Desperate times bring dire questions. “Should arts groups be willing to call it their mission to preserve the arts community as a whole, even if that means merging with another — or in the extreme, shutting down altogether?”
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
The Standout On The Stirling Prize Shortlist
The Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling prize is handed out tomorrow, and it ought to go to Pritzker winner Zaha Hadid for her Austrian ski station, Colin Amery argues. “It is notoriously hard to predict the Stirling’s result, though on grounds of aesthetic adventurousness Hadid wins hands down.”
Singapore, Where The Art Market Hasn’t Tanked
“Paintings and sculptures by emerging artists from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries have defied slowing auction demand for top Chinese and Western works as global financial markets tumble and the prospect of a U.S. recession increase. Sellers at three art events this weekend in Singapore — a fair and two auctions — are hoping that sentiment will hold.”
Spacey Topples Ayckbourn (Whoops)
“Kevin Spacey flung his arms open to hug the frail playwright Alan Ayckbourn after his show ‘The Norman Conquests’ in London. Instead, he knocked over the 69-year-old Ayckbourn, who walks with a stick.”
News You Can Use: Tips On Arts Bargains In NYC
“Fortunately for anyone who wants to maintain a busy cultural calendar but hears the call of frugality — and for those of us who pinch pennies regardless — New York is … the home of the bargain ticket, with an array of discounts, promotions and freebies for everything from poetry readings downtown to the glamour of opera at Lincoln Center.”
Kushner’s B’way Musical Smashes Records In Chicago
“Tony Kushner’s complex musical ‘Caroline, or Change’ struggled to survive on Broadway. But thanks to a fine production from Charles Newell and a star turn from E. Faye Butler, the show has turned into the biggest hit in the long history of the Court Theatre. … With ‘Caroline,’ Court has been doing around $10,000 in sales a day–which is a boffo box-office performance for a theater with only about 250 seats.”
Cruddy Economy, Gas Prices Hurting Craft-Show Artists
“The craft show life. You might call it the artist’s rendition of a traveling salesman. It’s set-up on Thursday, pack-up on Sunday, with selling in between. Often, there are only a few days before the next show.” Humble as it may seem, it’s a multibillion-dollar industry. “Still, rising gas, motel, and other costs are cutting into profits, forcing some to leave the business….”
Suddenly, A Glut Of Concert Venues In L.A.?
“Within the next two months, three music venues capable of holding 8,000 concertgoers will open in Los Angeles. Even with the economy faltering, venue operators and promoters believe the simple law of supply and demand will keep the concert halls full, provided the ticket price is appropriate. Other industry execs, however, think the city may have a glut on its hands.”
A Cutthroat New Category: The Tony For Humanitarians
“The Tony Awards will inaugurate the Isabelle Stevenson Award next year, with the nod going to a member of the legit community with a notable track record as a volunteer for humanitarian, social service or charity orgs not necessarily tied to theater.”
This Election Would Make A Great Book. But Who’d Read It?
“Are the editors and agents who said it would be impossible to write or publish a worthwhile postgame recap of the 2008 election having second thoughts now that the race has turned out to be so much fun?” Some are, or there’d be no story to tell, but most maintain the saturation coverage makes election books a tough sell.