A new government agency has been formed in Northern Ireland to “broaden the appeal of the arts” and centralize performance information and online ticketing services for the province’s arts groups.
Blog
Opera Embraces A Multi-ethnic Future
Opera has enjoyed a distinct resurgence in the past decade, and for the first time in American musical history, operatic casting has begun to reflect the racial diversity of the country. But despite the visible strides in casting, “opera company executives say there is still plenty of room for improvement in diversifying casts. And, they add, there is even more room for improvement, when it comes to opera audiences, which are an average of 4 percent minority nationwide, though 31 percent of Americans are of an ethnic minority.”
Who Knew Stuffy Old Rich People Had Radios?
In an effort to draw in new audiences, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra recently started running a tongue-in-cheek series of radio ads with the tagline “You’d be surprised who goes to the TSO.” Each ad featured a humorous description of a supposed subscriber with decidedly offbeat personal habits meant to demonstrate that orchestra concerts are “not only for stuffy old rich people.” As it turns out, though, the stuffy old rich people who listen to the city’s classical music station were unamused, and the ads have been pulled from the air.
Birmingham Council To Audit City Arts Groups
Arts organizations in Birmingham (UK) are being ordered to submit to a “funding review” by the city council, and have been told that their government grants could be cut or revoked if they refuse. “Birmingham Royal Ballet, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Midlands Art Centre and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre are among 12 companies that have been told they must open their books for inspection. The review will look at the impact of the council’s investment, the contribution of arts organisations to the life of the city and how the council works with each company… The move follows the council’s recent announcement that it plans to provide £5 million for the 12 organisations in 2005/6.”
WTC Project Manager Resigns
The man in charge of the troubled World Trade Center project has resigned. “Kevin Rampe’s departure comes at a particularly sensitive moment for a rebuilding effort that has recently been plagued by bad news. The construction of the Freedom Tower, the site’s most prominent structure, is months behind schedule, and faces even greater delays after the New York Police Department last month delivered a disturbing assessment of its security shortcomings. Larry Silverstein, the lead developer of the site, has signaled that he may need hundreds of millions of dollars from the government to address the security concerns.”
Study: Asian Actors Underrepresented on American TV
“A study of Asian Americans in prime-time television, released Monday, shows that Asians, who make up 5 percent of the U.S. population, play 2.7 percent of regular characters. It also shows virtually no Asian actors are on situation comedies, and the characters they play in dramas tend to have less depth than most regulars, with minimal on-screen time and few romantic roles.”
Study: Film Ratings Aren’t Accurate
“A study released on Monday shows that one in five films rated PG, or “parental guidance suggested” — with some material that may not be suitable for children — actually have more violent actions than the average for those listed as PG-13, or inappropriate for children under 13. It also found that one in 10 PG films had more violent acts than the average for those in the study that were rated R, or “Restricted” — meaning any viewer under 17 should be accompanied by an adult.”
Initiative: Arts To The “Culturally Deprived”
An initiative in Scotland aims to bring the arts to people who don’t have access to them. “The £1.4 million Partners project will see a host of accomplished artists open up residencies in areas with little experience of the arts and invite local people to participate. The project’s aim is to inject both a creative and economic boost to the communities involved. Residencies will be established to enrich students, disabled people and other members of the general public. People can choose from a wide array of the arts, including writing, web design, dance, photography, electronic music – even circus skills.”
World Premieres – Why Bother?
“The unique claim of a concert being the only one of its kind because it contains the first hearing of a piece of music is the one hook that has proven to grab the attention of orchestras, opera companies, and chamber music presenters. With that label firmly affixed, contemporary music can be tolerated. Whether the new work flops is now hardly the matter. The assembled audience can at least say to an acquaintance that they heard the world premiere of such and such piece, even if they didn’t like it.” But does the “world premiere” concept really serve music in the longer term?
Italian Police Recover Stolen Art
Italian police have recovered seven stolen art works, including one by Picasso. “Among the 20th Century works retrieved were a sculpture by Italian Arnaldo Pomodoro and a piece by British modern artists Gilbert and George. Police have arrested one man in Nice, France, who they suspect of trafficking the art to Italy.”