“In a move that some coin collectors fear could eventually make it difficult to pursue their passion, the United States government has imposed import restrictions on ancient coins from Cyprus. It is the first time the United States has limited trade in a broad category of coins as part of an effort to guard the cultural heritage of another country.”
Author: sbergman
PA Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is
Pennsylvania lawmakers have approved a new package of tax credits designed to lure Hollywood filmmakers to the state. “The bills provide for a $75 million tax credit program to lure large productions to the state and $5 million in grants to attract smaller ones.”
Striving For Visibility
Dallas’s Arts District, which counts the Dallas Symphony, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, and the Nasher Sculpture Center among its resident groups, has become the cultural destination its supporters hoped it would be when it was first conceived more than 30 years ago. But for small and medium-sized arts groups headquartered in the district, it can be an uphill battle to even be noticed by the larger public. An advocacy group is hoping to change that.
Detroit Arts Get Cash Infusion, With More To Come
The Kresge Foundation has pledged $6 million to Detroit-area arts programs as part of “a new grant program that promises to funnel $2 million annually for three years to orchestras, museums, theaters and other groups… The news could not have come at a more critical juncture for local arts groups, which have struggled to raise corporate and private dollars in Michigan’s stagnant economy and replace the millions lost to severe cuts in state arts funding.”
Is Italy Finally Getting Modern?
For all its rich artistic tradition, Italy is lacking a single major museum devoted to contemporary art. “The absence of a high-profile contemporary art museum has been keenly felt, not least of all by Italian artists. [But] now, the wait might be over. In the spring, the city of Venice entered into a renewable 30-year agreement with François Pinault, 70, one of Europe’s most active art collectors.” Pinault is to develop a modern art museum at Dogana di Mare, “an extraordinary Renaissance-era customs warehouse.”
Polish Books Flying Off UK Bookshelves
Borders has begun carrying a line of Polish books in the UK, a reflection of the growing influence of Polish culture in the country. Polish immigrants abound in Britain, and “it seems culture has joined food, banking and aviation as the latest sector of the economy to catch on to the power of the ‘Polish Pound.'”
Thinking Forward On Housing
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to build 3 million new housing units for Britons of all income classes by 2020, and that presents a distinct architectural challenge. The key to success, says Stephen Bayley, is to “avoid the hideous mistakes of the past and replace dogma with design.”
Books Rule
“I’ve done the math and here’s the bottom line. If you want consistent artistic bang for your buck, skip the movies, forget the theatre and turn off your TV set. Instead, read a book. More specifically, read a novel. More specifically still, read the kind of novel that publishers call ‘trade fiction.'”
The Scent Of Great Literature
There’s nothing like a new book. The physical beauty, the perfectly printed pages, the… smell? “As a book reader (and as someone who enjoys the physical object that is a book), I’ve come to identify this particular smell as being intricately connected with the beauty and wonder that great art books and artfully produced books can provide.”
What’s Wrong With The Emmys
“The Emmy system is broken. Unlike the film community — the members of which watch most, if not all, of the top Oscar contenders — the vast majority of people who make TV don’t watch TV. And these days, the explosion of cable programming means there’s far more TV than even the most diligent members of the academy can keep up with. Despite some tweaks to their awards-giving systems in the last few years, the Emmy powers that be refuse to truly acknowledge that these serious, systematic problems are making their awards process even more of a joke.”