Two of the producers of “Rent” on Broadway are plowing some of the millions they earned on the show back into the business. They propose to build a new Off-Broadway performing arts center. “The proposed eight-story building will include two state-of-the art off-Broadway theaters (one with 499 seats, the other with 450), dance studios, rehearsal halls, office space and condominiums. The cost of the project is $15 million.” – New York Post
Month: December 2000
SALES SLUMP
After booming sales earlier this year, Australia’s art market is showing signs of cooling off. At this week’s major auctions, buyers were cautious and even important works attracted scant interest – due in part to the recent imposition of a countrywide GST. “Instead of the frenetic bidding that had turned the big art sales of the past into gladiatorial contests, the salesroom at Christie’s was as quiet as a picnic.” – Sydney Morning Herald
HORSE SENSE
A painting by George Stubbs (an equine painter who died in 1806) fetched an astonishing £2.7 million at auction this week. “The story of how Stubbs rose from minor specialist artist to auction house megastar involves an American millionaire, a Derby winner, and a contender for the Turner prize…” – The Guardian (UK)
UNLIKELY BENEFACTOR
Russia’s struggling Sakharov Museum, which “aims to promote the ideas of human rights and civil society,” has been offered a boost from an unlikely source. Boris Berezovsky, the industrialist accused of embezzling $1 billion from Aeroflot airlines and who fled the country last month, has gievn the museum $3 million. “The donated sum is almost twice the museum’s total budget over the four years of its existence, which was about $1.7 million. That money had come from foreign grants, the bulk of which were from the U.S. Agency on International Development, which stopped funding this fall.” – Moscow Times
MULTIPLE EDITIONS?
Just before the Turner Prize winner was announced this week, Glenn Brown, one of the nominees was accused of plagiarizing the work of a science fiction artist. Now another artist has come forward to make a similar claim about another Brown painting. – The Times (UK)
REMEMBERING BRADBURY
British novelist and critic Malcolm Bradbury, who died this week, will be remembered as much for his famous writing classes as for his own satirical style. “He believed that a work of prose fiction or drama is seldom perfectly achieved in its early drafts, but that it emerges like a sculpture from a block of stone only through intellectual vigilance and meticulous rewriting.” – The Telegraph (UK)
OPERA BROADCASTS CLOUDY
The Metropolitan Opera Saturday broadcasts begin their new season this weekend. But there is anxiety about the future. Texaco has sponsored the Met broadcasts for 60 years, the longest continuous sponsorship in America. The company has recently merged with Chevron though, and neither company will commit to the future. – Hartford Courant 12/01/00
GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Ronald Wilford, one of the most powerful figures in the classical music industry, is stepping aside as Columbia Artists Management top boss. “Mr. Wilford, who recently turned 73, has been with Columbia Artists since 1958 and has been president and chief executive since 1970. Famously press-shy but commanding behind the scenes, he had long dismissed talk of any succession.” – New York Times
REPORT FROM CUBA
Washington Ballet recently completed a trip to Cuba where it appeared at Havana’s 17th International Ballet Festival. The visit marked the first Cuban performance by a major American ballet company in 40 years. “I hope to see the day in the U.S. that audiences feel so comfortable to react – with a cheer, or a gasp.” – NPR [Real Audio file]
WORLD ARTS CONFERENCE
A major international conference with delegates from 60 countries has gathered in Ottawa to talk about protecting “the vitality of many of the world’s cultures which are currently threatened by the dominance of U.S. popular culture, and a globalizing economy which is turning national cultures into commercial commodities.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 12/01/00
- CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES CONFERENCE: “Some people think because of the power of communication, the American culture is a problem around the globe. It’s not a problem, as long as every nation finds a way to make sure that people are comfortable with themselves, they know who they are, they know their roots and they work to have their arts and culture well inside of themselves.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 12/01/00