The Wikipedia has enjoyed charmed press and its supporters’ claims of a new collaborative world are impressive. But an increasing number of critics are complaining about Wiki’s quality problems. “In theory, Wikipedia is a beautiful thing – it has to be a beautiful thing if the Web is leading us to a higher consciousness. Only it isn’t. An encyclopedia can’t just have a small percentage of good entries and be considered a success. I would argue, in fact, that the overall quality of an encyclopedia is best judged by its weakest entries rather than its best. What’s the worth of an unreliable reference work?”
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Canada’s Governor General Awards Finalists
Finalists for this year’s Governor General’s Literary Awards have been announced. “The fiction nominees include David Gilmour’s A Perfect Night to Go to China, Charlotte Gill’s Ladykiller, Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road, Kathy Page’s Alphabet and Golda Fried’s Nellcott Is My Darling. In addition to the $15,000 cash prize in each category, each laureate will receive a specially crafted copy of his or her winning book. The winning publishers receive $3,000. Non-winning finalists receive $1,000 each.”
Montreal Symphony Ends Strike
Montreal Symphony musicians have approved a new contract, ending their strike, begun last May. “On Monday, the musicians voted 96 per cent in favour of a tentative agreement reached this weekend. They had been without a contract since Aug. 31, 2003. The new seven-year deal is retroactive and will give the players an 18.23 per cent salary increase over the next seven years, as well as improved premiums and pension benefits. It expires in 2010.”
New PBS Channel Has Ads
PBS has a new channel on the air – it’s called PBS Sprout and it’s aimed at kids. But it also has advertisements. “Three weeks after its launch, Sprout has only one sponsor, Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies diapers. The ads are aimed at parents and don’t interrupt shows — though the shows last for only 15 minutes. But the mere idea of a PBS-branded product with ads hit like a bombshell in the public television world. And so far, many stations have refused to affiliate with the new service. Out of 177 licensees, only 90 have joined with Sprout for content and marketing arrangements.”
The Memorial Museum That Ate New York
The museum commemorating the World Trade Center and 9/11 has expanded enormously. “The memorial and its museum have quietly become an $800 million enterprise, $500 million of which must be privately raised. That’s almost five times the figure for the World War II Memorial in Washington, which honored the sacrifice of 400,000 soldiers and the service of some 16 million men and women. The museum alone is bigger than either the Whitney or the Ellis Island museums.”
A Booker Prize For Theatre?
Playwrights have difficulty getting attention”The Manchester Royal Exchange theatre is hoping to redress that balance with the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition, a national contest to discover and celebrate Britain’s best writers for the theatre. Launching next month, the competition has a prize fund of £45,000 and offers the winner a fully staged production in the Royal Exchange’s 750-capacity main house theatre. A runner-up play will be staged at the theatre’s smaller, 120-seat studio.”
Do We Still Need Copyright?
“A world without copyright is easy to imagine. The level playing field of cultural production – a market accessible for everyone – would once again be restored. A world without copyright would offer the guarantee of a good income to many artists, and would protect the public domain of knowledge and creativity. And members of the public would get what they are entitled to: a surprisingly rich and varied menu of artistic alternatives.”
Scottish Culture Policy – Stalled And Getting Cold
What’s likely to happen to the major overhaul of Scottish arts policy proposed last June? Not much, if things continue the way they’ve been going. “Senior figures involved in producing the landmark report of the Cultural Commission, which was published in June with more than 100 ideas to transform the arts, believe much of its work is being “ignored” or neutered by Scottish Executive officials. Crucial momentum has been lost, the report is being “cherry picked”, and civil service caution will lead to the avoidance of radical change in the world of the arts, insiders warn.”
The Tear Down – Too Fast In The Big Easy?
There seems to be an awful rush to tear down buildings in New Orleans and rebuild. But what about historic preservation? “What’s needed first are conscientious, comprehensive surveys conducted by experts in construction, architecture, engineering and preservation–people who can examine an older building’s condition, evaluate its historical and architectural significance and determine the feasibility or advisability of saving it.”
An Orchestra In Search Of An Opera
“The dismembering of Scotland’s national opera company ranged across the organisation, and included the sacking of the entire chorus. No department was spared. Except the 53-strong orchestra.” So now what are the musicians supposed to do?