Month: September 2000

A LOT TO ASK FROM AN ORCHESTRA PROGRAM

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra travels to Sydney with a program featuring the orchestra and Maori performers. “A note in the program explains that the concerts not only project biculturalism for international purposes, but launch a tour that will take these performances to the people of New Zealand itself in an act of reconciliation – or at least of united purpose. Such a worthy plan has its risks.”- Sydney Morning Herald

OUR AMERICAN COUSINS

Americans are big players in London’s current cultural boom. “Today, as London is seeing the greatest cultural expansion in its history — a $600 million millennium effort financed partly by England’s national lottery and partly by private donations — a list of many of the largest donors reads like a Who’s Who of American philanthropy. New galleries, courtyards, libraries, reading rooms and additions are being christened with names like Annenberg and Sackler.” – New York Times 09/28/00 

I, STAR

Finding ways to “brand” your artistic director goes a long way towards defining the success of your arts organization. The Canadian Opera Company’s Richard Bradshaw has remade “one of the fustiest cultural institutions in the land into one of the hippest”. Conversely, the Toronto Symphony tried to position Jukka-Pekka Saraste as a stud and turned off the orchestra’s traditional supporters. – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 09/28/00

BUILDING FOR THE ARTS

All the while Harvey Lichtenstein was building the Brooklyn Academy as a cultural force, he was bothered by the vacant property around the Academy building. Now he proposes an ambitious series of buildings – a visual and performing arts library, a charter school, a new- media center, a mixed-use arts complex, theaters, nonprofit offices, a museum, retail space, loft housing and a hotel – and has got architect Rem Koolhaas interested. – New York Times 09/28/00 

A CITY WORTH SAVING

The city of Tel Aviv has approved a program to restore 1,100 buildings in the city’s historic center to their original condition – not the splendor of ancient Israel, but the Bauhaus style that has made Tel Aviv a modern architectural attraction. “White Tel Aviv” was recently recognized by UNESCO as a cultural asset worthy of protection. – Haaretz (Israel)

PATERNITY SUIT

Giotto has been considered the father of modern painting But anewly discovered fresco by Pietro Cavallini in Rome could rewrite the arts history books. “The crucial thing is to determine whether it was done before 1288, when work began in Assisi on the Cycle of St Francis, or after. If it was before, it means that it was Cavallini who was the master, and thus the father of modern painting. If it was painted afterwards, then it will still go down as a beautiful and very important work of art to be discovered – but nothing more.” – The Telegraph (UK)

ARTBIDDING

  • Art auctions are going online. Though online auctions are a relatively small business yet, the larger auction houses are setting up. And a new Australian venture is testing the waters: “The two partners say that by auctioning works on Sold.com they are making ‘high-quality investment art’ available to the general public at up to half the normal retail price.” – The Age (Melbourne)

PAY ATTENTION TO ME

The Terra Museum is well-endowed – to the tune of $400 million. It’s got an extensive collection of “historic American art.” But the museum is almost completely ignored in Chicago. So the founder’s widow wants to move the collection to Washington DC. But a Chicago judge won’t let her. – Chicago Tribune