“An array of Chinese artists and writers, performers and filmmakers — all up to no good by the standards of Beijing’s morality police — [are] hungrily taking in the many crazy, dissolute subcultures Berlin has to offer. The city’s affordable housing, the country’s special visa for freelancers and artists, and German-government support for a few of China’s best-known creatives have meant that some of the most interesting developments in modern Chinese culture are happening as much in Berlin as in Beijing.” – The Atlantic
Can A Big Orchestra Learn From A California Orchestra A Fraction Of Its Size?
The tiny California Symphony is 1/25th the size of the Pittsburgh Symphony. But the smaller orchestra has seen the size of its audience and its support explode in the past few years. The growth is based on research and data. So what could an orchestra like the Pittsburgh Symphony learn from the success? – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Canadian And Syrian Dance Companies Denied Visas To Perform In US
What’s particularly frustrating for international festival presenters is the idea of treating artists like immigrants and that they are not seen as the economic motors they are. After all, these people are not taking jobs; they’re coming for a limited amount of time and have no history of being dangerous. – San Francisco Classical Voice
Musicians’ Union Says Pension Fund Has Reached ‘Critical And Declining’ Status And Benefits Must Be Cut
“Some 20,000 unionized musicians across the country will soon see ‘painful’ reductions in their pension benefits in order to keep the American Federation of Musicians’ $1.8 billion multi-employer pension fund from running out of money within the next 20 years. The reductions are required by federal law because the Fund has now entered ‘critical and declining’ status.” – Deadline
Digging Our Roots videos, speakers inspire engagement
Chicagoans watched Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and other heroes of the blues on videos at the the fifth Digging Our Roots: Chicago’s Greatest Hits “listening session” this spring. – Howard Mandel
Banksy Shows Up In Venice Anyway…
Never invited to be the part of Venice Biennale, undeterred, Banksy once again invited himself to showcase his work. Using the pop-up stand that typically sells tacky paintings and souvenirs, he assembled a selection of 9 works that collectively built the image of a massive cruise ship blocking the city. – Juxtapoz
Top Awards At This Year’s Cannes Festival
A year after Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters” won the 2018 award, Alejandro G. Inarritu’s jury gave this year’s top prize to Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” one of the most critically acclaimed films of this year’s festival. – The Wrap