“The Canadian university was clear that it had not reconsidered its decision to appoint [Derek] Walcott to the role, despite making it shortly before claims of sexual harassment against the Caribbean poet were publicised during the elections for the Oxford professor of poetry. The three-year term will see Walcott spending six weeks a year teaching intensive poetry and playwriting courses and mentoring both staff and students.”
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
From Orange Prize Longlist, Teens Choose Alt Winner
“On the eve of the announcement of the winner of the Orange prize, a youth panel has selected Bernardine Evaristo’s reimagining of the slave trade as their alternative champion. … The six judges – three girls and three boys, aged between 16 and 19 – read the 20 books longlisted for the overall Orange prize and selected their own shortlist of six, which was entirely different from that selected by the main prize’s judges.”
Tony Awards Jettison Creative Categories From Telecast
“Tony officials announced this week that the awards for things such as lighting, sets and costumes — all insignificant components of a Broadway show, as anyone who works in the theater can attest — will not make the broadcast. … Also banned from prime time are the awards for choreography, book of a musical and revival of a play.”
Educators To Arnie: Digital-Textbook Plan Has Huge Flaw
“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes schools can save hundreds of millions of dollars by using free digital textbooks – an example he gave Tuesday of old-fashioned innovation ‘to stretch the taxpayer dollar.’ … Education officials, however, said Schwarzenegger might first want to go out and get a better calculator. The idea of free digital textbooks is nice, but given the associated technology costs and teacher training, they won’t save schools much money now or anytime soon. “
MOCA Lets Go Its Director Of Collections
“While building toward a major fall exhibition of its collection that it hopes will be a milestone in its recovery from recent financial and organizational turmoil, the Museum of Contemporary Art has let go the head of the department that’s most hands-on in minding the collection.”
Harsh Visa Rules Harm Arts, May Damage U.K. Reputation
“Stringent new visa controls have brought one ballet company to the brink of collapse and threaten dozens of concerts, festivals and exhibitions. Rules designed to prevent illegal immigration have left international performers struggling to gain access to Britain, a report says. Other artists have decided that it is simply not worth the hassle to travel. It is feared that the new rules could destroy Britain’s reputation as a centre for international arts.”
No, This Is Not A Ricky Gervais Comedy
Hollywood’s “‘background’ performers don’t speak on camera, and they are forbidden to talk to the director or the stars. But some make a pretty good living just by staying in the background. Unemployed locals have noticed. The lines are longer than ever at Hollywood’s Central Casting, where anyone can register as an extra.”
If Oprah Can Help Sell Books, Why Not Okra?
It “takes a lot of gumbo to have fun with the biggest name in the book world, but that’s exactly what a group of booksellers are doing. In a cute play off You Know Who, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance announced plans for a new marketing plan this fall: The Okra Picks.”
Dear Advice Columnists: Why Are Nonprofits So Grabby?
“My husband and I donate to several charities but get very frustrated with the constant deluge of what I call ‘Thanks for the money. Send more’ letters. Do charities actually expect that people who donate once a year will start donating every month?”
New York Legislature Okays Scalping For Another Year
“The New York State Legislature passed a bill on Monday that would allow the continued sale of tickets for entertainment and sports events at any price. The bill, which must be signed by Gov. David A. Paterson, would extend by 50 weeks a two-year suspension of New York’s scalping restrictions.”