Back in the 1960s, you couldn’t swing an acoustic guitar without hitting a folk musician singing a protest song about something that was bugging him, usually something pretty specific. These days, overtly political music is rare, and specific issue-oriented songs are usually eschewed in favor of broader-themed anthems trumpeting such controversial concepts as peace and justice and brotherhood and so on. But a new CD released by aging folkies and frustrated teachers is taking direct aim at the Bush Administration’s controversial No Child Left Behind Act, with proceeds going to fund an alternative school that has been hurt by the act’s reforms.
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UK Museums – Free But They Still Cost
Museum visits in the UK have soared since ticket charges were dropped. “The figures show that three years after the turnstiles were removed, visitors to galleries that used to charge have soared. There were nearly six million more visits this year than in the year before entry charges were scrapped. In London, visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) are up by 113 per cent over the past three years, the Natural History Museum is up by nearly 96 per cent and the Science Museum by nearly 71 per cent.” But who’s to pay for keeping the doors open?
Anatomy Of A Play’s Shut-Down
Sikh protests in Birmingham of the controversial play Behzti were the result of a breakdown of meetings between the theatre and Sikh leaders. “The theatre did not plan to close the play even after a section of the 400-strong crowd of Sikh demonstrators attempted to storm the theatre on December 18, and death threats were made against the writer. The decision was only taken after a meeting with police and community leaders.”
In The UK: Proposed Laws Threaten Free Speech
The British parliament considers new laws in reaction to violence threatened over a Sikh play in Birmingham. “The fact that we have to be free to outrage one another is potentially in conflict with a law that soon will be put to the Commons that would add ‘incitement to religious hatred’–punishable by seven years in prison–to the equally dubious legislation already on the British books banning ‘incitement to racial hatred’.”
Blockbuster Bids To Buy Hollywood Video
Blockbuster, America’s largest movie-rental chain, says it is making an offer to buy rival Hollywood Video. Blockbuster sys ‘it would offer stockholders of its top rival $11.50 per share in cash, or about $700 million, plus the assumption of $300 million of Hollywood debt, in mid-January.’
Lane Pulls Out Of London Producers
Nathan Lane has had to quit the London production of The Producers. Doctors say he is sufferin from two slipped disks. “The show’s spokesman said Lane was expected to recover in six weeks, enabling him to start shooting the film version at the end of February.”
“Junket” Press Movie Awards Gaining A Rep
“In just 10 years, the Broadcast Film Critics Association has transformed its awards show from a small luncheon for winners into a nationally telecast special. Nearly half its voters are part of the “movie junket press,” a cadre of mostly out-of-town reviewers and writers who travel to interview filmmakers and performers at events that are paid for and orchestrated by the studios. Their often-gushy quotes are then splashed across advertisements for many of the year’s worst-reviewed films. Studio publicists say they make certain to pay attention to the group’s members, and they say the Critics’ Choice Awards are gaining on the Golden Globes.”
Review-Based Arts Funding – More Money, But…
“The Howard model for arts funding was set: if arts organisations wanted more money from government, they should forgo warm, fuzzy talk and instead build a business case based on thorough research. Through its review-driven cultural agenda the Howard Government has given the arts greater funding fillips than most governments. Its record for injecting extra funds into the arts is impressive, up there with the Whitlam, Keating, Kennett and Dunstan administrations. Yet it is not perceived to be an arts-friendly government, and many artists still don’t support it.”
An Efficient Freeze?
Can an arts funding freeze in the UK be made up by arts organizations becoming more “efficient”? That’s the claim, at least. But theatre managers say their operations are already pretty lean…
Theatres Find New Income Source On Ebay
Some theatres are finding they can raise real money auctioning off items on Ebay, where fans are happy to bid on props and costumes that have been used in shows. “From live auctions to black-tie balls, fundraisers are a necessity for most arts organizations. But using the enormously popular eBay electronic marketplace to augment ticket sales and local philanthropy is a new wrinkle. It is a different way to connect with the world of people who support the theater, who write an annual contribution, and to reach a larger audience.”