“Over the past decade, as a result of a government initiative called Renaissance in the Regions and through the huge amount of investment made by the Heritage Lottery Fund, there has been the beginning of a transformation in museums and galleries throughout Britain. All of this is good news. But it has become increasingly clear that museums and galleries cannot live on capital projects alone. There is no point having beautiful, gleaming new museums and galleries with the most up-to-date facilities and cafés if they don’t have the money to buy works of art.”
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Publishers Cut Out The Middleman
“Major book publishers are preparing to boost their business by selling directly to consumers from their websites, a move that has booksellers spooked about being squeezed by their own suppliers.”
An Opera Talent Show That Works (At Least It’s Fun)
Opera-tunity is a TV show documenting the search for raw operatic talent, and its fabulously entertaining TV, writes Noel Holston. “The challenge that the English National Opera set for itself was to see if its scouts and coaches could find amateur singers – people with great instruments but against whom life otherwise had conspired – and bring at least one or two of them to a professional level in a matter of months. The ENO got 2,500 video applications, from people literally singing in the shower to roofers belting from the ramparts.”
James Beard Foundation Head Sentenced
“The former president of the James Beard Foundation was sentenced to one to three years in prison Monday in New York after he pleaded guilty to stealing more than a million dollars from the charitable organization he led for nine years. Leonard Pickell, 50, acknowledged he had stolen $1,106,099 by writing foundation checks for such personal expenses as groceries, his daughter’s sweet 16 party, limousines, renovating his home in Howell Township, N.J., and a BMW.”
Collector David Whitney, 66
David Whitney, a respected curator and prominent collector of contemporary art who was Philip Johnson’s companion, acerbic alter ego and behind-the-scenes art adviser for more than 40 years, died on Sunday at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell hospital.
Writers Band Together For Sanity
“A group of freelancers in San Francisco believe they’ve found a way to help remedy writer’s block, share advice, get feedback on a first draft and keep from driving their families crazy. They call it The Grotto. Strip away the pretentious moniker and their strategy is deceptively simple — shared office space.”
Brits Clean Up At Banff TV Fest
“A stylish British miniseries synthesizing music, gambling and drama took top prize at the Banff Rockie awards on Monday, leading a British invasion that captured nine trophies as the best shows in international television were honoured. Canada, Japan and the United States each won three international Rockies at the 26th annual awards.”
Edmonton Symphony Gets A Flamboyant Conductor
William Eddins, who is 40, “may be the most flamboyant thing to happen to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since British rockers Procol Harum showed up to make a live recording over three decades ago. Whatever happens during his tenure, it likely won’t be dull.”
Chicago Art Institute Steps Up To Architecture
The Chicago Art Institute is expanding its commitment to architecture, “appointing a forward-looking curator and expanding and renaming the department to include modern and contemporary design.” Joseph Rosa, 45, will become the curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute’s newly christened Department of Architecture and Design. On Monday the museum’s board of trustees approved the appointment of Rosa, who is currently in a similar position at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
David Diamond, 89
American composer David Diamond has died at the age of 89 at his home in upstate New York. He composed 11 symphonies and 10 string quartets.