The closest thing to a papal election in the British art world is deciding who will be the new president of the venerable Royal Academy. The job has grown in recent years – but so have the RA’s fortunes and the intrigues behind getting the job. Financial Times
Month: September 1999
South African art –
– was largely invisible outside its home country during the years of apartheid. A new New York show puts together artists’ work since apartheid ended – and demonstrates a nation struggling with its identity. New York Times
Audience-friendly
It’s expensive, it has its own rules, it’s intimidating – Beverly Sills talks about making opera more accessible. – The Arizona Republic
Country Music Awards Lowdown
Slicker and more stylized than a page out of Architectural Digest, polished, polite and very, very mainstream. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
IF LA’S POETS ALL WENT AWAY, would anyone notice?
Brendan Bernhard ponders the low stature of poetry in our society at the end of the millennium. – LA Weekly
CONDUCTOR JAMES DEPRIEST –
– diagnosed with kidney disease. – The Oregonian
HOMETOWN HONORS
The Isle of Man is honoring three of its most famous sons – by issuing special stamps in tribute to the Bee Gees. – BBC
Culture Clash
US Senate Democrats are trying to hold off a Republican-proposed Special Committee on American Culture. Could be only a task force without subpoena powers. Variety
FILM IS NOT FOREVER
Thousands of old movies are deteriorating in their cans, and only a few people are making efforts to save our moving picture legacy. NPR [Real Audio clip]
WHY NO ARTS COVERAGE ON TV?
Seattle arts organizations confront local stations to demand answers. Seattle Times