Month: December 2000

• When Guggenheim Museum execs announced progress on their new $67 million museum in Lower Manhattan this week, they suggested that an art-loving insurance executive in Ohio was committing $170 million to the project. The donation would be the largest ever to an American museum. But the executive’s office isn’t confirming the amount. “I know he [Lewis] definitely plans to give a substantial amount, but he hasn’t decided what it will be. Lewis would take into account the enthusiasm of the city [of New York] and the generosity of others before deciding on the amount of his gift.” – The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 12/01/00

Artists and theater groups in Singapore have declared December 29th “No Art Day” as a protest against the government’s restrictive censorship laws. “For 24 hours participants will refrain from making art, appreciating art, consuming art, engaging art, administering art, or any other activity that might be interpreted as an ‘encounter’ with art.” – Times of India (AP) 12/01/00

The history documentary “A People’s History” on the history of Canada has exceeded all viewership projections and has become the most-watched documentary in Canadian history. But the producer of the series says financing the project was too much of a struggle and that the way projects such as this are financed in Canada is broken. “Nothing will be financed unless it can be demonstrated to sell pop or soap. It just won’t happen. The marketplace will not, operating by its own laws, produce what is necessary and good for our children and our society.” – Toronto Star 12/01/00