In the past year, the heads of all six of Hartford’s major arts institutions have left, along with a number of leaders of the city’s second-tier groups. No, the city didn’t suddenly become arts-unfriendly, and each of the arts leaders left for different reasons. But unquestionably the demands on modern-day arts administrators have increased. “Today’s arts honchos are called upon to grow, increase, enlarge, build. And in Hartford, they are seen not only as custodians of their own institutions’ destinies but as key figures in the fitful revitalization of the city itself.” – Hartford Courant
Author: Douglas McLennan
A DOGGED READ
Three times a week since December, about 20 protesters have gathered outside the new Barnes & Noble store in Flagstaff, Arizona to protest the superstore retailer’s presence in their community. “I find it disturbing that communities can’t fight the intrusion of these giant chain stores unless they have a legal apparatus behind them, because big corporate trans-nationals have the legal muscle to sue cities that try to keep them out.” – Publishers Weekly
TIME TO GO
Jukka-Pekka Saraste has announced he will leave as music director of the Toronto Symphony. The orchestra recently resolved a long strike with its musicians. “While I have made many friendships and musical partnerships in Canada, I look forward to returning to Europe and working there on a more regular basis. My preference is to spend more time conducting, as opposed to being responsible for the more diverse duties of a music director, as I am in Toronto.” – Toronto Star
AIN’T IT SWEET
As Steve Wynn was wrapping up details on the sale of his casino/hotel empire, he had a flurry of meetings to negotiate a sweet deal on what would happen to the multi-million-dollar art collection. – New York Observer
WINE WITH PEANUTS
Sonoma County votes to change the name of its airport to the Charles M. Schultz Airport, in honor of the late cartoonist. – CBC
HAM AND FLIES ON…
Belgian artist covered entry pillars of a Ghent museum with 8,000 slices of ham. He hopes that over three months the “sculpture” will attract swarms of flies and be a “living” piece of art. “Good art must stink a bit,” he said. Critics have so far disagreed. – The Straits Times (Singapore) (Reuters)
AND YOU LIVE WHERE?
France’s cultural minister is perplexed by why so many French choose to live in Britain. Some 60,000 French nationals are registered as living in Britain but officials suspect that the figure may be as high as 180,000, with half of those in London. After a high-profile French model decamped to London, the French culture minister growled: “If you move to London, what you save on tax, you’ll lose in rent and healthcare, not to mention the metro train service.” – Yahoo! (Reuters)
SO MUCH FOR BEING WELL-ROUNDED
Beginning in 2003, Florida’s public universities will require that all incoming freshmen have taken 19 academic courses in high school – four more than are required now. To fit in all the extra work, students may have to give up elective courses in the arts, computers, vocational studies and ROTC. The requirement has arts teachers and guidance counselors worried that the focus on academics threatens the continued success of everything from high school marching bands to popular magnet high schools. – St. Petersburg Times
OF AGE AND ART
The general population is living longer these days. And so are artists. So maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what we expect of older creative artists. – New York Times
CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS?
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s general manager has threatened to shut the orchestra down if the government doesn’t give more money to support it. The orchestra’s music director is non-plussed: It’s simple, he says. “Any mature country needs a national orchestra in order to have its cultural maturity recognized. Therefore the NZSO must stay.” – New Zealand Herald