traveler's Wife and The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher." - The Observer (UK)
"At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the government approved proposed legislation championed by the culture minister that would impose fines starting at €10,000 (nearly $11,000) and as high as €60,000 (about $65,000) … to help pay for the repairs and clean-up." - AP
Students, both female and male, at the Kalakshetra Foundation's Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts in Chennai have alleged sexual advances by faculty members and claim that the college wouldn't take their complaints seriously until after 200 students went on strike. One professor has been arrested. - BBC
"The accusations were made by female actors, make-up artists and production staff, some of whom spoke on the basis of anonymity, and allegedly occurred during the filming of 11 films released between 2004 and 2022 … Depardieu (is) already indicted on rape and sexual assault charges in a 2018 case." - Variety
"A former Los Angeles auctioneer," Michael Barzan, "has agreed to plead guilty in a scheme where he created fake artwork and falsely attributed the paintings to artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. … The paintings ultimately wound up at the Orlando Museum of Art before they were seized by federal agents last year." - AP
"After a federal judge ordered the return of more than a dozen books improperly pulled from the Llano County Public Library shelves for their content, the county's commissioners have called a special meeting for April 13 to discuss shutting the library down altogether." - Publishers Weekly
"I know the BBC for example's not thrilled about being labelled state-affiliated media. If we use the same words that the BBC uses to describe itself, that presumably would be OK. … That seems to pass a reasonable test." - BBC
A rowdy singalong by audience members has halted a performance of The Bodyguard. Singer Melody Thornton was unable to complete her rendition of I Will Always Love You during the musical's finale at Manchester's Palace Theatre on Friday. - BBC
